Spring flood risk low but exists

By TOM LAVENTURE

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Ironwood — Area emergency management officials say the flood risk is minimized this spring with less snow but that additional rain or snow over the next few weeks could change that outlook.

“With a very mild winter so far, the spring snowmelt flood risk is below normal and no major flooding is anticipated,” said Heidi DeRosso, director of Gogebic County Emergency Management and 911 coordinator.

The emergency management office continues to monitor the river and lake levels in the watershed and receives weekly updates from the National Weather Service, she said. The weather service report is that there are 3 to 6 inches of snow still on the ground across Gogebic County, which holds from 1 to 3 inches of liquid water in that snowpack, she said.

“The frost levels will become a concern if we have heavy rain events over the next couple of weeks,” DeRosso said. “The water will pond or runoff more quickly versus seeping into the ground (in the event of heavy rain).”

The most recent update from the weather service stated that no significant heavy rain or snow storms are predicted over the next seven to 10 days, she said. Temperatures during most of that time will continue to average a little above normal but then falling back below freezing at night. “This is an ideal scenario to get rid of more of the remaining snowpack,” DeRosso said.

In Iron County the scenario is much the same, according to Stacy Ofstad, director of Iron County Emergency Management.

“I do not anticipate any major flooding this spring,” Ofstad said.

There were some isolated areas with water over some roads from Wednesday’s rain, he said. The county has flood response plans in place and a supply of sand bags are available in the event of flooding from the spring melt or from major rain storms throughout the year.

“We have to prepare for every possible event, such as the pandemic or whether it is a natural or man made disaster,” Ofstad said. “Throughout the year I work with the other department heads within the county along with municipalities to review and make changes to the plans as needed.”