Montevideo, Minnesota – Drivers and homeowners along the Minnesota River are facing ongoing flooding as river levels rise in Morton and Montevideo, threatening roads and low-lying neighborhoods through at least Sunday.
According to the National Weather Service in Twin Cities/Chanhassen, the river at Morton is expected to crest at 22.8 feet by early Thursday afternoon, just shy of the 2016 high. Morton’s Riverside Road and Front Street are already underwater, with additional impacts possible for North Redwood. Meanwhile, Montevideo’s river stage hit 14.4 feet Wednesday night and is forecast to peak at 15.1 feet Sunday morning, similar to historic crests in 1998. Low-lying areas, local roads, and some basements in Montevideo are at risk.
Emergency management urges residents to avoid flooded roads—most flood-related deaths occur in vehicles—and to use extreme caution near riverbanks. Renville, Redwood, Yellow Medicine, Chippewa, and Lac qui Parle counties are all under extended warnings. No new rainfall is expected for several days, so river levels should slowly drop after cresting.
Flood warnings remain in effect until further notice. Stay tuned for updates and additional advisories as river conditions change.
