Flood watch: St. Paul closing roads, Stillwater holding emergency meeting as more rain forecast

Pioneer Press
Updated ·4 min read
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Flood watch: St. Paul closing roads, Stillwater holding emergency meeting as more rain forecast

With a weather forecast soaked with yet more showers and storms through Saturday, the Twin Cities is on flood watch.

Heavy rain, storms and flash flooding is possible Thursday night into Saturday, the Twin Cities office of the National Weather Service reported. An additional 2 to 4 inches of rain is expected to fall during this time.

River flooding will worsen through the week, according to the weather service, “with moderate or major flooding at some locations.”

Due to the incoming rain, a flood watch will be in effect for the metro from 5 p.m. Friday through 1 p.m. Saturday.

A flood warning is in effect for St. Paul starting Saturday morning “until further notice” due to the rising Mississippi River and threat of major flooding, according to the weather service alert.

St. Paul closures

Shepard/Warner Road will close this Sunday due to the expected flooding on the Mississippi River.

A 3.2-mile section of the road — on the north side of the Mississippi River along downtown St. Paul — will be closed to vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic from Eagle Parkway to U.S. 61.

As part of the closure, Second Street from Kellogg Boulevard to Sibley Street will be closed and Sibley Street and Jackson Street between Kellogg Boulevard and Second Street will be closed to traffic. These one-way street sections that normally connect to Shepard/Warner will temporarily be converted to two-way traffic open only to access adjacent buildings.

The temporary closing of Shepard/Warner Road is part of the city’s flood response plan when rising river levels approach the moderate flood stage of 15 feet.

Meanwhile, the rising waters also mean several parkland areas, trails and facilities in St. Paul will be temporarily closed.

Those going to city parks should check for facility, trail, and park closures on the website at stpaul.gov/flood.

Officials also ask that residents use caution if exploring areas close to the river as water levels can change quickly. They ask that residents follow posted signage, safety guidance and do not pass barricades.

The city is contacting property owners along the river who may be impacted. And the homeless assistance response team is working with the unsheltered or those in encampments that might be in areas prone to flooding.

The city will keep several roads, along with some park areas and facilities, closed until river levels have receded and everything can be safely cleared and reopened for public use.

“Seeing the Mississippi River water levels rise in summer due to heavy rains is a bit out of the norm for Saint Paul, but we have experienced this before,” said Sean Kershaw, St. Paul’s director of Public Works, in a statement. “The temporary parks and road closures are necessary steps we take to protect public and private infrastructure for all. We encourage everyone to be prepared and plan alternate routes to get in, out, and around Saint Paul for the next few weeks.”

As of Thursday, the Mississippi River measured at 11.5 feet and is expected to crest at more than 20 feet late next week, according to the National Weather Service. Minor flood stage is reached at 14 feet. Moderate flood stage is at 15 feet. Major flood stage is at 17 feet.

Stillwater preparations

Across the east metro in Washington County, the city of Stillwater issued a notice on Thursday for an emergency meeting related to the rising St. Croix River.

The emergency meeting of the Stillwater City Council will be held at noon Friday at Stillwater City Hall.

“The purpose of the emergency meeting is to declare the City of Stillwater in a State of Emergency for the flooding event of 2024,” the notice announced.

For questions or more information, contact the city clerk’s office at stillwater@stillwatermn.gov or 651-430-8800.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Department of Transportation plans to prepare Stillwater’s historic lift bridge for high water.

On Friday morning, MnDOT crews will block access to both ends of the bridge, prohibiting pedestrian and bicycle traffic from crossing.

Parking also will be restricted from the area near the bridge in downtown Stillwater.

The crews will place ballast on the bridge’s two stationary ends to prevent possible structural movement caused by floodwater. The bridge’s lift span will then be fully raised, allowing marine traffic to continue to pass.

After the flood threat subsides, the bridge will reopen and the summer lift schedule will resume.

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