Hundreds of people living in a mobile home community in Jordan were evacuated late Thursday after rising floodwaters flowed into the streets around their residences.
Police in the southwest metro community went door to door informing Valley Green Park residents about the voluntary evacuation of the 300-unit complex, which was surrounded by nearly a foot of water.
Buses ferried residents to Jordan High School, which was being used as a temporary shelter, said Jordan Mayor Tanya Velishek.
Falling ice dams caused Sand Creek, which is near the park, to overflow Thursday, leading to a flood warning in the Sand Creek Watershed.
Heavy rains and runoff from fast-melting snow put many roads across the Twin Cities metro area and southern Minnesota underwater Thursday, while a snowstorm packing heavy winds crippled travel across far northwestern Minnesota and much of North Dakota.
In Minnesota, flood warnings were in effect Thursday in southern Dakota, all of Goodhue and eastern Rice counties, just south of the metro area, as well as for several counties in southwestern Minnesota.
A flood watch was to remain in effect until Friday morning for much of the rest of southeastern Minnesota, where rivers and creeks are flowing out of their banks.
Standing or flowing water was reported on rural roads near Dennison, according to the National Weather Service in Chanhassen. In Cannon Falls, police reported lane closures on Hwy. 52 because of flooding in ditches. North of town, Hwy. 20 was closed between Cannon Falls and Miesville, prompting police to warn drivers to be cautious as pooling water could be deeper than it looks.
Portions of three state highways in southeastern Minnesota were shut down because of flooding, including Hwy. 16 south of Lanesboro, Hwy. 60 at Hwy. 61 in Wabasha and Hwy. 74 between Beaver and Weaver, said Mike Dougherty of the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Water was also covering lanes on Interstate 90 in Austin, on Hwy. 169 north of Mankato and on Hwy. 99 east of Le Center, according to MnDOT.
As much as 1.5 inches of rain had fallen across parts of southern Minnesota since Tuesday, the Weather Service said.
Standing water on highways also held up metro area commuters Thursday. The left lane of Interstate 35W at County Road 96 in Arden Hills was swamped and closed during the peak of the commute. Potholes wreaked havoc for a handful of drivers who struck gaping holes in the asphalt in the construction zone near Lake Street.
In northwestern Minnesota, blizzard conditions had authorities advising no travel. Across the border in North Dakota, Interstate 29 was closed from Fargo to the Canadian border, and Interstate 94 was closed from Fargo to Bismarck. Hwy. 2 was closed from Devils Lake to Grand Forks.
In the metro area, Friday will bring better conditions — partly sunny skies with a high near 34.
It'll be windy, however, with gusts as high as 30 mph, according to the Weather Service.
The next few days will bring some relief from weather drama — little to no precipitation and highs in the 30s and low 40s by day and in the 20s by night.
liz.sawyer@startribune.com • 612-673-4648 tim.harlow@startribune.com • 612-673-7768
