Flooding Expected To Be Minor In The St. Cloud Area

(KNSI) – For the first time this spring, we have above-average temperatures. The mercury will soar into the 70s mid-week, which brings with it a rapid melt of the remaining snow and the potential for rivers to rise.

National Weather Service Twin Cities Senior Service Hydrologist Craig Schmidt says right now minor flooding is possible on major waterways like the Mississippi River.

“We’ll see some elevated levels as all that water works its way down through the system. As of Monday morning, we’re still looking at a good three, four, even five inches of water still on the ground in the headwaters of the Mississippi. So, that will be working its way down with these warm temperatures the next few days.”

Schmidt adds that even when considering the Sauk River, nothing should become catastrophic.

“There’s still a few inches left [of water equivalent] in central Minnesota as well that will be coming in, say through the Sauk. None of them by themselves are really enough to get it going into something that’s going to be extremely impactful.”

The pleasant temps are replaced by rain and highs of just 44 by Sunday. Schmidt says if we get more than expected, 2.5 or three inches instead of the half-inch that is forecast, that could tip us into moderate flooding.

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