Elevated River Levels and Potential for Ice Activity on Rivers This Week... Runoff from recent precipitation and snowmelt will result in continued rises on area rivers and streams this week. A couple of additional rounds of rainfall are expected through Thursday. The recent stretch of arctic air has produced some frozen soils which will result in any additional rainfall to be mainly runoff. In addition, warmer temperatures this week will allow for melting of the snowpack across the area. This snowpack contains approximately 0.5 to 2.0 inches of water equivalent. Runoff from the melting snow will also aid in rising river levels this week. The combination of runoff from new rainfall and melting snow will cause continued rises on area rivers and streams through next weekend, with an increased potential of some minor river flooding. Depending on the extent of additional rainfall, some areal flooding is possible given potential poor drainage resulting from storm drains being blocked by lingering ice and snow. These warmer temperatures and additional rainfall events may also allow for some break up of ice activity on area rivers, which could result in rapid development of additional downstream ice jam flooding with little to no warning. This outlook means that elevated water levels and potential impacts are possible, but not yet certain. Persons with interests along area rivers should closely monitor the latest forecasts.