Keith Demke, Director, Utility Operations reported this morning that the river has now iced over and the ice jam is no longer controlling the river levels. "The water levels in south Bismarck have dropped over a foot and the river in south Bismarck is now free-flowing," said Demke. "The level in the storm water drainage ditch has dropped more than one foot from where it was on Saturday. We’re in normal winter flow mode now and the threat has passed."
The National Weather Service office in Bismarck reported at 10:03 a.m. January 17 that the flood warning that was in effect for east Central Morton and Southwestern Burleigh counties is cancelled.
According to the National Weather Service even though the river level at the Bismarck gage is still similar to the past several days...the river has regained its slope south of Bismarck. The icing over of the river through Bismarck and to the North of town is near complete and lessens the immediate risk of
further accumulation of restrictive ice near the University of Mary.
River watchers should expect the river to remain near this elevation for the duration of the winter as is normal for iced over conditions.