Heavy rains on Thursday brought brief periods of flooding and caused road closures throughout the area.

According to National Weather Service-La Crosse meteorologist Molly Aufforth, Mower County received about 3.28 inches of rain between 7 a.m. Thursday and 7 a.m. Friday. The heavy downpour caused flooding in some areas as the amount of rain overwhelmed the storm sewers. In turn, the flooding prompted road closures, including on Interstate 90 from Sixth Street Northeast to Highway 56.

A flash flood warning was issued Thursday afternoon and lasted into the evening.

A river flood warning was issued for the Cedar River until Saturday afternoon as the NWS anticipated the Cedar River rising above the flood stage of 15 feet by Friday evening before receding. Aufforth said the river crested at 3 a.m. Friday near Lansing, but had receded by Friday morning. The river was also holding steady at 14 feet on Friday morning in Austin.

“The Cedar River looks like it may not reach 15 feet (in Austin), but we still have the flood warning in effect until we see it recede some more,” Aufforth said.

A river flood warning was also issued for Dobbins Creek, which crested early Friday morning before dropping below the flood stage of 11 ½ feet.

Despite the heavy rain on Thursday, Aufforth said the area can expect dry weather the next few days, with the possible exception of Saturday evening.

“There is a chance of rain Saturday evening, but it will only bring light accumulation of maybe 1/10 of an inch,” she said. “After that, the next chance for rain looks to be Wednesday afternoon.”