Weather forecasts calling for strong winds in Manitoba are raising concern about water levels near lakes in the flood-soaked province.
Winds of up to 40 km/h could whip up swells on Lake Winnipeg, with stronger gusts on other lakes in the area, meaning trouble for homeowners near bodies of water.
Manitoba Infrastructure Minister Steve Ashton said that work to protect homes near lakeshores will continue, particularly on the shores of Lake Manitoba, where sandbagging continued Saturday night.
Heavy rain is also forecast in the southern section of the province, but it's not likely to cause significant problems for residents.
The worst of Manitoba's flood fears appear to have passed, allowing the province to close a deliberate dike breach they had cut before the Assiniboine River crested earlier this week.
The dropping water levels in the Assiniboine River allowed crews to close a dike breach at Hoop and Holler Bend, southeast of Portage la Prairie, which had been intentionally cut to ease pressure from the rising water levels last week.
"We might see some more surprises along the way," Premier Greg Selinger said on Friday. "But I got a unanimous recommendation today from people who thought we could close it."
The province says the closure was not considered permanent, and the breach could be reopened if a forecasted rainstorm or concerns with the Portage diversion threatens the region over the next week.
Ashton said he was cautiously optimistic earlier this week, when flood levels peaks and began receding. Ashton said it would still be months before life returns to normal in the affected region.
The deliberate dike breach was launched on May 14 in an attempt to protect hundreds of homes that would be at risk if the river breached its banks and became uncontrollable.
The controlled release had been expected to threaten about 150 homes over 200 square kilometres, prompting some hand wringing and frantic sandbagging.
In the end, only a 3.4-square-kilometre area of land was affected by the release, and no homes suffered flood damage.
Residents living in the controlled release zone are allowed to return home, but were being advised to stay on alert until the possibility of another release has been ruled out.
With files from The Canadian Press
