Minnesota River crests in Montevideo; still rising in Granite

The Minnesota River had crested Wednesday in Montevideo but was still rising slowly in Granite Falls. Both communities are maintaining active flood watches. There's an 80 to 90 percent chance the river will crest again next week at the same level or possibly a little higher, Montevideo City Manager Steve Jones said.

The river crested in Montevideo on Monday and Tuesday at 18.6 feet. It remained at 18.5 feet Wednesday. It was expected to continue a slow and gradual decline in the next few days.

The river was believed to have crested at 891.35 feet Tuesday in Granite Falls. It started a slow decline but bounced back up to 891.43 feet Wednesday, or 3.4 feet above flood stage.

"It looks like we're holding our own here,'' Mayor Dave Smiglewski said. He was expecting a slow decline in the next few days, but is watchful of a second crest sometime next week. The waters forced the closing of some low-lying roads ar-ound the two communities, but for the most part the flood levels have not caused serious problems.

There was no need to disrupt sanitary sewer service in Montevideo's Smith Addition, unlike last year.

The Minnesota River topped a township road north of Granite Falls and a portion of the flow was following a secondary channel west and south of the community.

Officials in both communities are urging residents to remain on guard. The National Weather Service is expecting the river to remain at or near flood stage through April.

Any significant rainfall event could cause a higher crest.