Minnesota Dam Teetering After Deluge, Officials Say “Hold Your Horses”

Well folks, it wouldn’t be spring in Minnesota without at least *one* near-disaster involving water, am I right? This time, it’s the Rapidan Dam in southern Minnesota, sweating harder than a — well, something that sweats a lot — after a downright biblical amount of rain.

Located in Blue Earth County, a stone’s throw (okay, more like a really long javelin toss) southwest of the Twin Cities, the Rapidan Dam is currently the star of a nail-biter. But before you go picturing a “Waterworld” scenario, local officials are like, “Relax, y’all.” They’re keeping a close eye on things and saying, while the situation is kinda hairy, they don’t expect any “end of days” kinda flooding.

Dam, That’s a Lot of Water

So, what’s the deal? Apparently, Mother Nature decided to turn on the sprinklers and forgot to turn ’em off for, like, a week straight. We’re talking a flash flood warning issued for the ‘hood around the dam.

Seems all that rain has led to one heck of a logjam – literally. Debris is piling up faster than dirty laundry in a teenager’s room, chocking the water flow and forcing the river to carve a new path around the dam’s west side. Talk about making a statement!

Now, the good news is, the dam itself is still hanging in there, like that last slice of pizza you’re saving for later. But, and this is where things get a little dicey, officials aren’t ruling out the possibility that the whole shebang could go kaput. You know, like when you try to fit one more thing in an already overflowing suitcase and *poof* – zipper says “see ya!”

Needless to say, the powers that be are on high alert, keeping their eyes glued to the gauges and their fingers crossed. They’ve given a heads-up to folks living closest to the dam, just in case things go south. But here’s the kicker: no evacuation orders (yet) for the good people of Blue Earth County.

Keep Your Waders Handy, But Don’t Panic (Yet)

Okay, deep breaths everyone. Even if the worst happens and the dam decides to throw in the towel, officials are saying the water level would likely only rise by a couple of feet. That’s right, two measly feet.

Captain Paul Barta, the big cheese over at the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office, wants everyone to know there’s no need to start building an ark just yet. He’s basically saying, “Don’t freak out, people! We got this.” Well, maybe not in those exact words, but you get the idea.

In the meantime, a whole bunch of agencies are working together like a well-oiled machine (or at least trying to) to keep an eye on things and keep everyone informed. You know, just another day at the office in beautiful, occasionally soggy, Minnesota!

Minnesota Dam Teetering After Deluge, Officials Say “Hold Your Horses”

Well folks, it wouldn’t be spring in Minnesota without at least *one* near-disaster involving water, am I right? This time, it’s the Rapidan Dam in southern Minnesota, sweating harder than a — well, something that sweats a lot — after a downright biblical amount of rain.

Located in Blue Earth County, a stone’s throw (okay, more like a really long javelin toss) southwest of the Twin Cities, the Rapidan Dam is currently the star of a nail-biter. But before you go picturing a “Waterworld” scenario, local officials are like, “Relax, y’all.” They’re keeping a close eye on things and saying, while the situation is kinda hairy, they don’t expect any “end of days” kinda flooding.

Dam, That’s a Lot of Water

So, what’s the deal? Apparently, Mother Nature decided to turn on the sprinklers and forgot to turn ’em off for, like, a week straight. We’re talking a flash flood warning issued for the ‘hood around the dam.

Seems all that rain has led to one heck of a logjam – literally. Debris is piling up faster than dirty laundry in a teenager’s room, chocking the water flow and forcing the river to carve a new path around the dam’s west side. Talk about making a statement!

Now, the good news is, the dam itself is still hanging in there, like that last slice of pizza you’re saving for later. But, and this is where things get a little dicey, officials aren’t ruling out the possibility that the whole shebang could go kaput. You know, like when you try to fit one more thing in an already overflowing suitcase and *poof* – zipper says “see ya!”

Needless to say, the powers that be are on high alert, keeping their eyes glued to the gauges and their fingers crossed. They’ve given a heads-up to folks living closest to the dam, just in case things go south. But here’s the kicker: no evacuation orders (yet) for the good people of Blue Earth County.

Keep Your Waders Handy, But Don’t Panic (Yet)

Okay, deep breaths everyone. Even if the worst happens and the dam decides to throw in the towel, officials are saying the water level would likely only rise by a couple of feet. That’s right, two measly feet.

Captain Paul Barta, the big cheese over at the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office, wants everyone to know there’s no need to start building an ark just yet. He’s basically saying, “Don’t freak out, people! We got this.” Well, maybe not in those exact words, but you get the idea.

In the meantime, a whole bunch of agencies are working together like a well-oiled machine (or at least trying to) to keep an eye on things and keep everyone informed. You know, just another day at the office in beautiful, occasionally soggy, Minnesota!

When it Rains, it Pours (and Pours and Pours)

So, how much rain are we talking about here? Well, since Father’s Day weekend, parts of southern Minnesota have been hit with a whopping eight to nine inches of rain. That’s a whole lotta H2O, my friends! To put it in perspective, that’s like filling up your bathtub, then emptying it, and refilling it again… and maybe one more time for good measure.

All this rain has caused the Minnesota River, just a hop, skip, and a jump from the dam, to swell up like a pufferfish. In fact, it’s getting pretty darn close to reaching the record-breaking levels seen during the epic flood of June 1993. Old-timers are probably dusting off their “I survived the ’93 flood” t-shirts as we speak.

And here’s the kicker – the rain gods aren’t quite done with us yet. Nope, not by a long shot.

Mother Nature, Please Close the Faucet!

Hold onto your hats, folks, because the weather forecast is calling for more of the wet stuff. That’s right, more rain. *Sigh*.

Meteorologists are predicting severe thunderstorms to roll across northern and eastern Minnesota, and while southern Minnesota might be spared the brunt of it, there’s still a chance of some heavy downpours. You know, just a light sprinkle.

But hey, there’s a glimmer of hope! Meteorologist extraordinaire Jonathan Erdman says these storms are gonna be moving through faster than a cheetah on a sugar rush. So, even if we do get hit with some heavy rain, it shouldn’t stick around long enough to cause too much more trouble. Fingers crossed, anyway.

Don’t Put Away Those Umbrellas Just Yet

Okay, so we might get a teeny tiny break from the rain for a hot minute, but don’t get too comfy just yet. The weather gods are fickle creatures, and they’re already hinting at the possibility of more rain and thunderstorms later in the week. Thursday and Friday are looking a little iffy, so maybe hold off on those outdoor picnics for now.

In the meantime, stay dry, Minnesotans. And if you happen to see a rubber ducky floating by, it might belong to the Rapidan Dam. Just sayin’.