Bluff towns along the Mississippi River in southeastern Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin were cleaning up Thursday in the wake of heavy overnight rains that flooded roads and triggered mudslides.
More than 6 inches of rain fell in Wabasha, Minn., and Dodge, Wis. So much rain fell in Arcadia, Wis., that roads leading into and out of the town northeast of Winona, Minn., were closed and residents were evacuated, the National Weather Service said.
The Arcadia School District called off summer school classes Thursday, and Ashley Furniture delayed operations at its Arcadia manufacturing plant due to flooding.
Especially hard hit were Wabasha, Winona and Houston counties in Minnesota and Trempealeau and Buffalo counties in Wisconsin.
Mudslides closed Hwy. 95 at Fountain City, Wis., and Hwy. 61 in Winona County near County Road 7 for several hours. In La Crosse, Wis., snowplows were called out to clear mud off Hwy. 33 in the middle of the night, the Weather Service said.
In Dakota County, street flooding developed, then rapidly receded. More than 4.9 inches of rain fell in Eagan, 4.7 inches in Rosemount, 4.6 inches in Hastings, 4.3 inches in Apple Valley and 3.9 inches in Burnsville. Several Dakota County roads that had closed overnight because of flooding reopened early Thursday, according to the Sheriff's Office.
Friday is expected to bring more showers and thunderstorms, according to the Weather Service.
In the Twin Cities, rain is likely between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., with a high near 84. More rain may fall overnight, and there's a 20 percent chance of showers Saturday. Sunday looks sunny and beautiful, with a high near 77.
