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As spring flooding worsens, these river towns could be hit the hardest

From cabin country to farmland and the Twin Cities, Minnesota rivers are forecast to reach a moderate to major flood stage this week.

GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — Minnesota communities are facing flood threats as spring melting and rain pump more water into rivers across the state.

Below are some of the major rivers and regions to watch that are forecast to reach moderate and major flood stages throughout the week.

CLICK HERE FOR THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLOOD LEVELS MAP.

Stillwater at St. Croix

The St. Croix River at Stillwater, Minnesota and Hudson, Wisconsin reached a "major" flood stage Wednesday morning at 88.9 feet. The river is forecast to crest over the weekend at 89.5 feet, according to the National Weather Service.

South Fork Crow River in Carver/Wright County

The South Fork Crow River at Delano reached major flood stage on Tuesday and hit its crest at 19.1 feet on Wednesday, April 18. Levels are forecast to remain above major flood stage for the next several days before dropping over the weekend.

Minnesota River in southwest/west-central Minnesota

The Minnesota River at Montevideo remains in the major flood stage after cresting at 19.44 feet on Monday, April 17. As of Wednesday, levels are dropping but there's still major flooding at 18.9 feet.

Farther south near Morton, river levels are creeping into major flood stage Wednesday. Around 10 a.m., the level hit 26.2 feet and is forecast to crest at 26.3 feet in the next day.

Mississippi River: Aitkin to St. Cloud

While the stretch of the Mississippi north of the Twin Cities is not forecast to reach a major flood stage, the region did experience moderate flooding this week.

In Aitkin, river levels are sitting at a moderate flood stage of 16.4 feet Wednesday and are expected to crest at 17 feet over the weekend. Major flood stage is 18 feet.

Flood levels in St. Cloud dipped into the minor flood stage earlier this week.

Mississippi River: Twin Cities

The Mississippi River in St. Paul reached moderate flood stage on Wednesday at 15.3 feet, and is forecast to surpass major flood stage over the weekend.

The National Weather Service is currently forecasting the highest level to be 18.4 feet on Tuesday, April 25.

In preparation for major flooding, the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) extended a temporary wall at Holman Field, St. Paul's Downtown Airport. MAC officials temporarily shut down takeoff and landing operations on the main runway Tuesday so crew could add on to a 2/3-mile metal plank floodwall system designed to hold back the Mississippi River. 

Credit: MAC
Crews install a temporary flood wall system at St. Paul's downtown airport in hopes of holding back the mighty Mississippi when it reaches major flood stage.

Two secondary runways have also been closed, and will remain so until flooding recedes. 

Mississippi River: Downriver St. Paul

Downriver from St. Paul, Hastings, Red Wing, Wabasha and Winona are forecast to reach major flood stage in the next week, while Lake City and Minnesota City are likely to experience moderate flooding.

In Red Wing, water levels are forecast to reach 17 feet over the weekend, well above the major flood stage threshold of 16 feet.

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