GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) - The rivers were rising, but it was ice jams and thawing ground that caused power problems Tuesday in North Dakota.

Xcel Energy said debris or ice in the Red River on the north side of Fargo sheered off power poles, knocking out power to about 3,300 customers about 4 a.m. Most had their power back after about three hours.

In Bismarck, Montana-Dakota Utilities said thawing ground led to problems with an underground cable that knocked out power to several hundred customers - including the hotel where the annual meeting of the company's parent, MDU Resources, Inc., was being held.

"In the spring when the ground thaws, you sometimes get frost movement, get heaving and things like that," MDU spokesman Dan Sharp said. "For underground cables, there's always a danger that they will be compromised and that's what happened in this situation. We found the fault and repaired it."

Rivers in the eastern part of the state were expected to start falling slowly over the next few days.

The Red River rose above its 28-foot flood stage in Grand Forks, the National Weather Service said. The Red was expected to crest at around 30 feet late Wednesday or early Thursday.

In Fargo, the river was expected to crest Tuesday at nearly 5 feet above flood stage.

The weather service issued a flood warning for the Pembina River at Neche, saying snowmelt was causing moderate flooding. The river was to begin a slow fall late Tuesday afternoon, forecasters said.

The city of Neche issued an emergency declaration to pave the way for help in dealing with flood damage.

Pembina County Emergency Manager Becky Ault said ice jams were causing isolated overland flooding. She said Neche has sandbags ready if needed.

In western North Dakota, a flood warning was issued for the lower James River in Dickey County. The weather service said minor flooding was occurring Tuesday, and the river level was expected to start to fall by Thursday.