The Red Lake River may have already crested in Crookston, according to Emergency Manager Richard Rock, meaning the flood fight may have ended before it even really started.
The last of the ice appears to have passed by Wednesday, causing some jamming that caused river levels to spike, he said, but now it looks like they've fallen. River levels are dropping upstream in Thief River Falls, as well, he said.
According to the National Weather Service, the Red Lake River rose from 18 feet at 7 p.m. Wednesday to 20.1 feet at 1 a.m. Thursday. As of 5 p.m. Thursday, it had dropped to 16.8 feet.
Still, Rock said, the water could go up again if there's a lot of precipitation. "We're kind of being told it's still possible."
The National Weather Service forecast the crest would reach 20 feet at 7 a.m. Sunday. That's a new forecast. The previous forecast said the crest would be at 22 feet 7 p.m. Monday.
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Flood stage in Crookston is 15 feet and moderate flood stage isn't until 23 feet. The city's levees are good to 26 feet, a foot higher than major flood stage.
Reach Tran at (701) 780-1248; (800) 477-6572, ext. 248; or send e-mail to ttran@gfherald.com .
