© Tyson Koschik/CBC Manitoba Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler says Manitobans are getting the message around COVID-19 precautions and at this time there's no need to close the interprovincial border to outside traffic.

The Red River's crest is at the lower end of what was forecasted in Southern Manitoba, Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler announced Tuesday.

"We always prepare for the worst but hope for the best, and so far the weather has co-operated," he said.

"Cooler temperatures have slowed the melt and helped control high water in Manitoba, and we aren't expecting any major spring storms in the week ahead."

Schuler says the levels are similar to those experienced in Emerson and Letellier, Man. in 2006 and, going north from St. Jean Baptiste they are closer to the 2019 levels.

South of the border, river levels are reducing in North Dakota, and the province has sufficient capacity if there's a major storm, Schuler says.

"The Red River can be temperamental and we have to be very careful we keep an eye on it," he said.

"We should be in very good shape, even if we do have a severe weather event."

© Trevor Brine/CBC The Red River level at the James Street pump station on Tuesday afternoon.

The river is expected to crest Tuesday at Morris, Ste. Agathe and St. Adolphe and within the next 24 hours at the Red River Floodway inlet south of Winnipeg.

It has already crested from Emerson to St. Jean Baptiste. That means road closures, washouts and debris cleanup, according to David Carlson, the reeve of the rural municipality of Emerson-Franklin.

"It's definitely an unfortunate time to have a flood, for sure, especially with everything else that's going on," he told CBC Radio Noon's Marjorie Dowhos.

Carlson says last year, the RM had to clean up a section of debris that stretched 80 kilometres after the water receded. This year, the water levels are a bit higher and he estimates there could be as much as 120 kilometres worth.

"[Farmers will] be seeding late in some of the overland flooded areas," he said.

Carlson hopes the pandemic will end soon to ease the burden on people in the RM.

"It's going to be a tough year, and the sooner we can get back to work the better," he said.

Outside of the RM, Schuler says there are no ice dam issues in Selkirk and the Portage diversion stopped operations as of Monday.

Provincial Trunk Highway 75 at Morris is expected to remain open.

A flood warning is still in place for the river from Emerson to the Red River floodway inlet.