PROJECT ALERT NOTICE (MN) Flooding in Minnesota continues working north

Date: Thu, 21 Mar 2019 14:32:58 EDT

Summary: Flooding in Minnesota continues working north as the heavy snowpack melts.

Flooding has started in southern Minnesota in the Minnesota, Missouri, and southern tributaries to the Mississippi River basins. Recent dry weather and cool nights has been releasing the heavy snowpack gradually resulting in relatively routine flooding to date with one exception: ice jams seem to be more frequent, widespread, and severe than recent snowmelt events, causing unpredictable backwater flooding. One ice jam resulted in a provisional peak (stage) of record at 05385000 Root River near Houston, MN, and nearly flooded the town of Houston. Barring additional rain, the Mississippi mainstem gages from the Twin Cities to Winona are forecast to crest around March 28 but could have larger second peaks in early April.

USGS currently has 5 teams deployed to make measurements and repair gages. To date, only crest-stage gages for peak confirmation have been destroyed by ice flows.

Flooding will continue to work north into the the Red River of the North Basin and the northern two-thirds of Minnesota starts ramping up next week.

U.S. Representative Betty McCollum and staff visited the USGS office in Mounds View Office March 20 and was briefed on streamgages and flood activities, among other topics.