UPDATED: 'Significant river responses' expected in next week, storm likely to bring rain to F-M area

FARGO - Forecasters now expect the spring melt to come faster than earlier predicted and "more significant river responses" are possible within the next five to seven days.

The National Weather Service's latest spring melt outlook, issued this afternoon, said the latest forecast data suggests the weekend storm will move farther north than expected.

If that happens, the result will mean "significant impacts on the initiation of widespread flooding."

Forecasters now expect snow across the northern Red River Valley, with rain or rand and snow across the south.

There is a slight chance for heavier rains across near the Dakotas-Minnesota border.

The National Weather Service's latest forecast for Fargo calls for rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch Saturday night, with between a tenth of an inch and a quarter of an inch possible Sunday.

Snow is predicted Sunday night, with less than a tenth of an inch of moisture.

Low temperatures will remain above freezing Saturday night and Sunday, then drop down to about 29 degrees Sunday. Monday's high is expected to be around 35 degrees, cooling to 19 degrees Monday night.

Then a warm-up is expected beginning Tuesday, with a high near 39 degrees expected.

John Wheeler, WDAY's chief meteorologist, said he now expects the Red River in Fargo will reach 30 feet by the end of next week, the threshold for major flooding, and predicts the crest likely will come the following week, between April 10 to 16.

The weather changes actually should mesh well with flood preparation plans, Wheeler said. Fargo officials plan to start delivering sandbags Tuesday, and plan to start placing them Wednesday.

Barring future changes in the weather, Wheeler said, sandbag and levee construction should be very manageable.

"This is not a mad scramble," he said.

As of this afternoon, the Red River reached 19.6 feet. Minor flooding starts at 18 feet, moderate flooding at 25 feet, major flooding at 30 feet. Earlier, the National Weather Service's flood outlook called for a 50-percent chance of a 40.5 foot crest; the record 2009 crest was 40.84 feet.

Read Saturday's Forum for more on the story.