5 More Inches Of Rain, More Flooding Possible This Weekend: MN Weather

TWIN CITIES, MN — Minnesota is once again at high risk for flash flooding this weekend, adding to rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water that are already at capacity thanks to the wet spring.

A flood watch was issued for Saturday, covering the following Minnesota counties: Anoka, Blue Earth, Carver, Dakota, Faribault, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hennepin, Le Sueur, McLeod, Nicollet, Ramsey, Rice, Scott, Sibley, Steele, Waseca, Washington, and Wright.

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Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are expected by Saturday afternoon, with locally higher amounts of 5 inches possible across south central Minnesota, the National Weather Service said.

Rainfall rates may exceed 1 inch per hour.

"The heaviest rainfall will occur across southern Minnesota through midday," the NWS notes. "Another round of heavy rain and thunderstorms arrives this evening and continues overnight. A few storms may be strong to severe with damaging winds possible."

As of 8 a.m. on June 21, the following highways are closed or have traffic restrictions, the Minnesota Department of Transportation notes:

• Westbound Interstate 90 from Worthington to Luverne. Closed.
• Eastbound Interstate 90 from Luverne to Adrian. Closed.
• Highway 13, south of Waseca. Closed, temporary detour.
• Highway 86 (two miles south of I-90). One lane is closed.
• Highway 91, north of Adrian. Closed, temporary detour.
• Highway 75, Luverne to the Iowa border. One lane is closed.
• Highway 19 east of Henderson. Closed, temporary detour.

Here's the full NWS forecast from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport:

Friday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 3pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 4pm. High near 72. East wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Friday Night: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 4am. Low around 65. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8am and 9am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 9am. Cloudy, with a high near 74. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 81. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast after midnight.

Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. South southeast wind 5 to 15 mph.

Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 10 mph becoming west southwest after midnight.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 78. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east after midnight.

Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. East southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.