Minnesota weather has been warm enough during days to allow much meltwater to sink into the soil, minimal flooding, something hydrologists hadn't predicted-Star-Tribune

4/22/13, "Tonight's Twins game postponed, half-foot of snow predicted," Star Tribune, Walsh, Mcauliffe

"Recent cool weather warm enough to melt snow during the day but cool enough to freeze and stop the meltwater flow at night has helped the situation, Richels added. Also, much of the frost has thawed out of the soil, allowing meltwater to sink in, something that many hydrologists thought might not happen across the region.

Only 10 days ago, Richels sampled a 12-inch deep core of snow and found it contained 3.56 inches of water; this weekend, in 4 inches of snow, he found 1.56 inches of water. Overland flooding and road closures have been far less than he expected, Richels said. Flood risks on metro rivers are minimal." photo, woman riding bike in snow in Minneapolis, 4/22/13, by star tribune








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