Hydrologic Outlook

Hydrologic Outlook
NDC015-059-090445-

Hydrologic Outlook
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
242 PM CST Mon Dec 8 2025

...MISSOURI RIVER BEGINS FORMING ICE IN THE BISMARCK AND MANDAN
AREA...

 Ice formation has picked up on the Missouri River below Garrison Dam
 with ice observed moving through the Bismarck and Mandan area. While
 it is unlikely that the Missouri River will become ice covered in
 the next few days as temperatures will not favor ice formation on
 Tuesday and Wednesday, favorable conditions for ice formation will
 revisit the area beginning Thursday and into the weekend.

At some point ice will begin to once again accumulate in the Missouri
River south of the Bismarck and Mandan area and eventually up through
the metro area itself. As a reminder to those who live along the
river, when this happens the Missouri River will rise, often
erratically, and rapidly due to the constriction the ice creates in
the river.

Since 2010, these normal rises in the river have ranged from a low of
4.9 feet to as much as 6.9 feet, often in well under 24 hours. The
USGS river gage in Bismarck has been around a stage of 4.1 feet the
past several days, this would suggest the reasonable range for the
Missouri River once ice does accumulate will be between 9.0 and 11.0
feet, but with ice constricting the normal flow in the river, there
is always the potential for a larger rise than normal. Minor Flood
Stage for the Missouri River in Bismarck is 14.5 feet.

Residents along the river are advised to be prepared for rapidly
rising water and should ensure their personal property, such as boat
docks, etc are safely above the reasonably expected water levels.

Lastly, when the eventual freezing of the river does take place, any
problematic high water should be reported to your local emergency
management office.

$$

Schlag