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FORKS, ND – (NewsDakota.com) The spring flooding impact for the Sheyenne River Valley remains low heading into the final stretch of winter according to flood warning coordinator meteorologist Greg Gust.

The Climate Prediction Center expects March, April and May to have warmer temperatures and below normal precipitation over that three month period.

The National Weather Service says the risk of widespread flooding in the western two-thirds of North Dakota this spring is well below normal, due in large part to a minimal snow pack.

Hydrologists say heavy spring rains or ice jams could lead to some minor flooding in some areas of the Souris (SUR’-ihs), Missouri and James River valleys.

Devils Lake is expected to have “a typical late-spring rise” this year. The ice-covered lake currently is down about 1  1/2 feet from this time last year. There is virtually no chance the lake will succeed its record level set in June 2011.