Planalytics’ experts foresee a flooding concern in the Upper Midwest, according to its “Market Insights” newsletter.
The March 6 newsletter states that “there is a high risk of flooding in the Red River basin and the northern Missouri Valley basin, and a moderate to high risk of flooding in the upper Mississippi Valley basin (including the Minnesota river). A wet, snowy March could push the threat in these areas to an even more critical level.
“Federal and state emergency services are currently holding a series of flood preparedness meetings across North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota,” the newsletter continues. “Using Bismarck, ND, as a point of reference: As of March 1, Bismarck exceeded 70 inches of snowfall during a season for only the seventh time since records began in 1875. When you add a ‘normal’ March accumulation of 8.5 inches on top of the 79.5 inches on the ground, Bismarck is just shy of the record 101.6 inches in 1996/97 … a spring that saw severe flooding for the Red River Valley; the peak flood season for the Red River Valley is between April 7 and 18.”
Planalytics’ outlook for drought-stricken California is more positive, stating that precipitation loading looks better, at least for the northern half of the state. “Drought reversing rainfall and mountain snow during the month of February have greatly improved the moisture and water management profile for California,” the newsletter states. “Monthly percents of normal ranged from 92 percent to over 200 percent up and down the state. So far in March, rain totals across the northern half of the state have been in the 1 to 6 inch range, thus continuing the trend set in February. However, there has been a noticeable northward shift to the precipitation pattern over the last several days that has returned the dryness to the southern half of the state.”
The newsletter also reports that “timely rainfall in the South will bring a surge of field activity to the region over the next couple of weeks.”
(Source: Planalytics, Inc.)
