(Radio Iowa) – The U-S Army Corps of Engineers is preparing the Missouri River reservoirs for spring runoff and potential flooding — which is expected to be minor-to-moderate this spring. Kevin Low, a hydrologist with the Missouri Basin River Forecast Center, says the mountain snowpack normally peaks in the next few weeks, just before the start of spring.

“We’ve usually accumulated about 80% of the seasonal peak snow-water equivalent in the mountains and so the mountain contributions to the 2021 runoff season is coming into focus,” Low says. “Our March water supply forecast suggests a below-normal runoff season covering April through September.” Low says the risk of flooding for the coming spring is very low.

“Flood risk for the Missouri basin is lower than normal,” Low says, “given the dry soil conditions, lack of Plains snow, and average to lower-than-average mountain snowpack.” Low says the flood forecast is nothing out of the ordinary, which is a good thing.

“The outlook indicates the likelihood of minor to moderate flooding along the Little Sioux River in northwest Iowa as well as minor to moderate flooding in the lower portion of the basin,” Low says. “The Missouri River itself is likely to see minor flooding from Rulo, Nebraska, downstream. All of this is very typical.” The Corps of Engineers is predicting Missouri River runoff at about 80-percent of normal this year.