Flooding, Ice Jams Possible This Weekend

Thanks to a combination of melting snow, frozen soil and an oncoming rainstorm, cities along the Minnesota River could become mired in spotty flooding and rising river tides.

Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service released an advisory for the central third of Minnesota and west central Wisconsin, which could get up to three-quarters of an inch of rain between Friday and Saturday. The NWS has received reports that indicate that the subsoil is still frozen—and less porous—in many places, which could lead to an increase in rainwater runoff. Officials ask anticipate localized flooding, ice jams and rises on rivers.

The alert applies to 42 Minnesota counties, including Dakota, Scott, Carver, Rice, and Hennepin.