Austin under flood warning (updated)
Published 7:32 am Thursday, September 23, 2010
The Austin area is under a flood warning until 9:30 p.m. tonight, according to the National Weather Service.
Click here for the latest area flood news.
Storms today and this evening will be capable of producing torrential downpours and heavy rainfalls. According to the NWS, the heavier rainfall will occur from Austin to La Crosse and Tomah, Wis.
One to three inches of rain was expected to fall overnight. Another one to three inches is possible throughout the day Friday.
Because the ground is already moist from recent rainfall, there is a possibility that rain could runoff in low lying areas. The extra rainfall could also cause significant rises on area rivers.
Heavy rain causes road closures, evacuations
Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS — Heavy rain and flooding has forced some people from their homes and has closed roads in southern Minnesota.
Steele County emergency management director Mike Johnson says about 20 homes were evacuated in Owatonna as rain continued to fall early Thursday. Johnson says the Straight River and Maple Creek have overflowed their banks. The Red Cross is working to sandbag the area around the river.
The National Weather Service says Highway 52 has closed between Zumbrota and Pine Island because of flooding. Highway 60 near Bombay and Highway 56 near West Concord are also closed.
WCCO-TV reports overnight rainfall topped 7 inches in some areas.
Forecasters expect rain to continue to fall throughout Thursday.
