Red River levels rise 5 feet near Emerson, Man., after significant rain and snow in U.S.

Water levels have risen about five feet near Emerson, Man., after significant rain and snow last week, the province's hydrologic forecast centre says.

That precipitation fell in the United States' portion of the Red River basin, which is expected to now lead to increased water levels north of the border community, the province said in a news release on Thursday.

Up to 80 millimetres of precipitation fell in the southern part of the Red River basin between Dec. 24 and 27.

While water levels near Emerson are peaking, levels continue to rise north of the community and are expected to rise three to five feet as the river approaches Winnipeg in the next three to five weeks, the release said. 

That rise in water levels may lift up the ice and create open water conditions near the river's shorelines, the province said, advising people to take precautions.

As in previous years, the province will also provide spring flood outlook in the later weeks of February and March, the release said.