After heavy rain through much of Tuesday that was expected to continue through the night, the Twin Cities, southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin are under a flash flood watch until Thursday morning, the National Weather Service said.

Counting from Sunday, when the soggy pattern began, 4 to 5 inches of rain could fall in parts of that area before things dry up Thursday, said National Weather Service forecaster Mike Griesinger.

The water is falling on already-saturated ground, which makes flooding likelier. Still, with breaks in between storms, the water has time to recede, so widespread flooding — like that associated with August storms that overwhelmed parts of central Minnesota — is not expected. But wet basements and ponding on roads are likely to continue.

"When it comes, it is like a fire hose," Griesinger said. "There is some impressive rainfall."

Southeastern Minnesota towns around Rochester could see up to 5 inches of rain by week's end, he said.

Some of the moisture from Hurricane Newton hitting the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico could be swept up with a fast-moving jet stream and usher another round of storms into Minnesota on Wednesday.

Heavy rain was falling in downtown Minneapolis on Tuesday morning as a pedestrian crossed S. 6th Street. Look for another round of storms on Wednesday.

By Thursday, the sun should return, but more rain is in the forecast for Friday.

Fall-like temperatures are forecast for the weekend with highs around 70 degrees on Saturday and 75 on Sunday.

Tim Harlow