West central Minnesota in flash flood watch overnight, more rain coming

West central Minnesota, along with much of southern Minnesota, will be in a flash flood watch that begins at 4 p.m. today and lasts into Sunday morning.

A flash flood watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding, which can lead to dangerous situations. Residents in the watch area are urged to be prepared to take action if a flash flood warning is issued for the area where they live.

The watch area includes Lac qui Parle, Pope, Swift, Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Yellow Medicine, Renville, Stearns and Redwood counties.

The state can expect to see more rain today and overnight, according to the National Weather Service.

The weather service predicts showers and thunderstorms through the evening and overnight. Some storms may be severe, with large hail and damaging winds the primary threats. There is a possibility of isolated tornadoes in the storms tonight.

Heavy rains could cause some isolated flash flooding this evening and overnight.

Showers and thunderstorms could continue into Sunday afternoon.

Two batches of heavy rainfall have fallen in parts of Minnesota since Friday morning. In west central Minnesota, some areas have received an inch or more of rain in the past day and could receive more heavy rainfall this afternoon.

A potent weather system is expected to develop across the Dakotas later this evening, and it could produce another one to three inches of rain as it crosses Minnesota.

The flash flood watch indicates that the Weather Service believes the additional rainfall could cause flooding in flood-prone areas and could cause rapidly rising streams and flooded ditches.