US National Weather Service North Central River Forecast Center

It goes without saying to those of you who live in our area, but this winter has been extreme...in terms of warmth and a lack of snowpack. Today we issued our Spring Hydrologic Outlook, check it out here:

2024 Spring Hydrologic Outlook North Central River Forecast Center

Today is National Dam Safety Awareness Day and our partners at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Paul District shared great information about dam safety below!

Today is National Dam Safety Awareness Day. It commemorates the tragedy of the 1889 South Fork Dam failure in Pennsylvania, and also highlights the work done by the Army Corps of Engineers and others to prevent future disasters. Read about our dam safety program here: http://ow.ly/R49f50N4TV7

Mississippi Valley Division (US Army Corps of Engineers)

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/980e44cdf19c4e4886b2917e583c6a22

Our first Spring Flood Outlook of 2023 has been released!

Spring Hydrologic Outlook North Central River Forecast Center

Citizen Science Can Help Prepare for Future Flooding in Rainy-Lake of the Woods (and anywhere across North America). Read about efforts in the Rainy-Lake of the Woods basin at: http://ow.ly/9oVL50M71em

BSLA info video #3: Big Sandy Lake Dam The Big Sandy Lake Association has been working in conjunction with area experts to provide informational videos pertaining to boating preparedness, safety a...

Whether you’re on the road or camping, will you be ready for sudden flash flooding? Make sure to enable Wireless Emergency Alerts on your phone. If flooding occurs while you’re outdoors, immediately get to higher ground, and NEVER enter floodwaters in a vehicle or on foot. weather.gov/safety/flood

We’re celebrating Public Service Recognition Week (May 1-7)

Today we want to say thank you to all of the other NWS Weather Forecast Offices!!

The River Forecast Center works directly with the local weather offices to bring you water and weather information that YOU NEED, so that you can stay safe.

We THANK them for their support!

We’re celebrating Public Service Recognition Week (May 1-7)

Today we want to say thank you to our County, Local, and City partners, including Mayors, Council Members, Emergency Management, Transportation, and Maintenance…as well as MANY others!

These folks work hard behind the scenes to ensure that communities are prepared and resilient, and can quickly mobilize to help whenever and wherever needed. We want to say:
THANK YOU for all you do!

Here's a snapshot on lake ice out progress as of May 3, 2022.
Courtesy: U of W Space Science and Engineering Center.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wants you to explore our nation's dams in preparation for National Dam Safety Awareness Day (May 31). Dams play an integral role in flood risk management, navigation, water supply, hydropower, environmental stewardship, and fish and wildlife conservation. In addition, Corps3141595 dams provide more than 400 lake and river projects in 44 states, allowing for easily accessible outdoor recreation areas, 90 percent being within 50 miles of major metropolitan areas. We welcome you to explore the benefits, risk, and beauty of our nation’s dams. For more information on dams across the United States, visit National Inventory of Dams at https://nid.sec.usace.army.mil/.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0KYcQDlzWo

Mississippi Valley Division (US Army Corps of Engineers)

We’re celebrating Public Service Recognition Week (May 1-7)

Today we want to say thank you to our State Agency partners, such as the Department of Natural Resources, Water Resources Conservation Districts, and State Climatology Offices…
and MANY others!

They all work every day to provide guidance and information to the National Weather Service, as well as citizens and communities in their areas. This very important work often goes unnoticed, so we just want to say THANK YOU!

We’re celebrating Public Service Recognition Week (May 1-7). Today we want to thank and give a shout-out to another one of our Core Partners, the US Geological Survey! The data and information we get from the USGS is absolutely critical and allows them and us to serve the public successfully. THANK YOU!

"Public Service Recognition Week is celebrated the first week of May since 1985 to honor the people who serve our nation as federal, state, county, local and tribal government employees."

Thank you to all of our partners and fellow NWS employees for your service! We couldn't do it without you!

Worth mentioning again! It only takes 6 inches of water to knock an adult off their feet and 18 inches of water to sweep a car away. Don’t risk driving through flood waters. Turn around, don't drown!

