Traffic Jam

mnz011-012-019-020-026-034>038-241000- /o.new.kdlh.fa.a.0001.120523t2100z-120525t0000z/ /00000.0.er.000000t0000z.000000t0000z.000000t0000z.oo/ northern st. louis-northern cook/northern lake-central st. louis- southern lake/lakeshore-southern itasca-crow wing-northern aitkin- southern aitkin-carlton/southern st. louis-pine- including the cities of...ely...isabella...hibbing... two harbors...grand rapids...brainerd...hill city...aitkin... duluth...cloquet...hinckley 321 pm cdt wed may 23 2012 ...flood watch in effect through thursday evening... the national weather service in duluth has issued a * flood watch for portions of east central minnesota...north central minnesota and northeast minnesota...including the following areas...in east central minnesota...crow wing... northern aitkin...pine and southern aitkin. in north central minnesota...southern itasca. in northeast minnesota... carlton/southern st. louis...central st. louis...northern cook/northern lake...northern st. louis and southern lake/lakeshore. * through thursday evening * a slow moving frontal system will become nearly stationary across the northland tonight through thursday. abundant moisture will surge northward from the gulf of mexico...and interact with the front to create very heavy rainfall over an extended period of time. most of the flood watch area can expect to see rainfall on the order of 2 to 3 inches...with locally higher amounts in excess of 4 inches. * rivers across the area have been fairly low until recent rainfall...and there is still a fair amount of room within the banks of most rivers and streams. however...rainfall in excess of 3 or 4 inches...will likely lead to river and stream responses that will result in much faster flow than we have recently seen. with such extreme rainfall...rivers and streams will likely rise significantly within their banks...with some even flowing out of their banks. storms repeatedly moving over the same areas will likely lead to high rainfall rates as well. in addition to rivers...ditches and culverts may fill up... affecting roads and driving conditions. in the event flooding becomes imminent or is observed...flood or flash flood warnings will need to be issued. precautionary/preparedness actions... a flood watch means there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts. you should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible flood warnings. those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop. && $$

mnz019-025-026-034>038-wiz001-240015- carlton/south st. louis-central st. louis-crow wing-douglas-north cass-northern aitkin-pine-south aitkin-south itasca- 639 pm cdt wed may 23 2012 ...strong storms moving through the aitkin area... at 638 pm cdt...national weather service doppler radar indicated strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 4 miles southwest of island to 8 miles east of mcgrath...moving northeast at 55 mph. these storms are capable of producing half inch diameter hail...wind gusts up to 45 mph...brief heavy downpours... * thunderstorms will be near... denham and wright by 645 pm... gowan and rutledge by 650 pm... elmer and willow river by 655 pm... toivola and barnum by 700 pm... payne and sawyer by 705 pm... kelsey and nemadji by 710 pm... canyon and independence by 715 pm... gusty winds may cause small objects such as trash bins to blow around. seek shelter in a sturdy structure until these storms have passed. lat...lon 4736 9227 4635 9228 4609 9307 4615 9307 4614 9343 4624 9344 4624 9380 4615 9382 4615 9407 4686 9419 $$