The province says an incoming storm expected to hit Manitoba throughout the weekend could push floodwaters to 2009 levels.

On Friday, Visaha Onotchi, director of the Water Management Department in Manitoba, said heavy rain is expected in the province on Friday afternoon.

Onotchi said that the normal rainfall for the entire Red River Basin at this time in April is only 28 mm. However, the basin average this year has already reached about 80 mm, which he said represents about 300 percent of the normal rate.

Most southern basins are experiencing the highest amount of rainfall since 1950.

"With the ground fully saturated by this time, most creeks and rivers are already full from the previous system and snowmelt. This rainfall can add more water.

The host said in a statement that peak levels are expected in Emerson between May 7 and May 9 and can remain until May 14. With additional rainfall, there is still a risk of medium to major flooding in the Red River Basin.

Johano Buta, Assistant Deputy Minister and head of the Emergency Management Organization in Manitoba, said: "More than 20,000 sandbags and sandbagging machines have been delivered to the communities that need them."

He added that the province supports evacuation planning and pumping operations. He said, "Overall, our emergency response system has been strengthened and we are well positioned to respond to events that may come our way."

Buta said flood levels could lead to dozens of evacuations, but he said this is mostly due to floodwaters restricting access to communities. Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Doyle Bionuk said six communities have so far declared a local state of emergency due to flooding.

Bionuk also said regarding this matter: "We are always prepared for the worst, but we hope for the best." "We will work with all municipalities, and all Manitobans to ensure everyone is safe, and everyone gets the help they need."