Likelihood Drops for Record-breaking Floods in Fridley

New flood forecasts suggest that Fridley is no more likely to see record high waters this spring than in an average year. 

That's a drop from that had Fridley's probability of repeating 1965 flood levels at 10–20 percent. On Friday morning the National Weather Service (NWS) said the chances of that are now only 3 percent. 

A statement Friday afternoon from Fridley Director of Public Safety Don Abbott emphasized that while there are still no flood warnings or advisories for Fridley, changing weather conditions can prove forecasts wrong. 

On Friday morning the Mississippi River as measured at 45th Avenue NE was 9.1 feet. The NWS says the chance of reaching flood stage of 16 feet is 40 percent. The chance of flooding as high as the 17.1 feet reached in 1997 is 20 percent. 

The earliest date the NWS forecasts flood stage is April 6, with the likeliest period from April 13–27. 

Flood Prep
Fridley Public Works crews have been working for weeks on preparations for possible flooding.

Last week the city announced a for property owners and residents, including free sandbags and sand.

This week the city to include Saturdays, and Abbott's statement said crews would replenish sand at six city sandbag-filling sites before the weekend. 

Chances for water reaching a level requiring broader city action are 65 percent, according to the NWS. Fridley staff are on standby in case actions are needed such as temporary levee construction, a street closure, or a neighborhood evacuation, according to Abbott. 

"At this point, we’ve made our staff aware of the flooding concerns but have not made any schedule or staffing changes," Abbott said in an email. "We can react to those issues fairly quickly and spring flooding usually gives us a few days warning to make those adjustments."  

For more information about preparing for flooding in Fridley, see the city's website.