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

Severe Weather Threats Across the Plains; Dangerous Heat and Wildfire Concerns for the West; Watching the Tropics

Severe thunderstorms are expected across the Central Plains accompanied by damaging wind gusts and large hail. In addition, heavy rainfall may lead to instances of flash flooding from the Plains and mid-Atlantic regions. The heavy rainfall threat continues across Florida and across the northern Gulf as we monitor a tropical disturbance tracking westward. Critical fire weather for the Great Basin. 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.