URGENT: Sauk River to spill over banks later today... Moderate Flooding Expected

River depth and expected flood forecast as of 10 AM Tuesday by the NWS

The Sauk River unexpectedly rose a foot overnight, leaving it precariously just below flood stage this morning. It is expected that the Sauk will rise over the banks later today before possibly cresting around 7.0' on Thursday. A depth of 7' is considered a "Moderate Flood" for the river, and a good foot above flood stage. A Flood Warning in now in effect until further notice for the Sauk River in St. Cloud.

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1151 AM CDT TUE MAR 16 2010

...FORECAST FLOODING CHANGED FROM MINOR TO MODERATE SEVERITY FOR THE
FOLLOWING RIVERS IN MINNESOTA...
SAUK RIVER AT ST CLOUD AFFECTING STEARNS COUNTY
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL MONITOR THIS DEVELOPING SITUATION AND ISSUE FOLLOWUP STATEMENTS AS CONDITIONS OR FORECASTS CHANGE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DO NOT DRIVE CARS THROUGH FLOODED AREAS. TURN AROUND...DON'T DROWN.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TV STATION
FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS FLOOD EVENT.

&&
1151 AM CDT TUE MAR 16 2010

...FORECAST FLOODING INCREASED FROM MINOR TO MODERATE SEVERITY...
THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR
THE SAUK RIVER AT ST CLOUD.
* UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
* AT 11:15 AM TUESDAY THE STAGE WAS 5.9 FEET.
* MODERATE FLOODING IS FORECAST.
* FLOOD STAGE IS 6.0 FEET.
* FORECAST...RISE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE BY THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE TO
RISE TO NEAR 7.0 FEET BY THURSDAY MARCH 18TH EARLY AFTERNOON.
* IMPACT...AT 6.0 FEET...TWO HOMES ALONG THE RIVER MAY EXPERIENCE
FLOODING.
* FLOOD HISTORY...THIS CREST COMPARES TO A PREVIOUS CREST OF 7.2 FEET
ON APR 25 2001.