Prior to the start of the spring flood of 2006, several things pointed to a higher potential for flooding.  Convective storms during the summer and fall of 2005 dropped a lot of rain across Richland, Ransom, and Sargent counties in southeast ND.  Flows on many rivers, especially the mainstem Red River, were above normal.  Snowfall through the winter was above normal along the Canadian border from Langdon (ND) to Cavalier (ND) to Hallock (MN), and also between the area from Fargo (ND) to Wahpeton (ND) to Battle Lake (MN) and to Detroit Lakes (MN).  Temperature patterns over the main snowpack area through mid to late March stayed cool.  The longer temperatures stayed cool, the better potential there was for a rapid snowmelt.  And a rapid snowmelt is exactly what happened.  Quite a few locations still reported snow on the ground on March 28th.  In the following days, temperatures stayed above freezing, even at night.  On the morning of March 30th, a broad area of surface low pressure set up from north central South Dakota into eastern Colorado.  This kept warm and steady south to southeast winds over the remaining snowpack, further aiding its melt.  To top it off, thunderstorms also developed on March 30th.  Rain on top of the remaining snow also contributed to the quick snowmelt.  By March 31st, only a few locations near the Canadian border had snow left.  The meltwater quickly flowed into low areas, which resulted in road washouts and closures.  As the water moved into river systems, many bridges were inundated with water.  Since the flood of 1997, many communities have undergone major flood mitigation efforts.  Buyouts of flood-prone homes and the construction of permanent city dikes, river diversions, and farmstead ring dikes were all started, in hopes of reducing the impacts of future floods.  However, prior to the spring flood of 2006, problem areas still remained.  Permanent dikes had yet to be completed at Wahpeton/Breckenridge and at Grand Forks/East Grand Forks.  Permanent dike protection still had not started for residents of south Fargo.  In constrast to river flooding, protection can be very difficult against overland flooding.  When large amounts of snow quickly melt, the water can pond anywhere.  And in the relatively flat Red River Valley, it can take a long time to recede.  For more specific information (including damage amounts) on the spring flood, see the Storm Data narratives for April 2006 (when all of the river crests occurred).

Flood in MAHNOMEN, MINNESOTA
From 30-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in NORMAN, MINNESOTA
From 30-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in PENNINGTON, MINNESOTA
From 30-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in POLK, MINNESOTA
From 30-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in RED LAKE, MINNESOTA
From 30-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in CLEARWATER, MINNESOTA
From 30-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.