The flood threat in Minnesota is becoming a reality to communities along state rivers and streams.
We knew there was going to be significant spring flooding in Minnesota this year. Now it appears that flooding is going to be even worse than expected in the Twin Cities metro after more than two inches of rain fell this week. WCCO chief meteorologist Paul Douglas says the rain absolutely adds to the flood threat.
“According to the National Weather Service hydrologists, the river forecasters, the crest will be higher, and pushed back a few days later,” says Douglas. “Later next week, a forecast crest in St. Paul on the Mississippi.”
The Mississippi River has already reached major flood stage in Hastings, while up river in St. Paul, forecasters say the river will crest three feet above flood stage next week.
Fort Snelling State Park, where the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers meet, is closed because of the high water. West of the metro, there's already flooding of the Crow River at Delano.
North of the Twin Cities, it's not the rain, it's the snow. There was up to six inches of snow overnight in parts of central and northern Minnesota.
Douglas says there will be a little more precipitation across the Twin Cities Friday, mainly sleet and some slushy snow. He says there will be very little accumulation however.
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