Flood in Clay, Minnesota

The winter brought 52.5 inches of snow to the Fargo-Moorhead area, which was above the average of 40 inches. The snow water content over Clay county ranged from 2.5 to 3.5 inches. A heavy rain event on April 7th brought a widespread swath of 1 to 2 inches of rain to the Red River basin. This rain event, along with the snowmelt runoff, contributed to the crest of 36.69 feet in Fargo on the 14th of April. This was the 4th highest crest ever at Fargo. Another rain event on the 11th and 12th, and a winter storm that brought 7.9 inches of snow on the 22nd and 23rd, helped keep the Buffalo and Red Rivers high for nearly the whole month. Problems developed around Oakport Township in north Moorhead, where the Red River made islands once again out of the neighborhood homes. The US Army Corps of Engineers had to cut 2 sections of road to alleviate the flooding there. Many roads and bridges had to be closed along the river. A main link to Fargo, the 1st Avenue North bridge, closed due to the high water. The Buffalo River at Hawley and Dilworth stayed above the moderate flood level from April 6th to 17th. This high level forced the diversion of US Highway 10 in Hawley.