Rare March rain may cause localized flooding Wednesday

Here’s something you don’t expect to be writing about on March 9.

Wednesday's inbound weather system may dump enough rain to wipe out many remaining snow piles, and cause some localized flooding.

Rare March rain

Snow is the historically favored precipitation type in early March in Minnesota. Wednesday’s system is warm enough for mostly rain from the Twin Cities southward. A wintry mix to snow will be the favored precipitation type across central and northeast Minnesota.

Parts of northeast Minnesota could pick up 4 to 8 inches of heavy wet snow by Thursday morning.

Soaking rains

Rainfall total across southern Minnesota and Wisconsin will range from .50 inch to 1 inch in many areas.

That kind of rainfall on still frozen ground in some areas will cause ponding water at the surface. Throw in remaining snow piles melting quickly in the rain, and we could see some localized flooding.

Be mindful of possible ponding water if you are traveling Wednesday.