Flooding in Minneapolis and St. Paul

I was out this evening on the Mississippi, less than a mile from downtown Minneapolis, and even though rain had been threatening for several hours, it's still a shock how suddenly and how heavily it can rain here. The skyscrapers were blurry, the river was filled with white horses, people ran for their cars, and then ten minutes later it was over.

A consequence of heavy early summer rains is flooding. Other parts of Minnesota like the Southeastern region are most at risk from flooding and deadly flash floods, although parts of the Twin Cities are at risk too. Here in the Metro Area, flooding is more likely to fill basements with water rather than destroy houses and wash away cars but it is still wise to be careful around creeks, rivers and other waterways.

As well as flooding, heavy rain can make driving dangerous. The AAA of Minnesota and Iowa recently released safe driving guidelines for driving through heavy rain and warn that as little as two feet of water can sweep a car away.

• More about flooding in Minneapolis and St. Paul - Which areas are at risk, how to protect your home, and what to do in the event of a flood.