(Undated)– Tuesday’s torrential downpours pushed several area rivers out of their banks, and flood warnings are in effect for some areas.
The National Weather Service has issued flood warnings along the Ocheyedan and the Little Sioux Rivers in the Spencer area and for the West Fork of the Des Moines River at Estherville.
Rainfall totals varied from around 1.7 inches at Estherville; 2.04 inches at the KUOO studios; 2.10 inches at Vick’s Corner; 3.6 inches at Jackson, Minnesota; nearly 4 inches at Windom, Minnesota; and unofficial reports of 5 inches from some locations around the Lake Park area.
All that water is beginning to make its way into area rivers and lakes.
The flood warning for the Ocheyedan River near Spencer is in effect through Friday evening. The river is expected to crest near 9.4 feet later today (Wed.). Flood stage is 8 feet. The weather service says it should drop back below flood stage Thursday.
The flood warning for the Little Sioux River at Spencer is in effect through this coming Monday (6/20). River stage information and predicted crest information weren’t immediately available.
And a flood warning is in effect until further notice for the West Fork of the Des Moines River at Estherville. The river had risen to the seven foot flood stage as of 3:00 a.m. this (Wed.) morning. It’s expected to rise to 9.5 feet by Thursday afternoon, then start to drop.
The weather service says the flood predictions will likely change, though, as there is a potential for more heavy rain from late Thursday night right on through early next week.
