Warroad readies for flooding as Lake of the Woods rises

Warroad, Minnesota, is bracing for high water coming into town from Lake of the Woods.

The lake hasn't spilled into town yet, but east winds threaten to push lake levels higher around the city and rain may drop another 5 inches of water at the lakefront next week, Roseau County Commissioner Glenda Phillipe said.

• Photos: Even though the rain has stopped, the waters keep rising
• More: 12 ways to stay safe after a flood
• Also: Flooded Minnesota towns search for the road back to normal

Concrete Jersey barriers and sandbags, reinforced with clay and plastic, line Warroad's lakefront, Phillipe said. Residents along the Springsteel Island peninsula already have lake water splashing against their homes, she added.

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Gov. Mark Dayton is visiting the area today to look over flood preparations.

Flash floods on Tuesday hit Middle River, Minnesota, a town of about 300 in northwest Minnesota.

"They got 4 to 6 inches of rain, and it just kind of sat right over the top of Middle River," said Josh Johnston, emergency management director for Marshall County.

Sandbags went up around a dozen houses but some outbuildings were swamped before the sandbags went up, he said.