FARGO - The National Weather Service says there's a good chance the Red River will have a second dangerous crest in late April. Fargo city officials say they're ready for it.

Forecaster Mark Frazier said Friday there's a 75 percent chance that the river will reach or surpass 41 feet in late April. There's a smaller chance, 25 percent, that it will reach 42.8 feet or higher, he said.

"I think the message here is, while people are taking a reprieve for now, they need to be prepared and not let their guard down," Frazier said.

Fargo raised its temporary protection to 43 feet to withstand a flood threat that's now receding. But the weather service had warned of a new crest later this month from snowmelt and likely spring rains.

Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker said he was skeptical about the forecast. He said he thinks his own estimates are better than the weather service numbers.

"I'm not going to change my feeling. I'm still talking maybe 37, 38 feet," he said.

Still, residents are ready for the second round, said Mike Williams, a Fargo city commissioner.

"It's not the forecast we wanted to hear," Williams said. "But we're in a better position than we were in the first round, and our dikes are proven."

Record precipitation, high river flows, reduced water storage and saturated soils are factors in the forecast, the weather service said. Fargo saw a record March rainfall of 4.62 inches, breaking the 1882 record of 2.83 inches.

The Red River crested at a record 40.82 feet on March 28. It was measured at 35.59 feet shortly before noon Friday.

"The rivers were at record heights. They are very sensitive to any type of precipitation that is occurring," Frazier said.

Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney said he's not surprised by the weather service forecast.

"I see a lot of water out there," he said. "I see a lot of snow. I see county roads that are underwater. I see dams and reservoirs that are all full, when they weren't the first go-around."