April 13, 2023

2023 Minnesota Spring Flooding

Upper Mississippi, Minnesota, and Red River of the North basins
Summary
● This year’s particularly heavy and widespread
snowpack over has been melting rapidly in the past
week.
● Spring flooding is and will be widespread throughout
the state, with some moderate to major flood stages
possible.
○ Streams and tributary rivers are reaching flood
stage this week and will crest early next week.
○ Mainstem rivers like the Minnesota, Mississippi,
and St. Croix will reach flood stage in the next
few days, cresting late next week.
○ The Red River of the North is rising from south
to north, will see mostly moderate flooding over
the next couple of weeks.
● Last year’s drought has actually had a positive effect,
with dry soils and low water levels in wetlands,
ponds and rivers helping to intercept some of the
runoff.

Current river forecasts, showing maximum flood level through April 20

National Weather Service
Twin Cities/Chanhassen, MN
 April 13, 2023
2023 Minnesota Spring Flooding
Upper Mississippi, Minnesota, and Red River of the North basins
Snowmelt
● From a peak of around April 1st, snow has rapidly
melted from south to north

● Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) readings reached 4 to

6 inches over much of central Minnesota, and 6 to 9
inches in northern Minnesota as well as the
headwaters of the St. Croix River in Wisconsin.

● As of yesterday, much of the snow was melted in

southern and central Minnesota, except for some of
the upper Minnesota basin. Still plenty to melt in the
north.

Animation of snow water equivalent (SWE) from April 1st through April 13th.

National Weather Service

Twin Cities/Chanhassen, MN
 April 13, 2023
2023 Minnesota Spring Flooding
Upper Mississippi, Minnesota, and Red River of the North basins
Hot Spots
● Upper Minnesota River and tributaries –
○ Widespread minor to moderate flooding, isolated
major flood stage from Montevideo upstream. Ice
jams and moving ice and debris in rivers also
causing rapid changes.
● Crow River
○ Minor to moderate flood stages from this
weekend through next week
● Red River of the North
○ Southern basin starting to rise now; downstream
in a few days.
○ Longer duration event could be susceptible to
rainfall.
● Rainy River basin
○ Not yet rising, will begin to see impacts next Redwood River at Redwood Falls, April 11, 2023. Picture courtesy of the USGS.
week.
○ Another long duration event that would be
susceptible to rainfall.

National Weather Service

Twin Cities/Chanhassen, MN
 April 13, 2023
2023 Minnesota Spring Flooding
Upper Mississippi, Minnesota, and Red River of the North basins
Hot Spots Hot Spots
● Mississippi River ● St. Croix River
○ Minor flooding from the headwaters to the Twin Cities; moderate to ○ Moderate to possible major flood stage at Stillwater
possible major flood stages from St. Paul downstream as more downstream to the Mississippi; long period of high levels
rivers converge into the Mississippi. as upstream snowmelt continues.

National Weather Service

Twin Cities/Chanhassen, MN
 April 13, 2023
2023 Minnesota Spring Flooding
Upper Mississippi, Minnesota, and Red River of the North basins
Final Thoughts
● Flooding could have been much worse without last
year’s drought, and the good fortune of having warm
temperatures without heavy rainfall (so far) in April.
● Upcoming precipitation through this weekend
expected to be less than an inch – will have no
significant effect on flooding. Temperatures will also
cool off starting Friday through the end of the month.
● Rivers will be running high for quite some time,
especially in the mainstem rivers and in the northern
half of Minnesota – any heavy rain in the next few
weeks could drive them higher.
○ Lots of debris has been seen in the mainstem
rivers, as previously downed trees/branches are
swept away.

Seven day total rainfall forecast from NWS Weather Prediction Center, April 13-20 2023.

National Weather Service

Twin Cities/Chanhassen, MN
 April 13, 2023
2023 Minnesota Spring Flooding
Upper Mississippi, Minnesota, and Red River of the North basins
Summary
● This year’s particularly heavy and widespread
snowpack over has been melting rapidly in the past
week.
● Spring flooding is and will be widespread throughout
the state, with some moderate to major flood stages
possible.
○ Streams and tributary rivers are reaching flood
stage this week and will crest early next week.
○ Mainstem rivers like the Minnesota, Mississippi,
and St. Croix will reach flood stage in the next
few days, cresting late next week.
○ The Red River of the North is rising from south
to north, will see mostly moderate flooding over
the next couple of weeks.
● Last year’s drought has actually had a positive effect,
with dry soils and low water levels in wetlands,
ponds and rivers helping to intercept some of the
runoff.

Current river forecasts, showing maximum flood level through April 20

National Weather Service
Twin Cities/Chanhassen, MN