The Red River at Drayton, N.D., seemed to falter in its rise Monday, staying around 43.2 feet all day. It hit a high mark of 43.22 feet at 4:30 p.m. and then retreating slightly, to 43.19 feet by 8:45 p.m., Monday.
The National Weather Service predicts, as of 8:30 p.m. Monday, that the river will crest in Drayton about noon Wednesday at 43.4 feet, slightly lower and a little later than previous crest forecasts, said John Hoppes, meteorologist with the weather service office in Grand Forks.
The weather service said that already Monday afternoon the Red was more or less in a long crest in Drayton.
Major flood stage is 42 feet and the record is 45.5 feet.
The Red is expected to crest in Pembina, N.D., the middle of next week slightly over 53 feet.
