Fergus Falls Forum

Severe weather, which caused numerous tornadoes throughout the area, swept through on Thursday, and the latest reports are showing at least three deaths. Of those two deaths, one person died in Almora, Minn. (roughly 40 miles east of Fergus Falls), and another person died in rural Polk County. In southern Minnesota, one person was killed on a farm west of Albert Lea.

According to emergency officials, the Almora, Minn. woman was found dead in tornado debris.

The tornado in Almora was part of a severe weather system that rolled across the majority of Minnesota, as well as parts of North Dakota, which flattened  homes, wrecked a gas station, and knocked down an abundance of trees.

A tornado in Mentor, Minn., a community located roughly 25 miles east of Crookston, destroyed a convenience store, and killed one person in the process according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

The Minnesota State Patrol says the tornado came through town and traveled northwest, changed directions, and damaged cabins on Maple Lake. The only remains of the convenience store in Mentor is the north-facing wall, a small portion of the west-facing wall, a few 2×4′s, and corrugated metal.

In addition to damage in Almora and Mentor, the city of Wadena, Minn. was in the process of having a parade to celebrate an “all-school” reunion when a tornado tore through the city.

Just after 5:00PM, several buildings were completely destroyed, including the Wadena-Deer Creek High School, and the Wadena Area Community Center. As of late Thursday night, there were thirteen reported injuries, however no fatalities. Mike Carr, a Wadena County Sheriff, said that damage is so severe in Wadena, its not safe to enter the city.

The above photos are courtesy of Kevin Winkler.

Was your afternoon affected by severe weather? Did you have to seek shelter? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

DETROIT LAKES, Minn. — (10:45 a.m.) The Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Minnesota State Patrol urge motorists to drive with caution as flooding affects area highways in Clay, Wilkin, Mahnomen and Big Stone counties.

Road closures

The following state highways are closed until further notice:

• Highway 75 near Kent is closed from Wilkin County Road 24 to Wilkin County Road 22. The roadway is under water, causing dangerous driving conditions. Traffic is detoured using Wilkin County Roads 3 and 26.
• Highway 12 east of Ortonville is closed from Highway 75 to Big Stone County Road 21. The roadway is under water, causing dangerous driving conditions. Traffic is detoured using Highway 75 and Big Stone County Road 21.

Open – use caution

The following state highways are currently open but conditions can change rapidly. Motorists should use extreme caution approaching the following areas:

• Highway 75 one mile north of Kragnes – Open to traffic, watch for water on the roadway.
• Highway 200 east of Mahnomen at Twin Lake Creek between Mahnomen County Roads 3 and 4 – Open to traffic, watch for water on the roadway.
• Highway 12 east of Big Stone County Road 21 at Horseshoe Lake – Open to traffic, watch for water on the roadway.

Motorists should also watch for icy patches at or near these areas as the weather forecast calls for colder temperatures and wind over the next few days.

For more information

• Call 5-1-1 or log on to www.511mn.org for road condition information when traveling in west central and northwest Minnesota where potential flooding conditions exist.
• Log on to www.dot.nd.gov/travel-info/ for North Dakota current road conditions.
• Listen to your National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio or local radio stations for weather and flood warnings.

DETROIT LAKES, Minn. — (9:45 a.m.) The Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Minnesota State Patrol urge motorists to drive with caution as flooding affects area highways in Wilkin and Mahnomen counties.

Road closures

The following state highways are closed until further notice:

· Highway 75 near Kent is closed from Wilkin County Road 24 to Wilkin County Road 22. The roadway is under water, causing dangerous driving conditions. Traffic is detoured using Wilkin County Roads 3 and 26.

Open – use caution

The following state highways are currently open but conditions can change rapidly. Motorists should use extreme caution approaching the following areas:

· Highway 210 at Wilkin County Road 15 – Open to traffic, watch for water on the roadway and sandbags along the highway.

· Highway 210 at Willow Creek east of Wilkin County Road 10 – Open to traffic, watch for water on the roadway and sandbags along the highway.

· Highway 200 east of Mahnomen at Twin Lake Creek between Mahnomen County Roads 3 and 4 – Open to traffic, watch for water on the roadway.

For more information

· Call 5-1-1 or log on to www.511mn.org for road condition information when traveling in west central and northwest Minnesota where potential flooding conditions exist.

