Melting snow threatens spring flooding in north

Warnings have already been posted in the region, the only area in the 48 contiguous states listed as a high flood threat in the new national spring outlook.

Facing above average flood threats are:

- Much of northern Minnesota, central North Dakota and northern South Dakota.

- A region extending across northern Illinois, Indiana and Ohio and the southern two-thirds of Michigan.

- New York's Mohawk River Valley and along the northern border of Massachusetts.

The melt from heavy winter snowfalls is expected to provide the excess moisture in the flood areas.

The flood risk is reported to be below average in central Wisconsin, Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the Mid-Atlantic states, Florida, Louisiana, Texas and along the Mexican border and West Coast.

The only parts of the country expected to receive unusually heavy rainfall or snow this spring are Hawaii and Alaska, the National Weather Service reported.

Below normal rainfall is likely in southern Florida and a region of the West including Idaho, Wyoming, Oregon, Utah, most of Washington, Montana and Colorado as well as northern California and Nevada.

The rest of the country has about even chances of wet, dry or normal weather.

The temperature outlook is for cooler than normal in Hawaii, the southern two-thirds of Alaska, Washington, Montana and the northern parts of Oregon and Idaho.

The outlook is for warmer than normal spring temperatures in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and southern Utah and Colorado.

©2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.