Heavy Rain Triggers Flood Watch Across SE Minnesota Counties

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for much of southeastern Minnesota due to heavy rain that fell overnight and the potential for additional showers into Monday morning.

The flood watch, which covers Olmsted, Winona, Mower, Dodge, Wabasha, and Fillmore counties, will be in effect from 10 p.m. tonight through 10 a.m. Monday. The watch also includes Buffalo and Trempealeau counties in western Wisconsin.

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Forecasters say the soil in the region is already saturated, and any additional rainfall could produce flash flooding. The current forecast for the Rochester area calls for rain chances to increase tonight, with showers and possible thunderstorms likely early tomorrow morning. The National Weather Service is projecting another quarter to half an inch of rain.

Storms that moved across the region Sunday morning produced significant rainfall totals. The Harmony area appeared to be the hardest hit, with a spotter reporting 7.25 inches of rain just west of the Fillmore County community.

The National Weather Service also reported nearly 4.25 inches of rain in Rochester, about 4.2 inches in Waltham in Mower County, and a similar total in Spring Valley.

A flood warning is currently in effect for the Cedar River in the Austin area. The Weather Service predicts the river will rise to 19.5 feet in Lansing and 17.5 feet in Austin early tomorrow, just below moderate flood stage.

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