· Log on to www.dot.nd.gov/travel-info/ for North Dakota current road conditions.

· Listen to your National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio or local radio stations for weather and flood warnings.

The Red River in Fargo-Moorhead, and the smaller rivers that feed it, are rising faster than predicted just a few days ago and are on pace to approach the record flood levels seen last year.

The National Weather Service predicted that the Red River in the Fargo-Moorhead area would reach 38 feet by early Saturday morning, which will leave the area roughly one week to prepare once again. The new prediction came two days after the National Weather Service announced it would hit 28.2 feet by Friday, which essentially is a prediction increase an a two day span.

According to the Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, the Red River in Fargo has been outpacing expectations since late last week. It hit its 18-foot flood stage early on Saturday, a day before that was supposed to happen. Then, on Sunday, it was barely 2 feet shy of its 25-foot moderate flood stage, which late last week wasn’t supposed to happen until mid-day Wednesday.

Cass County Sherrif, Paul Laney said, “People need to realize it’s here. It’s here. It’s here today. If you need to protect your home, the time is now.”

Just an hour south of Fargo lies the Wahpeton-Breckenridge area, which is also experiencing flooding throughout the area. There, the Red River is expected to reach 12 feet by Tuesday, and could reach 18 to 19 feet by the end of the

Confident of the city’s flood protection, Breckenridge Mayor Cliff Barth said they will protect residents to the best of their ability. But with above-average temperatures and precipitation expected within the next 8-10 days, he’s encouraging everyone to take any precautions necessary.

“I want people to know they need to protect themselves – as far as sump pumps, as far as plugs for their basement,” he said. “They need to be ready to take care of themselves. We can’t protect them from all of that.”

When the National Weather Service issued a Blizzard Warning for the Fergus Falls area, conditions weren’t looking favorable. Just a week ago, the Fergus Falls area was enjoying temperatures in the low-to-mid thirties. That changed over night.

This storm not only canceled schools, but businesses were forced to close as well. For instance, the Fergus Falls Medical Group closed at noon, and the West Ridge Mall closed at 5:00PM.

Conditions only worsened when the day continued. Eventually, the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Department issued a statement advising no travel throughout Otter Tail County.

LOOKING FORWARD

While temperatures this week will be considerably cooler than a week ago, we shouldn’t have to worry about any winter storms making their way into our area. Highs for this week will be in the low teens, with lows being just below zero.

With temperatures in the 30′s this past week, Fergus Falls residents surely have enjoyed the weather. However, reality will kick back in this weekend after we welcome winter back from its short vacation.

According to the National Weather Service of Grand Forks, a major snow and freezing rain storm will makes its way into the area late Friday night, and early Saturday morning. The storm will move from the southern Red River Valley into Minnesota, and will mainly effect west central/north west Minnesota.

The immediate Fergus Falls area is expected to get anywhere between 6 to 12 inches of snow. When the snow is over with, blowing and drifting snow will also several impact any travel Sunday night and well into the day on Monday.

While it’s too early to determine exact measurements, due to fluctuating temperature forecasts, Fergus Falls could get up to a half-inch layer of ice as well.

As always you can trust Fergus Forum to have the latest weather information, as well as up-to-the-minute weather-related delays and cancellations.

A cross country storm will play the part of Scrooge on Christmas, bringing a blizzard to the Fergus Falls area Thursday night. Up to a foot and a half to two feet of snow may fall upon the Fergus Falls area, along with high winds.

According to Fergus Forum’s weather partner, AccuWeather, between December 22nd and December 26th, the direct Fergus Falls area can expect 16.5 inches of fresh snow. The majority of the snow will fall late Christmas eve, however it will continue on into Christmas day when high winds blow in.

The National Weather Service has listed Fergus Falls in a winter storm warning, but it is expect to be upgraded to a blizzard watch, or blizzard warning, on Christmas Eve. Stay tuned to Fergus Forum for the latest weather updates, as well as area business closings or delays.

If you didn’t get enough rain Tuesday night, then you should be ready for tonight. According to the National Weather Service, there will be strong thunderstorms, which will be capable of producing large hail, and heavy rain for the Fergus Falls area tonight. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Dry and warm weather will return to the area on Saturday and Sunday, but the nice weather is short-lived. The National Weather Service suspects that another major weather system will move into the area Sunday night and last through the day on Monday.