Minneapolis, Minn. – Flash flooding is hitting parts of southern and southeastern Minnesota late Sunday night, leaving roads impassable and prompting urgent warnings from the National Weather Service. Streets in Waseca are already under water, and rising creeks across Rice and Steele counties are threatening neighborhoods and highways.
According to the National Weather Service Twin Cities office, flash flood warnings remain in effect until 2:30 a.m. Monday for Waseca, Steele, Blue Earth, Faribault, Rice, and Goodhue counties in Minnesota, as well as Dunn, Pepin, and Pierce counties in western Wisconsin. Between 1 and 3 inches of rain have already fallen, with another 1 to 3 inches possible before storms move out.
In Owatonna and Faribault, residents are being urged to stay off the roads, with several low-lying underpasses quickly filling with water. Broadcast reports confirm flooding in Waseca, where vehicles have stalled in standing water downtown. Further east, Red Wing, Cannon Falls, and Zumbrota are bracing for additional heavy rainfall overnight.
Drivers are advised to avoid flooded roadways and use alternate routes. Officials warn most flood-related deaths occur in vehicles when motorists attempt to cross water.
The flash flood threat continues until early Monday morning, with the possibility of additional advisories if rainfall intensifies.
