Winnipeg, MB – City of Winnipeg crews stand ready to address the forecasted heavy rainfall. Over the coming days, as required, crews will be engaged in a wide range of activities around the clock, and based on level of priority, including clearing ditches, catch basins, and culverts of debris so that water can drain more effectively, as well as monitoring pumping and lift stations, and operating the sewer system and drainage network to move water as efficiently as possible.
River flooding
Today, the Province provided an updated flood forecast, and advised that it will continue to operate both the Red River Floodway and the Portage Diversion to lower water levels in Winnipeg.
The City continues to meet with provincial flood forecasters on a daily basis, and are monitoring weather and river conditions continuously, in order to update our flood response as necessary.
In late March, the City identified 16 properties that could be at-risk of river flooding. Only one of these properties has been advised to build a dike to date. Based on updated forecasts and data modelling, the City will notify any additional properties that are deemed to be potentially at risk and will work directly with those property owners.
As of 4:03 p.m. on Friday, April 29, 2022, the river level at the James Avenue gauge was 17.44 feet. River levels are available online at City of Winnipeg – Current river levels and updated in real time every 10 minutes.
Residents are reminded to use extreme caution around all waterways throughout the city, as banks may be unstable.
Basement & overland flooding
Basement and overland flooding are risks throughout Winnipeg, and homeowners who experienced issues last weekend are urged to remain vigilant.
Homeowners are reminded to take precautions to protect their homes and property, as rain and snow melt can quickly cause water to creep onto a property and threaten homes. Water can find its way in through cracks in foundations, window wells, or failed weeping tiles.
While basement flooding is a risk at any time of the year, the risk increases in the spring and when river levels rise because the sewer system must rely heavily on pumping stations rather than gravity to carry the water runoff due to higher river levels.
Property owners are reminded it is against the law to drain sump pump water into the basement floor drain or any other part of the house plumbing system, as it can overtax the sewer system placing their basement and those of their neighbours at risk of flooding and damage.
What to do if your basement floods
Make sure to check your basement often to spot flooding early, should it occur. In the unfortunate event it happens, you’ll want to take personal precautions for your safety. If the water is above your electrical outlets, heaters, furnace, other electronics or your electrical panel, do not enter your basement as the water could have an electrical current.
If you are bucketing out water, do not put it down any of your drains. Make sure to dump the water outside.
When you are cleaning up, make sure to follow the procedures from the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba, and the Red Cross for what to do after the floodwaters recede.
Flood damaged materials should not go in your garbage or recycling. Instead, they should be taken to the Brady Road Resource Management Facility.
You should contact your insurance company as soon as possible. If you believe that you have a claim against the City for bodily injury or damage to your property, you must provide us with notification immediately following, or as soon as possible after the damage or injury has occurred.
For more information on river, basement, overland, and snowmelt flooding, see: winnipeg.ca/flood.
Sandbags
Sandbags are available 24 hours per day to residents who may be expecting or experiencing overland flooding to protect their properties at the following locations:
- 1220 Pacific Ave. (East approach)
- 1090 Thomas Ave. (Entrance approach)
- 1539 Waverley St. (Visitor parking lot, next to recycling bins)
Residents must bring identification to demonstrate that they live in Winnipeg.
Since Friday, April 22, the City distributed approximately 50,000 sandbags. There are currently 40,000 available sandbags.
Standing water on roadways
Motorists are reminded to drive to road conditions, and use caution if they encounter water covered roadways in the coming days. If residents encounter a significant amount of standing water on roadways, they are advised to contact 311 to report the issue. Residents are reminded to only contact 911 for emergencies.
Crews will address areas of concern based on reports as quickly as possible.
Potholes
The City began its pothole operations in early April and crews are continuing to repair potholes across the city to improve the condition of the roadway with a focus on main routes (Priority 1) and bus routes and collector streets (Priority 2) as required, and as weather allows, based on the street priority network.
The pothole repairs that crews make at this time of year are temporary patches using an asphalt mix, called cold mix, specifically designed for use in cold, wet weather.
Due to unfavorable wet weather and wet road conditions at this time of year, crews may have to return several times to repair the same pothole in the coming days to improve the condition of the roadway. When temperatures warm up and regular hot asphalt becomes available in mid-May, crews will return to make permanent repairs.
It’s anticipated that beginning on Monday, May 2, 25 dedicated crews will be repairing potholes with hot asphalt throughout the city for more permanent repairs to improve the overall condition of the roadway, two weeks earlier than usual. Initially, crews will focus their patching efforts on Priority 1 and Priority 2 streets.
The number of potholes we see on city streets is proportional to how wet road conditions are, and the extent of the freeze/thaw cycles we experience each spring. In the days ahead, it is expected more potholes will be developing and we will be making pothole repairs accordingly.
So far in 2022, 311 has received 4,004 requests for service related to potholes. So far this spring, crews have repaired more than 46,000 potholes.
At this time of year motorists are reminded to slow down and drive to road conditions and to be mindful that potholes may be present on city streets. Residents can report potholes to the City by contacting 311, or by filling out the convenient online form, and that the locations of very large or deep potholes that pose an imminent safety concern are forwarded directly to field crews for immediate attention.
311 service requests
Since Friday, April 22, 2022, 311 has received 1,402 storm-related service requests, including:
- 486 related to basement flooding
- 50 related to high water in retention ponds
- 866 related to flooded streets/ditches
Residents are reminded that crews will address issues based on level of priority.