Twin Cities drenched in heavy rain, and it's not over yet
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The downpours of the past month were initially a godsend for drought-stricken Minnesota, but now they're raising fears of a flood.
By the numbers: Much of the Twin Cities region received 8 to 10 inches of rain over the past 45 days, even before Monday's soaking, National Weather Service meteorologist Brent Hewett told Axios.
- Depending on Monday's totals, the Twin Cities may have already surpassed what the region sees normally in the entire month of June: 4.58 inches.
Why it matters: River levels are rising and there's a growing likelihood of flooding, which can damage infrastructure and on occasion be deadly.
What we're watching: The Mississippi River is still not in flood stage, but Hewett notes that it usually takes seven to 10 days for high waters on the Minnesota River's tributaries to reach the Mississippi.
- The NWS is currently forecasting the river to reach minor flood stage in St. Paul on Saturday.
State of play: Heavy rains have already begun causing problems.
- Two acts at last weekend's Winstock Country Music Festival just west of the Twin Cities were canceled. Farmers in tractors came to the aid of campers to pull their vehicles from flooded fields, according to FOX 9.
- The rain also delayed the Minnesota State High School League baseball finals scheduled for Monday at Target Field. The Star Tribune reports they've been moved to Friday.
Threat level: Significant rain remains in the forecast through the week.
- The NWS, as of Monday morning, was predicting a few more inches of rain through Wednesday. The good news, Hewett said, is they're expecting less rain than initially feared.
The big picture: Much of the rest of the country would like some of our H2O, as a heat wave is settling over large swaths of the U.S. this week.
The bottom line: The rest of the season is looking more like a normal Minnesota summer, with a mix of short heatwaves followed by cold fronts and rain, Hewett said.
- In the meantime, he cautioned that if you come upon standing water on a roadway in your vehicle, turn around.