Eight years ago this week, the flood of 2009 was peaking. Following a very rainy late fall, the winter had been very snowy. In December, alone, there was more snowfall in Fargo Moorhead (33 inches) than in any of the past three entire winters.
The winter continued to be very snowy. Early March brought a vicious blizzard From March 9-11. Then the weather suddenly warmed into the 40s and 50s, starting a rapid melt. The blizzard, in making huge drifts, had scoured huge sections of open land free of snow, allowing the exposed soil to soak up the sun’s rays. Temperatures reached the 50s.
Then it started raining. About two inches of rain fell from Sunday through Tuesday, March 22-24. The Red River rose faster than ever known. Amazingly, it turned cold again Wednesday March 25. Cold weather persisted through the weekend and the Red crested Saturday, March 28, at 40.84 feet, on a seven-degree morning with deep snow on the ground.
The cold snap probably saved most of Fargo Moorhead from flooding.
