The recent cold weather has led to increased production of ice on 
the Missouri River. As recently as Tuesday, significant open water 
was present south of Bismarck to the Hazelton area. However, as of 
Thursday afternoon the ice had accumulated on the river as far north 
as the Kimball Bottoms area, just south of Bismarck/Mandan. Ice is 
expected to accumulate on the Missouri River in the Bismarck/Mandan 
area by Friday. As sheets of ice accumulate, they restrict flow in 
the river and often cause a rapid rise in water levels near the ice. 
Historically, this rise has been between 5 and 7 feet. The water 
level at the Bismarck gage on the Missouri River as of Thursday 
afternoon was at 5.4 feet. As ice continues to accumulate, a rapid 
rise to a water level between 9.5 and 12 feet is likely by late 
Friday.

Once the ice starts accumulating south of Bismarck, water levels 
often rise to their maximum level in less than 24 hours.  Residents 
near the river should be watchful for rapidly changing conditions 
and report any problematic high water to your local emergency 
manager.