The Omnitheater at the Science Museum of Minnesota in downtown St. Paul is expected to reopen Saturday for the museum's new dinosaur exhibit and movie, after being closed since last week due to a roof leak.
And yes, the leak is related to the amount of snow that's fallen this winter — and it was precipitated by last week's two-day thaw, when temperatures briefly rose above freezing.
The area of the leak has been found and patched, which should prevent any damage to the 90-foot screen, spokeswoman Kim Ramsden said. A more permanent repair will have to wait until spring, she said.
Ramsden said it's the first time the 14-year-old Science Museum has been threatened with water damage.
The leak was discovered Feb. 19, when water was noticed dripping from the ceiling of the nine-story auditorium. Museum officials subsequently canceled the remaining days of the Omnifest film festival.
Workers moved a crane inside to inspect the ceiling, then went on the roof for an infrared scan to find the source of the leak.
"We're confident we'll be open for 'Dinosaurs Alive,' " the movie that will accompany the new "Ultimate Dinosaurs" exhibit, Ramsden said.
For updates, go to www.smm.org.
