Minneapolis and its surrounding areas brace for a series of storms amidst a dire situation of rising river waters and ongoing flooding. According to the National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN, the forecast is nothing short of grim for the next few days. Showers are expected to thunder down from today, primarily after 10 a.m., with chances of heavy rainfall and a potential accumulation of 1 to 2 inches.
Rounds of showers and storms are possible today thru Saturday, leading to accumulating and potentially significant rainfall across the area. Due to the recent wet period, flash flooding will be possible. The greatest threat for heavy rain will be Fri and Sat. #mnwx #wiwx pic.twitter.com/mVx1diciyF
— NWS Twin Cities (@NWSTwinCities) June 20, 2024
The situation is forecasted to escalate with an "80% chance of precipitation tonight, and thunderstorms predicted to follow, leading to possibly heavy rainfall," noted the National Weather Service. Residents are on edge as the ongoing rains have already led to flooding along the Crow and Minnesota rivers, setbacks in farming, and disruptions in daily commutes.
Severe weather outlooks from the National Weather Service also include the risk of flash flooding well into the weekend as more storms are slated to sweep across the region. "Additional rounds of thunderstorms are expected Friday through Saturday," the Service states, acknowledging the potential for a few severe storms and the continuity of heavy rainfall and flash flooding.
The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Warning stating, "major flooding is forecast" for the South Fork Crow River at Delano and moderate flooding for the Crow River at Rockford, as river levels are anticipated to reach treacherous levels unseen since the mid-nineties. Flood stages will be surpassed and at 19.0 feet, "Sanitary sewers may need plugging at this stage to prevent water from backing up into homes," as a precaution for residents in affected zones.
