WISCONSIN — A number of counties in Minnesota and Wisconsin are reporting flood conditions, as rainfall remains in the forecast.
Over the weekend, parts of Minnesota were on high alert as flood levels continued to rise in many areas after days of unrelenting rain.
Wisconsin’s northwestern neighbors are now seeing major flooding. Concern is now creeping into parts of Wisconsin along the Mississippi River where water levels are high and continuing to rise.
In Hudson, Wis., many businesses and homes along the waterways are already seeing flooding nearby.
Data from the National Weather Service (NWS) showed the Mississippi has crested upriver in Minnesota, with river levels falling in St. Paul and Red Wing.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the NWS forecast showed the river was still climbing in La Crosse and would likely crest at some point Wednesday at around 15-feet, which is roughly six inches below major flood stage.
Just south of La Crosse, in Vernon County, emergency management said its biggest concern is what more rain will do to the Mississippi.
“Seeing what the next week is going to do,” Brandon Larson, with Vernon County emergency management, said. “We are in contact with the weather service and their hydrologist to keep an eye on their predictions and what it’s doing up north. That’s kind of where we are at right now and staying in touch with the fire departments that are along the Mississippi."
Larson said with the holiday weekend approaching, people need to be careful when getting out on the water.
“It is a lot more dangerous,” he said. “The flow of water is a lot faster. The current can take you in a quick hurry and what you are used to with the normal river levels is not the case right now."
Right now, it's a waiting game to see just how much more rain will fall along the Mississippi as we head into the holiday weekend.