Spring 2019 flooding in Minnesota

Springtime in Minnesota means melting snow and eyes on the rivers. MPR News reporters follow flood threats across the state. | River forecasts | Road closures | How are you preparing?

Flooding season 101: Ice jams
They're unpredictable; they're tough to address; and they can have significant impacts. As ice on rivers and creeks melts, cracks and otherwise breaks up, it can build up against natural bends in the waterway or structures -- like bridges or piers -- jutting into it as the water flows downstream.
Weather service: Risk of Red River flooding down slightly
The risk of spring flooding in the Red River Valley has been reduced slightly because of limited precipitation in the last few weeks, although National Weather Service forecasters said Thursday there's still a lot of moisture in the system.
Upstream landowners see hope in Red River diversion delay
For people living upstream of Fargo-Moorhead, flood control for those cities has a personal cost, and they are holding onto hope that the latest legal twist will save their land.
Bob Eustice said 56 cattle were caught up in the Zumbro River near Byron after torrential rain swamped the area late Thursday into early Friday. As of Saturday morning, 30 had been located alive.
U.S. Highway 52 reopens near Pine Island; major flooding reported downstream
U.S. Highway 52 near Pine Island reopened Saturday morning after being closed by flood waters for much of the previous day. Meanwhile downstream, the Zumbro River reached major flood stage at Zumbro Falls.
Rochester, farmers hit hard by torrential rain in southeast Minnesota
Seven inches of rain hammered the Rochester area in just a few hours overnight Thursday into Friday, prompting a flash flood warning that remained in effect much of the day.