Red River at Oslo
OSLO, Minn. (KFGO) – Oslo, in northwestern Minnesota, is now an island, surrounded by the floodwaters that are protected by levees.
Thursday, MnDOT closed the last two highways to the east due to overland flooding. The Red River borders the town to the west.
Mayor Erika Martins said this is not the worst flood the town has dealt with but it will be in the top 10 highest floods. She said it appears the Red has reached the crest at 37.6 feet and has leveled out. It was at 38 feet.
Martins said despite the problems, the community, with a population of about 300, has been holding its own with some help. She said the levees are holding and not even close to breaching. All the flood gates are closed and the National Guard is monitoring the levees and has protocol ready should there be an emergency.
The mayor said much will depend on more rain Friday into Saturday, but if everything stays the way it is, it looks like the area should be out of major flood stage by next Tuesday or Wednesday.
Oslo’s record crest was 38.37 feet in 2009.
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