Heavy rains focus attention on N.D., Minn. rivers

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buy this photo A section of Highway 32 is shown here on Saturday, June 27, 2009 after it was washed out Friday night, about 10 miles north of Niagara, N.D. (AP Photo/Grand Forks Herald, Sarah Kolberg)

GRAFTON (AP) - Heavy rains that began late Friday and kept falling into Saturday have left portions of northeastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota bracing for flooding.

Volunteers were called to lay sandbags in the city of Grafton, where the Park River was expected to hit 1.4 feet above flood stage by Monday.

The National Weather Service said more than 3 inches of rain fell over the area Friday night and early Saturday. Some areas saw 4 inches of rain or more, leaving fields flooded and washing out some rural roads, the weather service said.

Multiple flood warnings have been issued for northeastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota, including Grafton.

Lankin farmer and Walsh County Commissioner Jack Karas said the heavy rains washed out railroad track beds and flooded the local American Legion.

"You could water-ski out there," he said. "I'm not kidding. There's whitecaps out there. I mean, there's acres and acres under water, and it's deep."

A flood warning remains in effect for the Red River at Oslo and Grand Forks. At Oslo, it is expected to reach 27.3 feet by Wednesday night. That would be 1.3 feet above flood stage.

A new warning also was issued Saturday afternoon for the Wild Rice River at Abercrombie. Forecasters say the river has risen above flood stage and is expected to rise another foot or two in coming days.

In Minnesota, warnings also have been issued for the Buffalo River near Dilworth and the Two Rivers River near Hallock.

Roadway water damage led North Dakota officials to close a portion of state Highway 32 in northeast North Dakota, about 10 miles north of the junction with U.S. Highway 2. Officials can't say when it might reopen.

Local traffic is allowed in, but other motorists are advised to use alternate routes.

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