More Heavy Rain Threatens Flood-Weary Southeast Minnesota

Austin, MN (KROC-AM News) - Authorities in southeastern Minnesota are warning people to stay away from floodwaters as heavy rains continue to cause flooding across the region.

Emergency Response to Austin Area Campground

Mower County Sheriff Steve Sandvik issued a statement this afternoon concerning an emergency response to a campground near Austin this morning. The sheriff says deputies, along with personnel from the Austin Fire Department, the Rose Creek Fire Department, and Mayo Clinic Ambulance, were dispatched to the Adventure Bound Campground around 11:20 a.m.

According to the sheriff, the first deputy to arrive at the scene was taken to an area along Rose Creek where a man and two juveniles were believed to be in the water. The news release indicates the two 16-year-olds and the 43-year-old man had already safely exited the fast-moving water and declined medical assistance.

Astounding Rainfall Totals

An earlier report issued by the National Weather Service stated that Grand Meadow, approximately 10 miles east of the Adventure Bound Campground, had received nearly 7.5 inches of rain. The report also cited numerous reports of more than 5 inches of rainfall across Fillmore and Houston counties.

Numerous Road Closures

As of 3 p.m., the Minnesota Department of Transportation was reporting that westboundI-90 remained closed due to flooding between Dexter and Austin.

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Flash flood warnings are currently in effect across large portions of Fillmore and Houston counties, while localized flood warnings are posted for areas near Austin and south of Stewartville in Fillmore County. A flood watch remains in effect for southeastern Minnesota until 7 AM on Friday.

More Heavy Rain and Possible Severe Storms

The National Weather Service is also advising that additional heavy rain is possible across southeastern Minnesota through tonight and into Friday, with the potential for another 3 to 5 inches of rainfall in some areas. Severe weather is also possible later this afternoon and tonight.

The Largest Minnesota Wildfires In Modern History

While Minnesota has experienced even larger, more devastating fires like the 350,00-acre Hinckley Fire in 1884 of the 250,000-acre Cloquet-Moose Lake Fire in 1918, fires have thankfully been relatively smaller in more modern times.

Even though these more modern fires have been smaller, largely due to better firefighting capabilities, many have still been devastating and destructive. Here's a look at Minnesota's largest wildfires since 2007 based on information from the Minnesota Incident Command System.

Gallery Credit: Nick Cooper

Source: More Heavy Rain Threatens Flood-Weary Southeast Minnesota

Filed Under: austin, Fillmore County, MnDOT, National Weather Service, Mayo Clinic, Stewartville, Grand Meadow, I-90, Southeastern Minnesota

Categories: Minnesota News, Minnesota Weather