A flood warning remains along the Mississippi River in the cities of Champlin and Anoka even as waters dropped below flood stage.
Water levels at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday were at 11.73 feet, a quarter-inch below flood stage, according to the National Weather Service.
The Weather Service issued the warning Monday after ice jams on the Mississippi River "led to exacerbated river levels" near the Hwy. 169 bridge between Champlin and Anoka.
The river rose 8 feet in a 24-hour period from 5 a.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday and reached a high of 13.11 feet on Monday. The high water led to the closing of Mississippi Point Park and Galloway Park in Champlin.
High water prompted the city of Anoka to close pedestrian trails in Akin Riverside Park, Mississippi River Community Park and the Mississippi River Trail across Kings Island.
Passing out sandbags
City officials in Champlin on Tuesday were passing out sandbags to residents who needed them to protect their homes and property from rising water from the Mississippi River.
Anoka officials also warned people to "please stay off these trails and do not venture out onto the ice."
The Weather Service reminded motorists not to drive through flooded areas.
Water levels are expected to drop gradually unless the ice jam breaks, which would result in a more drastic fall, the Weather Service said.
