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Slowly receding rivers and more rain — when will it change?
The assistant state climatologist says 17inches of rain fell between April and June, making it the 4th wettest on record.
STILLWATER, Minn. — The record-setting rain has some people wondering if the weather will ever turn around this summer.
It has already caused the St. Croix River to rise to the highest its ever been in June, according to Assistant State Climatologist Pete Boulay.
“This river is on its own,” said resident Louis Watson. “It’s gonna do what it’s gonna do, so it’s quite something to see it this high.”
The St. Croix can usually crest in April when the snow melts — not so much in the summer. And that’s making it much harder for Stillwater Mayor Ted Kozlowski to manage.
“It’s completely out of the ordinary,” said Kozlowski. “It’s not really so much about the height, as it is the duration and longevity of this thing that really kind of hurts us.”
Boulay says 17 inches of rain fell from April to June, making it the fourth wettest period ever.
“If we wanted something to break the drought, we did it in style,” said Boulay. “It doesn’t really flood that often on the rivers in June and into July here and it impacts different things, like the 4th of July.”
Kozlowski says the city is postponing the holiday’s festivities and fireworks, likely until the end of August. He says that downtown Stillwater is still open for business and the city will communicate a new date for fireworks and associated events when something more specific is decided upon.
In the meantime, more rain is expected in the coming days and the river is receding much too slowly.
“If this river only drops a couple feet in the next two weeks, and we get a three-inch rain event, we’re going to have to build a 10-foot wall all up and down this park still,” said Kozlowski. “We’re certainly keeping our eyes on the sky.”
The Climate Prediction Center released an update on Tuesday that shows the second and third week of July trending much drier and warmer. But that means those dangerous, hot temperatures will persist out west and far east.
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“I do it every few weeks and for me it’s worth it,” said Tom Sammler, who has donated blood for the past 50 years.
Tom Sammler is no stranger when it comes to donating blood.
“I enjoy doing it,” Sammler said. “It takes three hours of my time. I do it every few weeks and for me it’s worth it!”
For the past 50 years, this A-negative donor is nothing but positive. Sammler has been rolling up his sleeves and he has donated 78 gallons of life-saving blood and counting.
“I’ve got the time, I don’t mind, like I say its something I know is worthwhile,” Sammler said.
Memorial Blood Centers Maureen Maher said just one donation can save up to three lives, but in the summer months, the number of donors goes down.
“There’s always a need especially for the universal blood type,” Maureen said. “People with O-negative are always needed because they can help, it’s a universal blood type. They can help many people and there is so many people that need blood transfusions throughout the year, whether it’s a cancer patient that need some help to a pre-mature baby or somebody fighting blood cancer, so really the need is constant.”
Maureen said 62% of the population is eligible to give blood but only 3% do, but with the help of others that could change.
“It’s such a selfless things to do and it’s so easy,” Maureen said.
Coming up on July 9, KARE 11 is hosting a Health Fair 11 Summer Blood Drive. If you’d like to donate, the drive is at the Minneapolis Marriott West Hotel in St. Louis Park from 1 to 7 p.m.
Appointments are preferred but walk-ins are welcome!
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Download the free KARE 11+ app for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and other smart TV platforms to watch more from KARE 11 anytime! The KARE 11+ app includes live streams of all of KARE 11’s newscasts. You’ll also find on-demand replays of newscasts; the latest from KARE 11 Investigates, Breaking the News and the Land of 10,000 Stories; exclusive programs like Verify and HeartThreads; and Minnesota sports talk from our partners at Locked On Minnesota.
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The driver of the vehicle remained on the scene and has cooperated with the investigation, said the release.
BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. — The Brooklyn Park Police Department is investigating after a pedestrian was fatally struck by vehicle on Sunday.
Officers from the department and other first responders first arrived at West Broadway and Candlewood Drive for a report of the crash at around 6:07 p.m.
Upon their arrival, the responders found the pedestrian, who was later pronounced dead at the scene, according to a release from the police department.
The driver of the vehicle remained on the scene and has cooperated with the investigation, said the release.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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Police said a marked squad car was turning left on Saturday night when a motorcycle crashed into the passenger’s side.
MINNEAPOLIS — A man was seriously injured in Minneapolis’ Audubon Park neighborhood Saturday night after police said he crashed his motorcycle into the passenger side of a squad car.
According to police, an MPD officer in a marked squad car was turning left from Central Avenue Northeast onto 28th Avenue Northeast around 9:30 p.m. when the collision happened.
Police said the adult male on the motorcycle had potentially life-threatening injuries and was taken by ambulance to Hennepin Healthcare. The officer had apparent non-life-threatening injuries, officials said and was also hospitalized.
No further details have been provided by authorities about either victim.
Preliminary information from police indicates the motorcyclist was driving fast when he hit the squad. A witness told police the motorcycle’s lights weren’t turned on.
Investigators said they suspect the motorcyclist was under the influence. A warrant for a blood draw was executed due to suspicion of a DUI, police said.
Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities and across Minnesota in our YouTube playlist:
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Download the free KARE 11+ app for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and other smart TV platforms to watch more from KARE 11 anytime! The KARE 11+ app includes live streams of all of KARE 11’s newscasts. You’ll also find on-demand replays of newscasts; the latest from KARE 11 Investigates, Breaking the News and the Land of 10,000 Stories; exclusive programs like Verify and HeartThreads; and Minnesota sports talk from our partners at Locked On Minnesota.
