Rainfall data look-up resource, wet start to May, Minnehaha Creek Forum on Stormwater Adaptation

Greg Spoden from the Minnesota State Climatology Office has designed a new web page for viewing maps, graphics and text associated with recent rainfall events in Minnesota. He calls it the "Puddle Page." You can also find access there to stream flow levels on Minnesota watersheds (provided by USGS). To view the page go to

www.climate.umn.edu

Once there you can click on the "Puddles" hyperlink.

Some observers already report total rainfall over the first 3 days of May that is close to the monthly normal. These include places like Rice with 3.30 inches and Wabasha with 3.15 inches.

Minnehaha Creek Watershed District will be hosting a public forum on their Stormwater Adaptation Study at the St Louis Park Recreation Center on May 15th from 6:30 pm to 8:45 pm. This is in response to changing precipitation patterns across the area which have not only brought greater annual precipitation, but more frequent episodes of intense,thunderstorm produced extreme rainfall events which pose a serious flash flood threat. I will be presenting a climate perspective and many others will offer perspectives on vulnerability of infrastructure, risk management and community response, including options for storm water management and associated costs. Those interested in attending this meeting can contact Leslie Yetka with the Minnehaha Watershed District (email: lyetka@minnehahacreek.org) or phone 952-641-4524. If you want to learn more, go to the Watershed's web site.