Provincial officials in Manitoba released a new flood outlook Thursday which says flood levels could top those seen in 2009.
"The flood risk on the Red River south of Winnipeg is slightly higher than predicted in the province’s March flood outlook and is approaching the unfavourable weather scenario, which could result in major flooding in the Red River Valley," said the province in a release.
Flood levels on the Red River could be half a foot to one foot higher than in 2009, although still lower than in 1997.
"The increased flood risk is a result of significant snow fall in the Red River Valley including recent storms in North Dakota that resulted in more precipitation than is normally seen in the entire month of April," said the province.
The Red River might not crest until late May in Winnipeg, with U.S. officials expecting it to crest in North Dakota in mid May.
Steve Ashton, minister of emergency measures, said Manitoba could see evacuations this year, even near community ring dikes.
Significant overland flooding is expected, with the province anticipating hundreds of homes and farms needing to be evacuated in the Red River Valley.
He said evacuations would be likely put into place due to access routes being underwater.
He said, however, that the province is better prepared than in 2009. Amphibex machines were dispatched in February to begin work breaking up ice to help lower flood risks north of Winnipeg.
Near Selkirk, the Red River appears free of ice, but officials said it's still there, hidden from sight under the water.
"It's very unusual what we got going on for the ice. It's sinking and a lot of water is running over it," said Darcy Hardman, emergency co-ordinator for the RM of St. Andrews.
That could prove beneficial, as it makes the ice deteriorate quicker, reducing the chance of ice jams.
The province said the flood outlook for the Assiniboine River remains unchanged, with levels not expected to reach those seen in 2011.
In the U.S., flood forecasters previously said the flood risk has also increased there once more, following the snowstorm that hammered North Dakota.
Flood forecasters in Fargo say that the chance of the Red River setting a record-breaking flood this year is about 40 per cent. That would surpass the flood of 2009.
After filling more than a million sandbags to prepare for the flood fight, Fargo is back at preparations today to make another half million to protect homes and businesses.
In Manitoba, Highway 75 is expected to be closed again this year, but the duration is unknown.
"The magnitude of flooding is still dependent on weather," said Phillip Mutulu, Manitoba's flood forecaster.
- with reports from Jon Hendricks and Caroline Barghout
