Officials are recommending that residents located within the Minnesota  River Watershed consider purchasing flood insurance prior to this Spring.
According to the National Weather Service there is a 90 percent chance that Minnesota River will breach flood stage, 888 feet, in Granite Falls as a result of dense snowpack and one of the wettest falls on record.
According to an article in the West Central Tribune snowpack affecting the upper Minnesota River currently holds 4 to 5 inches of water, which ranks in the top 10 percent of that which has been witnessed over the past 50 years.
Last year, flood waters in Granite Falls reached 890.7 ft. on March 30, which resulted in minor flooding and damage. In 2001 the river reached 895.3 ft. resulting in an estimated $3 million in flood related expenses.
Current weather service predictions indicate a 35 percent chance that the river will reach 2009 levels and a five percent chance that they will meet those recorded in 2001.
The National Weather Service will release new predictions in February and March that will take into account the effects of weather from now until then.
For more information on flood insurance see the “Minnesota Reminded to consider flood insurance” article located on page 7B.