NWS lowers river crest forecasts in St. Paul, Stillwater

It appears our extended string of dry weather is having a benefit. River leves are dropping like a rock.

Hydrologists at Twin Cities NWS lowered the forecast crest for the Mississippi River at St. Paul today. The previous crest forecast had the river topping out at 19.5 feet later this week. The current forecast has the river staying pretty much where it sits today; at 18.47 feet. That's about a foot lower than previous forecasts.

The trend of lower river level forecasts also extends to the Minnesota and St. Criox Rivers.

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The lower crest forecasts are good news for those who have been fighting back rising rivers. It could potentially mean an earlier reopening of the St. Croix Lift Bridge in Stillwater which remains closed and affects so many commuters between Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Wit no major rain or snow in the forecast, it appear we are on the verge of turning the corner on the 2010 flood season. The forecast maps continue the trend of manly dry and warm weather in the coming weeks. If that trend continues, we'll be talking more about grass fires in the coming week than floods.

PH