Volunteers help sandbag as floods move in

UPDATE at 1 p.m. Saturday

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Flood Warning for our area through next week. The rain has stopped for the most part. There may be small areas that receive more. City staff have been working with the National Weather Service (NWS) to evaluate the effect the past rainfall has had on river levels in the area.

The Cannon River in Northfield is at 900.64 feet as of noon on June 22, 2024. This is over major flood stage of 900 feet. NWS hydrologists have adjusted their earlier prediction downwards and believe the river will crest at 901.00 feet at 1:00 a.m. Sunday. NWS professionals have created a graph depicting potential Cannon River levels in Northfield: https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/nrfm5

Please stay weather aware. Follow the NWS for weather updates:

https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=44.4584&lon=-93.1673

If an area is barricaded, please do not drive, bike, or walk through area for safety reasons. Some low-lying roads, trails and parks are closed due to flooding, this includes the Riverwalk downtown, parts of Riverside Lions Park, Sechler Park and the Dog Park.

For emergencies call 911.

Property owners in flood prone areas are urged to evaluate their flood preparedness and monitor weather information and river levels.

The City of Northfield Emergency Operations Plan prioritizes the use of city resources and staff for the preservation of public infrastructure.

If your home or business is in the river/flood zone, please make sure you have the materials, resources, and/or contacts necessary to enact protective measures if needed.

Be prepared

Please check personal devices and subscriptions used to receive weather alerts to ensure you have the ability to monitor such alerts.

The City has posted numerous resources, guidelines, and contact information on the City of Northfield website under “Emergency Preparedness Resources” at: https://www.northfieldmn.gov/615/Emergency-Preparedness

City personnel will continue to monitor weather and river levels and will disseminate more information as it becomes necessary. Check the City of Northfield website for updates: northfieldmn.gov.

Friday and Saturday bagging teams

About 40 volunteers gathered in front of Carlson Capital Management at 11 Bridge Square Friday afternoon to shovel sand into bags make that were tied and then slid down planks at the 4th Street stairs to the Riverwalk. A line of volunteers were ready to stack the bags next to the retaining wall to help keep the rising level of the Cannon River from overflowing its banks.

Many of the sandbagging volunteers were employees of the Carlson firm, as well as downtown business owners and community members. A team from The Hideaway Coffeehouse and Wine Bar were distributing water, coffee and cookies under a tent next to the sandbagging operation.

Earlier in the day, the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Flood Warning for the Northfield-area through next week. The current forecast is for 2 to 4 inches of rain in the next 48 hours. There may be small areas that receive more.

According to a city news release issued mid-afternoon, City staff have been working with the National Weather Service (NWS) to evaluate how these rainfall amounts have a corresponding effect on river levels in the area.

Be prepared

Check personal devices and subscriptions used to receive weather alerts to ensure you have the ability to monitor such alerts.

The city has posted numerous resources, guidelines, and contact information on the city of Northfield website, under “Emergency Preparedness Resources”, at northfieldmn.gov/615/Emergency-Preparedness .

City personnel will continue to monitor weather and river levels and will disseminate more information as it becomes necessary. Residents can check the City of Northfield website for updates: northfieldmn.gov .