Residents in Peguis, Manitoba, are bracing for significant spring flooding as a cold spell gives way to a warming trend that is expected to accelerate snowmelt in the coming days. The community, along with the neighbouring Fisher River Cree Nation, declared a state of emergency on April 18, 2026, after officials confirmed that the flood risk in the region had become a certainty.
According to The Weather Network, this morning is unusually cold, with temperatures at -9°C and a wind chill making it feel like -15°C. While today’s high will only reach 2°C, a significant warming trend is set to begin on April 20, 2026. This increase in temperature will trigger a rapid melt, leading to expected peak water flows in the Fisher River basin between April 23 and April 28.
The Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre is monitoring the situation closely, as the upcoming conditions could cause flooding similar to the event in 2022. That previous flood forced approximately 2,000 people to leave their homes and resulted in long-term displacement for hundreds of residents.
Community members and volunteers have been working around the clock to prepare. As of April 13, 2026, nearly 110,000 sandbags had already been delivered to Peguis First Nation to help protect homes. To further assist with these efforts, the province has requested support from the Canadian Armed Forces.
