NOW: Ice Jam Forming on the Missouri River in Bismarck/Mandan Area

Severe Thunderstorms and Excessive Rainfall in the Central U.S.; Heat Building in the Western U.S.

A cold front pressing east across the central U.S. will be the focus for areas of strong to severe thunderstorms and excessive rainfall through this weekend. Strong to severe thunderstorms my bring damaging winds, hail, and a few tornadoes while excessive rainfall may lead to areas of flooding. Heat will build across the western U.S. with heat-related watches, warnings, and advisories issued. Read More >

...ICE JAM FORMING ON MISSOURI RIVER... Warm weather last week caused the loss of the ice on the Missouri River through the Bismarck and Mandan area. However, colder weather along with snow earlier this week has created sufficient ice moving downstream to once again fill in the river channel. As of Wednesday morning, ice has been collecting in the Fox Island area and restricting flow on the Missouri River. Water has been backing up on the Fox Island boat ramp parking lot. As ice continues to collect, increasingly higher water will move northward through the Bismarck and Mandan reach of the Missouri River. The river stage at the onset of this ice jam was 9.6 ft as measured at the Bismarck gage on the Missouri River. Water levels due to ice jams are difficult to predict, but given the starting water elevation, an eventual stage of at least 12.5 ft at the Bismarck gage is not unreasonable to expect. If you observe problematic high water, please report your observations to your local emergency management office.