Flash Flood Watch Issued for Portions of the Twin Cities, Southern Minnesota

Multiple rounds of heavy rainfall will bring an increasing risk of flooding through Thursday.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a flash flood watch that remains in effect for much of eastern and southern Minnesota as well as West Central Wisconsin through Thursday.

The watch area is along and south of a line from Springfield to Apple Valley to Eau Claire.

Widespread thunderstorms will develop this afternoon through tonight across the entire watch area with the potential for very high rainfall rates. A front will sag Southeast and focus thunderstorm activity from southern Minnesota to west central and southwestern Wisconsin on Thursday.

Rainfall amounts are forecast to range from two to five inches across south central Minnesota to portions of west central Wisconsin along and south of Interstate 94. Two to three inches should fall further north across central Minnesota and the rest of west central Wisconsin. Locally higher amounts are likely, particularly across southern Minnesota.

The flash flood watch remains in effect from 1 p.m. Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning.

Rainfall totals through Thursday will range from two to four inches with locally higher totals in excess of five inches possible.

Due to a very wet summer and current river levels higher than normal, any additional heavy rainfall will contribute to a significant risk of flooding.

Image via National Weather Service