FARGO (AP) - The National Weather Service says there's a strong chance the Red River will cause major flooding here over the next 90 days, but city officials aren't scrambling to fill sandbags.

"It is something that has our interest, no question," Fargo City Engineer Mark Bittner said. "But their definition of major flooding will be more a nuisance than a major issue."

The weather service issued its long-range flood outlook for the Red on Thursday. The report put the chance the Red River would reach a flood stage of 30 feet before May 24 at 84 percent.

"At 30 feet, we'll need to start building temporary earthen levees and close roads in some areas," Bittner said. "Once we get to 35 or 36 feet, it's a more serious event."

The weather service is predicting a 16 percent chance of a major Red River flood in Grand Forks, and less than a 10 percent chance in Halstad, Minn. Wahpeton has a 76 percent chance of a major flood over the next 90 days, the agency said.

Dan Riddle, a weather service meteorologist in Grand Forks, said the forecast looks at snow pack, river flows and other factors.

"It's to be used for city officials to plan action, if need be," Riddle said.

Forecaster Mark Ewens, at the National Weather Service in Grand Forks, said conditions are similar to 2001, when the Red River crested in Fargo at more than 36 feet, or about 19 feet above flood stage. The river is running high and soil is saturated from a wet fall, he said.

"This is just an awareness," Dennis Walaker, the city's public works director said of this week's outlook. "This is the first shot. I've got a whole file of first shots."

Walaker said much has been done to protect the city since the 1997 Red River flood, including buyouts of about 100 homes.