SEVERE WEATHER: Flash Flood Warning Area Includes Dakota County

Drivers should watch for high water on roadways and not attempt to cross deep areas as more torrential rain falls on the South Metro Friday evening. 

The National Weather Service in Chanhassen has issued a Flash Flood Warning for much of the south and east areas of the Twin Cities, including Dakota and Hennepin counties. 

Here's the official statement: 

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN THE TWIN CITIES HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR... EASTERN HENNEPIN COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA... NORTHWESTERN DAKOTA COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA... RAMSEY COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA... SOUTHEASTERN ANOKA COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...

* UNTIL 430 AM CDT

* AT 1030 PM CDT... TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED FLOODING ACROSS THE TWIN CITIES AREA.

* RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL HAS CAUSED FLASH FLOODING TO OCCUR. A LULL IN THE RAINFALL WILL LAST TO AROUND MIDNIGHT... BEFORE ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL REACHES THE METRO AREA. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE... MINNEAPOLIS... ST PAUL... BLAINE... BLOOMINGTON... BROOKLYN PARK... COON RAPIDS... EAGAN... EDEN PRAIRIE... MAPLE GROVE... MAPLEWOOD... PLYMOUTH... ROSEVILLE... ST LOUIS PARK... THE LAKE MINNETONKA AREA AND TWIN CITIES AIRPORT.

NUMEROUS REPORTS OF SIGNIFICANT FLOODING IN THE TWIN CITIES METRO HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. AGAIN... A LULL IN THE RAIN UNTIL AROUND MIDNIGHT WILL GIVE WAY TO ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL OVERNIGHT THAT WILL CAUSE ADDITIONAL FLOODING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS... URBAN AREAS... HIGHWAYS... STREETS AND UNDERPASSES AS WELL AS OTHER DRAINAGE AREAS AND LOW LYING SPOTS.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT QUICKLY. DO NOT ENTER THE WATER. TURN AROUND AND MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.