


Flood Potential Outlook
Issued by NWS Grand Forks, ND
Issued by NWS Grand Forks, ND
738 FGUS73 KFGF 251754 ESFFGF NDC005-027-071-281200- Probabilistic Hydrologic Outlook National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 1254 PM CDT Thu Sep 25 2025 ...DEVILS LAKE OUTLOOK FOR FLOOD POTENTIAL... Devils and Stump Lakes Long-Range Probabilistic Outlook The National Weather Service provides long-range probabilistic hydrologic outlooks for Devils and Stump lakes between January and September. They will not be provided between October and December. Depending on the season, the high or low water probabilities may be omitted due to their applicability to the hydrologic situation. .OUTLOOK SUMMARY... Note: This outlook incorporates a daily average of 350 cfs worth of pumping operations on Devils Lake from May 15th through October 30th. Heavy rain across the basin over the September 10-12 time period has allowed lake levels to rise a bit this fall. Although pumping operations are likely ceased for the season, this outlook continues to incorporate a daily average of 350 cfs through October 30th. Therefore, the lake levels in this outlook may be a bit lower than what occurs due to pumping no longer occurring. Ultimately, any additional decline in lake levels this fall will be highly dependent on future precipitation. Climate outlooks indicate above normal temperatures to continue through the end of September and into early October. By mid-October, there is no strong signal either way for above, below, or near normal temperatures and precipitation through the remainder of the fall season and into winter. This will be the last lake level outlook for 2025. Exceedance numbers will resume in January 2026. .Current and Previous Record High Lake Levels... * The current height of Devils Lake is 1448.7 feet NGVD29. * The current height of Stump Lake is 1448.7 feet NGVD29. * USGS daily average height records for Devils Lake at the Creel Bay gage: ...1454.30 feet on June 27, 2011 ...1452.05 feet on June 27, 2010 ...1450.93 feet on June 27, 2009 ...1449.20 feet on May 9, 2006 ...1449.18 feet on June 17, 2004 ...1449.17 feet on August 2, 2005 Note: All previous records are recorded in NGVD29. .Chances of Devils and Stump Lakes Falling Below Given Lake Levels... The probability of not exceeding a given lake level is the percentage of lake level falls that are below that level for all the years (1949-2019) that were run through the model using the precipitation and temperatures for those years during the valid period of the outlook. Interpretation Aid: There is a 50 percent chance that Devils Lake will fall below 48.2 feet during the valid period and a 5 percent chance that it will fall below 48.1 feet. Probabilities for Falling Below Listed Lake Levels FROM SEPTEMBER 22, 2025 TO DECEMBER 28, 2025 LOCATION 95% 90% 75% 50% 25% 10% 05% -------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Devils Lake..... CREEL BAY 48.6 48.5 48.3 48.2 48.1 48.1 48.1 Stump Lake..... EAST STUMP LAKE 48.6 48.5 48.3 48.2 48.1 48.1 48.1 The non-exceedance value for a listed percentage is the value where that percentage of all model cases run were below that lake level for the specified valid period of the outlook. .OUTLOOK SCHEDULE... - Between January and May, only the high water exceedances will be provided with valid periods ending at the end of September. - Special Spring Flood and Water Resources Outlooks will be issued from mid-February through mid-March. - For June and July, both high-water and low-water exceedances will be provided. - For August and September, only the low-water exceedances will be provided with valid periods ending at the end of November. - No probability information will be provided from October through December. .ADDITIONAL INFORMATION... These lake level probabilities can be used for risk management as an indication of the range of lake levels that may be possible during the valid period of the outlook. However, note that it is possible that lake levels may still reach above/fall below the 95th and 5th percentile values. This outlook is also presented as graphs of the potential lake levels for the full outlook period as well as weekly probabilities. These graphics, and explanations that help in interpreting them, can be found on the NWS Grand Forks NWPS web page by clicking on "Rivers and Lakes" above the map at www.weather.gov/fgf. Wind and wave forecasts for Devils and Stump Lakes are available for a 7-day period when the lakes are sufficiently ice-free at www.weather.gov/fgf/lake_info. If you have any questions, please contact the NWS at 701-772-0720. You can follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NWSGrandForks and on X at @NWSGrandForks. $$ weather.gov/fgf NNNN