Though overland flooding continued across Walsh County on Thursday, officials there report that water levels are decreasing enough for some roads to reopen.
County Emergency Manager Brent Nelson said many roads on higher ground in the western part of the county have been reopening. "Most of the closures now are from (U.S.) Highway 81 and east and right around Minto and Grafton."
Highway 81 in Minto, closed since Monday, reopened Thursday. County Road 15, running east to Interstate 29 remains closed, as does North Dakota Highway 17 east of the interstate.
To the north, in Pembina County, Neche has had practically no overland flooding, a contrast to most other springs. Local officials attribute the phenomenon to the late spring, which reduced ice jams and allowed the nearby Pembina River and its tributaries to stay within their banks.
Still, the National Weather Service has a flood warning in place in Walsh, Pembina and Cavalier County.
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Below is a list of select locations on the Red River from south to north, river levels as of 7 p.m. Thursday, the highest level expected according to the latest prediction available and the record level:
• Fargo: currently at 32.39 feet; crested at 33.32 feet on Wednesday; record is 40.84 feet on March 28, 2009.
• Halstad, Minn.: 32.4 feet, which may be the crest (the weather service forecasts a decrease after this point), 40.74 feet on April 19, 1997.
• East Grand Forks: 40.2 feet, crested at 40.93 feet on Tuesday, 54.35 feet on April 22, 1997.
• Oslo, Minn.: 36.1 feet, may have crested at 36.23 feet on Thursday, 38.37 feet on April 1, 2009.
• Drayton, N.D.: 38.38 feet, 40.5 feet on Sunday, 45.55 feet on April 24, 1997.
• Pembina, N.D.: 44.11 feet, 49.5 feet on Wednesday, 54.94 feet on April 26, 1997.
Here are levels of other North Dakota bodies of water:
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• Goose River, Hillsboro: 5.12 feet, crested at 9.34 feet on Monday, 16.76 feet on April 21, 1979.
• Forest River, Minto: 5.78 feet, crested at 8.28 feet on Tuesday, 11.8 feet on April 19, 1948.
• Park River, Grafton: 15.03 feet, crested at 16.11 feet on Tuesday, 16.52 feet on April 19, 1950.
• Pembina River, Walhalla: 9.73 feet, 12 feet on Thursday (follows earlier crest of 13.64 feet on Tuesday, April 30), 19.2 feet on April 18, 1950.
• Pembina River, Neche: 19.13 feet, 19.9 feet on Thursday (follows earlier crest of 21.2 feet on Wednesday, May 1), 24.51 feet on April 21, 1997.
• Devils Lake: 1,451.85 feet above sea level, no forecast available, 1454.3 feet on June 27, 2011.
Here are levels of other Minnesota rivers:
• Marsh River, Shelly: 9.25 feet, crested 16.42 feet on Sunday, 25.45 feet on April 18, 1997.
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• Red Lake River, Crookston: 10.69 feet, crested at 20 feet on Sunday, 28.4 feet on April 17, 1997.
• Snake River, Warren: 65.33 feet, crested at 67.62 feet on Tuesday, 72.3 feet (no date available).
• Two Rivers, Hallock: 806.58 feet above sea level, crested at 807.29 feet on Wednesday, 810.7 feet on April 21, 1997.
• Roseau River, Roseau: 8.6 feet, crested at 10.68 feet on Tuesday, 23.4 feet on June 12, 2002.
More info: Herald flood coverage, bit.ly/Zh6uId. National Weather Service, 1.usa.gov/i6ZjBE.
Herald Staff Writer Tu-Uyen Tran contributed to this report.
