Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Wettest 'water year' on record for MSP; more rain ahead

Flash flood watch for southern Minnesota

Congratulations Twin Cities. You’ve just survived the wettest water year on record. Hydrologists consider the 12 months between Oct. 1 and Sept. 30 as the water year. The Twin Cities has picked up 41.39 inches or precipitation over the past 12 months.

For perspective, 42 inches is about the annual average precipitation for St. Louis. It’s also an extra 10 inches above the annual average of 30.61 inches in the Twin Cities.

More rain

The ground across Minnesota just can’t hold any more water. The front that came through Monday night has stalled across southern Minnesota Tuesday. The next waves of rain will bring another 1 to 3 inches across southern Minnesota by Wednesday morning. That’s why a flash flood watch is up for southern Minnesota, and much of Iowa and Wisconsin.

Instant October


The cold front that blew in Monday night is about 20 to 30 degrees colder. Talk about instant autumn.


Check out these temperatures over the next several days.

Graphs showing temperatures
Temperatures for Minneapolis Tuesday through Monday, Oct. 7
National Weather Service via Weather Bell