Flood officials in Manitoba have pushed back the expected crest date for the Red River.

Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure now says the first crest should happen in Emerson between Saturday and Monday. As warmer temperatures return in April, snow melt in the Manitoba portion of the basin will resume and is expected to produce a second crest on the Red River. The second crest is expected to occur in the Red River Valley after April 14.

There continues to be a risk of moderate flooding for the Red River. There is a risk of minor to moderate flooding in the eastern region including the Roseau and Rat Rivers and the Whiteshell Lakes area.

The province says approximately five millimetres of precipitation has fallen across much of Southern Manitoba this week, but this will not impact forecasted flood crests. An additional two to eight millimetres of precipitation is forecasted over the next five days for much of southern Manitoba. Temperatures are expected to remain near zero until at least Monday, slowing snowmelt and runoff.

The water level on the Red River continues to rise, driven by flows from the U.S. portion of the basin. As of Wednesday, the river is near its crest at Drayton, North Dakota.

Operation of the Red River Floodway is not expected to be required for the first crest. Operation for the second crest will be assessed based on forecasted water levels. It appears the first crest is expected to arrive in Winnipeg on approximately April 6.

According to Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure, Highway 75 is expected to remain open based on the current forecast. Pumping operations are underway or expected to start shortly in Brunkild, Morris, Dominion City, Rosenort, Emerson and St. Adolphe.

In the last 24 hours, the Red River has risen 12 inches at Emerson to 777.44 feet and 13 inches at Morris to 762.35 The Roseau River has risen less than an inch at Gardenton to 962.2 feet and has risen 14 inches at Dominion City (PR 200) to 772.66 feet. The Rat River has dropped about six inches at Otterburne to 764.44 feet.