Up two feet. In past two days. Image: National Weather Service
County emergency chief: Beware flash floods
WINONA, Minn. — The Mississippi River has risen two feet at Winona in recent days, mostly from upriver snow run-off. Not only is the rjver rising, it’s rushing ever-faster toward Stage 11 at which pre-flood precautions kick in. Stage 11 was predicted for Monday. The river and especially tributaries, however, are unpredictable. Ben Klinger, the Winona County emergency management director, advised being alert for flash flooding. These are extrapolations from daily National Weather Service predictions at 7 a.m. at the Levee monitoring station:
> Wednesday: Stage 8.2 feet with flow at 59 thousand cubic feet per second.
> Thursday: Stage 9.0 with flow at 70.
> Friday: Stage 9.6 with flow at 80.
> Saturday: Stage 10.4 with flow at 87.
> Sunday: Stage 10.7 with flow at 89.
> Monday: Stage 10.9 with flow at 92.
Minor flooding begins at Stage 13, which is expected mid-day Monday; moderate flooding at 15; and severe flooding at 18.