June 23—RED WING, Minn. — As flooding from heavy rains this past weekend recedes in southeastern Minnesota, emergency officials are still preparing for high water.
Forecasts show that major flooding could occur on the Mississippi River in Red Wing by next Sunday, June 30, 2024. That depends in part on how much rain does or doesn’t fall in the area between now and then and how quickly the high tides come through sudden bursts. flooding this weekend is moving through the system, forecasters say.
Rounds of storms drenched southeastern Minnesota, pushing creeks and rivers over or near flood stage. Some of the high water flowed over roads, leading to closures and diversions during heavy rain on Saturday.
In 72 hours – from Thursday morning, June 20, through Sunday morning, June 23 – approximately 6 inches of rain fell in Austin, Minnesota, and parts of Fillmore County recorded more than 6 inches of rain. Interstate 90 in Mower County was briefly closed due to standing water in all four lanes. In Fillmore County, part of US Highway 63 was also closed briefly.
Most of the floodwaters in creeks and rivers had peaked by Sunday evening and most roads had reopened after inspections found no road damage, Minnesota Department of Transportation officials said.
“Once it recedes from the roadway, we’ll see if it’s passable and open it up,” said Cindy Morgan, public engagement coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Transportation. “So far we have not seen any concerns in this region.”
As high water made its way toward the Mississippi River, some roads remained closed Sunday afternoon. There was water over the roadway on Minnesota Highway 250 east of Lanesboro, Minnesota, where the south fork of the Root River meets the main channel.
The rising Root River prompted the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office to voluntarily evacuate campsites in low-lying areas along the river.
North of there, Minnesota Highway 74 was closed due to flooding on the Whitewater River near Weaver, Minnesota. Goodhue County Road 7 was closed as water from the Cannon River flowed over the roadway.
Some residents along the Cannon River piled up sandbags to protect their homes, said Earl Merhlewitz, Goodhue County Emergency Management director. MnDOT closed Minnesota Highway 20 north of Cannon Falls because water covered the roadway there, Merhlewitz said. Like most major roads in the area, that highway was open again on Sunday morning. However, many rural roads are still being assessed for damage, Merhlewitz said.
Merhlewitz said the Cannon River had crested in areas of concern Sunday afternoon.
“It all points to what we want to see,” he said.
Then he and emergency planners in Red Wing will prepare for flooding along the Mississippi.
The Mississippi River is forecast to be just below major flood level, but the forecast is likely to change, Merhlewitz said.
“We’re still waiting to see how much will flow out of the Minnesota (river) and how much rain the basin will get this week,” he said.
These factors and more can impact river forecast models, said Cathy Zapotocny, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
At the beginning of the season, the soil in the area was dry. How well those soils now absorb more moisture is also a factor in determining the extent of flooding downstream, she said.
“A lot depends on how well the modeling moves water from one location in the water system to another,” she said. “We’ve had a prolonged drought and a lot of water has seeped into the soil.”
Rain is forecast in the area Monday evening and Friday. Zapotocny said this could also affect flood forecasts. However, some rivers and creeks that flow into the Mississippi are efficient at moving water quickly and can quickly move rainfall into the Mississippi before the forecast surge.
One of those fast-responding rivers is the south fork of the Zumbro River, which was so high Saturday afternoon that new rainfall had nowhere to go but the West River Parkway in Rochester.
Municipal staff closed the street.
The road was open again on Sunday morning as the water flowed down again.
“The south fork of the Zumbro is a very ‘flashy’ river,” said Aaron Luckstein, the city’s deputy public works director. “It will rise quickly and come down quickly.”
City staff were busy Friday through Sunday morning, Luckstein said.
In some areas along those creeks and the Zumbro River, trails were flooded. Those trails will remain closed through Sunday until city crews inspect the trails for damage early Monday, Luckstein said.
Crews were also at the Silver Lake Dam to open the gates and lower the dam to increase water flow through the system and prevent flooding upstream.
“It’s essentially designed to pretend the dam isn’t there,” Luckstein said.
Areas of southeastern Minnesota received heavy rainfall Friday and Saturday. Here are the 72-hour totals as of the morning of Sunday, June 23, according to the National Weather Service:
* Elgin, 6.7 inches
* Austin, 6.5 inches
*Wykoff, 6.18 inches
* Kasson, 5.7 inches
* Fillmore, 6.04 inches
* Rochester, 5.15 inches
