Although the National Weather Service has indicated significant flooding risks for Minnesota’s large rivers, Turtle Creek and the Cedar River may remain relatively unaffected.

The quick snow melt caused slight increases in local river depths, but the effects are really felt downstream.

“All the tributaries are running higher, and all that concentrates and runs into the main rivers,” said Mike Welvaert, hydrologist at the National Weather Service in LaCrosse.

Welvaert said a quick snow melt can sometimes have an impact on small rivers, but even a slow melt usually has a significant impact on any of the large rivers. He added the smaller rivers don’t usually have significant flooding risks from snow alone.

“The smaller rivers are more dependent on the precipitation in the fall,” Welvaert said. “That’s usually what drives the floods for you guys (Austin).” And Welvaert’s assessment is consistent with the Cedar River’s flood history.

The National Weather Service’s most recent flood forecast shows a slight increase in the Turtle Creek’s and Cedar River’s chances of reaching the flood stage.

Turtle Creek stands a 63 percent chance of reaching its flood stage, while the Cedar River stands a 14 percent chance of reaching its own.

However, many keep saying March brings moderate risks of flooding because we still have some likely storms on the way. Meteorologists predict a winter storm for Sunday with significant precipitation, causing a winter storm watch.

Those types of conditions will keep hydrologists on the lookout for more flooding as spring nears.

“March is one of the snowiest months we have, so we still have to watch out for that,” Welvaert said. “Usually because we get strong storms and it all dumps at once.”