An extended thaw that that broke historic records has driven the sharp rise in the Red River, still expected to crest at around 38 feet Saturday.
Persistent fog and low cloud cover have kept temperatures above freezing for at least eight days in the Fargo area, a key ingredient of the surging rivers in the southern Red River Valley, said Greg Gust, a National Weather Service meteorologist.
The previous record was in 1977, at about five days.
Fortunately, the North Dakota Wild Rice River is not expected to crest until after the Red River crests, which should help avoid a second crest on the Red, Gust said.
The timing of the Wild Rice peak should help moderate the Red River crest, which forecasters have given a range of 37 to 39 feet, but could keep the Red hovering in the mid-30-foot range for several days, he said.
