MANKATO — Sorry to say, rain is predicted locally for July Fourth, though thankfully major flooding is unlikely.
“There’s a small potential to peak back up to minor flood stage,” said Brennan Dettmann, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Chanhassen. “Nothing similar to what we just went through with heavy rain and major flooding. It wouldn’t be like that at all.”
When it comes to flooding in the Mankato area, Dettmann said the Minnesota River looks better.
“There’s been really good improvement,” he said. “It’s gone down to action stage, which is the lowest flood stage other than not being in a flood stage.
“The fact that we’ve had improvement will bode well for any upcoming rain we might have,” Dettmann said. “Those are the big things.”
Dettmann described July 4 as predicted to be a “pretty active weather day, unfortunately,” he said. Light rain will likely begin in the morning and, going into the afternoon, a front will move through that could “provide some general storm showers in the afternoon and evening,” he said.
The long duration event from Thursday into Friday could potentially bring 1 inch of rain, with the possibility of 2 inches falling depending on the afternoon and evening storms, he said.
It’s uncommon to be expecting rain measuring more than a half an inch, Dettmann said, for the Fourth. About half of the time, we see some precipitation.
“The big thing is the potential for rain,” he said. “The small threat of severe weather during the afternoon and evening timeframe, that’s something to keep an eye on. Right now it’s only a Level 1 out of 5 on the Fourth.”