April Snow Helps S. Minn., But Hurts NW. Minn.
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- April is less than half over, but we've already had way more snow than average.
In southwestern Minnesota, places such as Worthington, got a lot of snow and rain this week. And while that freezing rain damaged trees and caused power outages, it helped the area's drought conditions.
The top layer of soil in southern Minnesota has begun to thaw.
Steve Buan, of the National Weather Service, said the rain and snow have cut off about half of the soil's moisture deficit.
"We expect to see some improvement in a lot of areas of southern Minnesota," he said.
But in northern Minnesota and North Dakota, such as Fargo, residents have filled one million sandbags in the past weeks.
And because it's the middle of April, the weather could warm up rapidly, melting the snow quickly.
"In the last 100 years of gauge records, we see the latest crest at Fargo being April 19, and it takes about seven days from full onset of run-off to reach a peak, and we've hardly even begun run-off," Buan said.
He said that Fargo residents will see the peek after April 19.
While this spring might be one for the record books, there is no guarantee that bad flooding will happen.
Buan says there could be a gradual warm-up into May. But there is one thing he knows for sure – winter hasn't given up yet.
And this weekend, the Red River Valley could get even more snow, which could make matters even worse up there.
