(KNSI) – The same day the U.S. Drought Monitor says more than 57% of the state is in extreme or exceptional drought, the National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for a large portion of Minnesota, including the St. Cloud area.
There is a band of training thunderstorms developing south of Interstate 94. Training storms mean storms with heavy rain keep developing in a short period of time over the same area that has already received heavy rain. This is likely to continue or become more widespread through the evening hours. Some areas, which have seen little to no rain for several weeks, could now see more than three inches of rain. This rain follows storms that pushed through the area early Thursday afternoon.
Storms that drop large amounts of rain quickly do not allow the moisture to sink into the ground in drought-stricken areas that desperately need the water. The runoff flows into drainage channels and creeks. Streams, low-lying and urban areas are all at risk.
The flash flood watch is in effect through Friday morning.
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