The ice at Breezy Point where Amphibex machines currently work matches the depth of it last year, when it reached the thickest ice in four years, but this year more snow is adding to the challenge.
Memories of flood water nearing his home concern Bill McCaw, who is working to clear snow. He worries about the spring melt.
“If it delays real long and goes all of a sudden, I think everyone’s going to have a problem. There’s going to be lots of overland flooding,” said McCaw.
His main concern is ice jams, which have pushed water into his yard several times in the past.
“It's always scary when you hear the ice move out here and it's like thunder - makes the hair stand up on the back of your head,” he said.
He hopes the Amphibex machines help.
"Everybody appreciates what they do. Just sometimes the amount of water that comes and the time that it comes - it just doesn't help us," he said.
Four Amphibex machines are working around the clock to break ice north of Selkirk.
“A lot more snow cover this year, which makes it a little harder to break the ice because we have to push the snow,” said Lawrence Johnson, Amphibex captain.
While the first flood outlook of the year won't be released until later in February, the province said early indications suggest, "Manitoba river basin conditions indicate the flood potential appears to be significantly below that of 2011 and 2013."
The province cautioned, however, that it's too early to estimate the spring run-off potential and the outcome is subject to upcoming weather conditions.
Premier Greg Selinger said Manitoba's new chief flood forecaster will be introduced next week.
"Our new chief forecaster joins a team that is one of the most experienced flood-forecasting units in the country and likely the continent. They have unique shared experience of working during the largest, longest flood in Manitoba's history," said Selinger in a release.
A team of 12 professionals work at the forecast centre year-round, said the province.
