Mud slides close Highway 169Southbound

lane closes

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- The southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 169 between St. Peter and Mankato remained closed Wednesday after more than 9 inches of rain that fell Tuesday night and early Wednesday created mud slides.

The State Patrol and other agencies began clearing a stretch of the road in the wee hours Wednesday morning.

Surging water cut at least one 30-foot washout north of Mankato.

The southbound lanes of 169 remained closed for safety reasons as rain was still falling in the Mankato area Wednesday afternoon. Traffic was diverted to State Highway 22.

"It's a very big mess," said MnDOT spokes person Rebecca Arndt Wednesday afternoon. "It's been a long night and day. It seemed to start raining again here every time you thought it was going to lighten up."

Arndt said the State Patrol monitored the area Tuesday night from the northbound lanes of the road that remained open to traffic.

Weather observer Lonnie Spaeth of New Ulm reported 2.15 inches of rain fell overnight. Brad Sellner reported 3.7 inches of rain in Sleepy Eye.

Brown County Agriculture Educator Wayne Schoper said about thousands of acres of corn, soybeans and hay were under water Wednesday. At least 2 inches of rain fell throughout the county over night.

"It's not good," Schoper said. "We'll see some stand reduction but as long as it stays fairly cool and the water goes down within 72 hours, most stands should survive."

Schoper said a U.S. Food and Drug Administration team is making weather assessments in the area this week.

After cresting just above flood stage last week, the Minnesota River at New Ulm began rising again Wednesday morning. It was measured at 794.48 feet at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday.

The river was predicted to reach flood stage (796 feet) at 8:30 a.m., Saturday and crest at 797.2 feet on Monday, June 14, according to the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service.

The National Weather Service forecast called for a chance of showers and thunderstorms through Sunday. Temperatures will be cooler throughout the period. Highs will be in the 60s Thursday and 70s Friday through next Tuesday. Evening lows will reach 55 degrees.

The Associated Press reported that Mankato resident Elizabeth Busby woke up at 3 a.m. Wednesday when she heard her air conditioner grinding in her basement. When she went to check it, she found water at least 2 feet deep.

''I tried getting to the drain and using a bathroom plunger,'' Busby said. ''The more I plunged, the more the water was coming up from the street.''

The water rose to more than 3 feet before she called someone to come drain her basement. She said she thinks she will have to replace her furnace and hot water heater.