Rain In The Metro, Blizzard Warning Up North
By Courtney King, NewsRadio 830 WCCO
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- As the rivers around Minnesota are starting to rise in earnest, a spring storm could bring a seasonal sense of déjà vu to parts of Minnesota.
The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for the Duluth area and a winter storm warning for the rest of northern Minnesota. Forecasters say there's a potential for 12 to 18 inches of snow.
In the meantime, a flood watch is in effect until Wednesday for all of southeastern Minnesota as rain drenches the Twin Cities.
Steve Buan, hydrologist for the National Weather Service in Chanhassen, said central Minnesota may see a quarter-inch to as much as nine-tenths of an inch of rain just west of the Twin Cities.
"We're expecting flooding to break out in places we haven't seen it yet, due to the accelerated snow melt and places that may be just below flood stage," explained Buan.
WCCO's Dave Lee Interviews Steve Buan
Podcast
The rain in southern Minnesota will transition into the potential for some snow in the Twin Cities on Wednesday, especially the northern part.
Meteorologist Ron Trenda said he expects that the metro area could see somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 inches of snow, perhaps even 4 inches in the northern sections.
Ice jams are threatening to force water over roads, making conditions dangerous for drivers. Buan said that ice is moving down the Minnesota River at Henderson and the Redwood River at Redwood Falls.
"Ice is really starting to move. People need to watch out for that too -- a road that may seem no problem when you go over it, especially at night," said Buan. "Watch out for the ice that would build up water across roadways."
If you see something potentially dangerous to you or other drivers, Buan said you should call your county sheriff's department and they'll relay that report to the National Weather Service.
"That'll immediately get the county out there to barricade roads if there's a problem."
According to Buan, flooding this year may be just as bad as 2001's flooding.
"This is quite a large rain event to be getting right as the snow melt was occurring. So we're expecting conditions to be among the worst we've seen here in the upper Midwest."
In Carver, a town of 3,700 they're raising the levee.
"The city of Carver is raising their levee approximately three feet," said Carver County Emergency Management Director Ken Carlson.
WCCO's Steve Murphy Interviews Ken Carlson
Podcast
Carlson is urging motorists not to push their luck.
"You can't see the road when it's covered with water. And you may drive off the road. And it then may turn from three inches of water to 10 feet of water because you're in a ditch."
Flood warnings yesterday continued for Crow River at Rockford and the Minnesota River in Savage and Shakopee.