Mississippi Valley Division (US Army Corps of Engineers)

We’re celebrating Public Service Recognition Week (May 1-7). Today we want to thank and give a shout-out to one of our Core Partners, the US Army Corps of Engineers! The St Paul District has been very busy managing reservoirs across MN/ND to help minimize flooding impacts. THANK YOU for your efforts to serve and protect the public!

We have a couple of areas that are expecting some significant precipitation as we move into the weekend. Watch for rapid runoff across southern IA... and across ND, rain on top of snow could result in some flooding concerns. Be sure to monitor the latest weather and river forecasts, and be prepared!

Here is our from our office. When severe weather strikes...we know exactly where to go. Do you have a plan?

Let us see some of your Safe Places... respond below!

Don’t forget about water safety around our dams. When water flows through the dam, it can create some dangerous undercurrents on the downstream side. As always, watch for restricted-area signs. Let’s be safe out there!

U.S. Coast Guard Mississippi Valley Division (US Army Corps of Engineers)

Wednesday, April 6, 2022 is day!

If there was one extreme weather preparedness action you want your loved ones to take, what would it be? For many, that one action is to know ahead of time where their safe place is located. On April 6, 2022, please join the National Weather Service and its Weather-Ready Nation Ambassadors to take a “selfie” and post with the hashtag . https://www.noaa.gov/safeplaceselfie

When might you see your last Frost or Freeze of the season? Find out at this new webpage:

When to Expect Your Last Spring Freeze Based on 30 years of climate records, our map shows when you can expect to see temperatures dip to 32°F or below for the last time.

HOT NEWS: The Motor Vessel Aubrey B. Harwell, Jr., is breaking its way through the ice of Lake Pepin today to become the first boat to kick off the unofficial start of the 2022 navigation season on the Upper Mississippi River. https://go.usa.gov/xzp9q

Today is , which raises awareness about freshwater availability throughout the world. Did you know that most of the world’s liquid freshwater is underground, and is known as groundwater? Learn more: worldwaterday.org

Does the weather interest you? Would you like to be a part of a network of people HELPING collect precipitation information? Here's your chance! Become a citizen scientist... Anywhere across the U.S. Sign Up at cocorahs.org

Check out the latest Climate summary for the winter season for the Great Lakes Region ...

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Great Lakes Region - March 2022 Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Great Lakes Region for December 2021 - February 2022. Dated March 2022. Winter temperatures ranged from 4°C (11°F) colder-than-normal to 1°C (2°F) warmer-than-normal. Overall, winter precipitation was 82% of average for the basin. NOAA’s Regional C...

Check out the latest Climate summary for the winter season for the Midwest...

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Midwest Region - March 2022 Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Midwest Region for December 2021 - February 2022. Dated March 2022. Winter temperatures had a north-south divide. However, a month-to-month look showed a tale of two winters, with extreme warmth in December followed by two months of lingering cold. Winte...

NEVER drive around barricades into floodwaters! Most fatalities are vehicle related. It only takes 12 inches of fast-moving water to carry off a small car and 18 inches of water to sweep a larger vehicle away. Turn Around Don’t Drown! weather.gov/safety/flood-turn-around-dont-drown

Here is a link to NOAA's National Spring Outlook, issued this morning. https://www.noaa.gov/news/spring-outlook-drought-to-expand-amid-warmer-conditions

Spring Outlook: Drought to expand amid warmer conditions | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Flood risk for Upper Midwest, Midwest and Southeast

Flood events can devastate communities. Help yours be prepared and safe. Connect with your neighbors and discuss local flood risks and planning needs.

If flooding is expected, help others elevate and protect their belongings. After the storm, check on your neighbors and keep others out of floodwater.

weather.gov/safety/flood

Don't Forget! Spring Forward tonight... set those clocks ahead when you go to bed...

NEVER drive around barricades into floodwaters! Most flood fatalities are vehicle related. It only takes 12 inches of fast-moving water to carry off a small car and 18 inches of water to sweep a larger vehicle away. Turn Around Don’t Drown! weather.gov/safety/flood-turn-around-dont-drown