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Jun 27, 2009 6:27 pm US/Central
Heavy Rains Focus Attention On N.D., Minn. Rivers
GRAFTON, N.D. (AP) ―
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As much as six inches of rain fell Friday night across the area, flooding fields and washing out some rural roads. (File)
CBS
Heavy rains that began late Friday and kept falling into Saturday have left portions of northeastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota bracing for flooding.
Volunteers were called to lay sandbags in the city of Grafton, where the Park River was expected to hit 1.4 feet above flood stage by Monday.
The National Weather Service said more than 3 inches of rain fell over the area Friday night and early Saturday. Some areas saw 4 inches of rain or more, leaving fields flooded and washing out some rural roads, the weather service said.
Multiple flood warnings have been issued for northeastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota, including Grafton.
Lankin farmer and Walsh County Commissioner Jack Karas said the heavy rains washed out railroad track beds and flooded the local American Legion.
"You could water-ski out there," he said. "I'm not kidding. There's whitecaps out there. I mean, there's acres and acres under water and it's deep."
A flood warning remains in effect for the Red River at Oslo and Grand Forks. At Oslo, it is expected to reach 27.3 feet by Wednesday night. That would be 1.3 feet above flood stage.
A new warning also was issued Saturday afternoon for the Wild Rice River at Abercrombie. Forecasters say the river has risen above flood stage and is expected to rise another foot or two in coming days.
In Minnesota, warnings also have been issued for the Buffalo River near Dilworth and the Two Rivers River near Hallock.
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According to the Minn. Dept. of Natural Resources, the Red River of the North flows 550 miles northward from Breckenridge, Minn. to Lake Winnepeg in Canada.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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