FARGO, N.D. (AP) - An unusually dry fall has the Red River at Fargo several feet lower than it was last year as the winter freeze approaches.

The river is at about 14.7 feet, compared to just below 17 feet last November.

State Climatologist Adnan Akyuz says soils throughout the Red River Valley also are much drier than in recent falls. 

Fall precipitation and moisture is only one factor in spring flooding. How much snow falls during the winter, how fast it melts and how much rain falls in the spring are others.