April in the Twin Cities became the second wettest in 142 years of record-keeping Tuesday.
And the proof was all around.
In Minneapolis, Wirth Parkway between Golden Valley Road and Plymouth Avenue as well as E. Lake Harriet Parkway were closed due to clogged sewers and standing water.
The rain prompted the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District to open the Grays Bay dam, allowing water from Lake Minnetonka to flow into the creek. It had been closed since Oct. 28. The dam regulates the water level on the lake and controls flooding on the creek.
Along the Red River Valley, more than 2 inches of rain has fallen in that time at both Fargo-Moorhead and Grand Forks. The river is expected to crest Friday at Fargo-Moorhead at a level that would close some streets and bridges and flood some parkland, but well short of the level that would require sandbagging.
At Stillwater, the St. Croix River is expected to rise to a level early next week that could close the lift bridge to Wisconsin. No wake rules for boaters have been in place for more than a week. No serious flooding is forecast elsewhere across Minnesota or western Wisconsin.
Continuing rains pushed the month's total to 6.09 inches as of 1 p.m., second only to the record 7 inches set in 2001. The six rainiest Aprils on record have all occurred since 1975, including four since 2001.
Since Sunday, the Twin Cities area has received nearly 3 inches of rain. At St. Cloud, the 1.58 inches of rain Monday was a record for the date.
