Extended Red River Valley flood fears ‘virtually eliminated’

FARGO, N.D. – The National Weather Service says any fears of an extended spring flooding season in the Red River Valley have been virtually eliminated thanks in large part to the area’s soil-stained snow.

The weather service said Monday that the area’s good flooding forecast was a strange benefit of two unwelcome weather patterns – a summer drought followed by a winter with numerous blizzards.

The lack of precipitation made the topsoil receptive to the spring thaw and the gales of winter picked up loose dirt to color the snow and make it absorb more heat than usual.

Meteorologist Amanda Lee says the dirty snow and the last week’s sun and warm temperatures are thought to have helped the snowpack disappear quickly.

In Fargo, a low-lying area of Elm St. is closed and the pedestrian bridges at Lindenwood Park and Oak Grove Park were raised due to high river levels.  The bridges will remain out of service until river levels subside.