As sections of Sioux Falls and Minnehaha and Lincoln county are put under ongoing flash flood warnings, flood warnings and flood watches, roads in Sioux Falls and the surrounding area are closing.

A flood watch is in effect through 7 a.m. Saturday for all of southeastern South Dakota, and a flood warning is currently in effect for the following areas until 7:30 a.m. Saturday, according to the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls:

• Portions of northwest Iowa, including the following counties, Clay, Dickinson, Lyon, O`Brien, Osceola and Sioux
• Southwest Minnesota, including the following county, Nobles
• And southeast South Dakota, including the following counties, Lincoln, Turner and Union

“Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 4 inches are possible in the warned area over the next 24 hours,” the flood warning states. Heavier rain, with a risk of severe storms is expected after 5 p.m. Friday.

Locations that will experience flooding include: Sioux Falls, Sioux Center, Sheldon, Canton, Sibley, Rock Rapids, Beresford, Parker, Harrisburg, Tea, Rock Valley, Hull, Lennox, Sanborn, George, Centerville, Worthing, Larchwood, Inwood and Viborg.

Here’s what we know so far about area road closures.

Road Closures in Lincoln County:

The Lincoln County Highway Department says no travel is advised in Lincoln County due to flooding on roads.

Canton

The Canton Police Department says to avoid these roads. It’s working on compiling a full list of road closures.

• North Cedar
• 4th Street
• North Lincoln Street
• 3 to 4 miles north on North Dakota Street
• North Bridge Street
• Noid Road

Highway 18 has been opened back up, but the department says to proceed with caution.

Tea:

The Tea City Facebook says to avoid Gateway Boulevard when leaving or coming to Tea, as the road is down to one lane.

West of Canton and south of Worthing:

These roads are closed due to flooding until further notice, says South Dakota 511, the South Dakota Department of Transportation road conditions webpage:

• South I-29 to SD-11 North
• U.S 18 West Exit 59 to U.S 18 East Exit 62
• 0.25 miles north of SD-44 Exit 64 to US 18 West Exit 59

Road Closures in Minnehaha County:

The Minnehaha County Highway Department says multiple roads have begun to flood, and conditions are expected to become worse as the rain continues.

County Highway 121 (478th Avenue or Eros Road) is closed south of 252nd Street, according to the Minnehaha County Highway Department. NWS has reported standing water on I-29 south of Sioux Falls.

The Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office posted photos from the intersection of 478th Avenue and 252nd Street and Hartford Turtle Creek Park, where the roads have completely flooded.

Sioux Falls:

These roads are closed according to a post on X from the City of Sioux Falls:

• 12th Street is closed from Sertoma Avenue to LaMesa Avenue
• Madison Street is closed at LaMesa Avenue
• Charger Circle south of 69th Street
• 41st Street at Cliff Avenue near Interstate 229

Lennox:

Road closed barricades are being placed at Boynton Avenue and Cherry, West 1st and Cleveland, and West 4th and Cleveland. Please proceed with caution, says the City of Lennox Facebook.

What to do if you encounter closed roads:

“If there’s any barricades up because the road is closed, don’t go across those,” said Tim Masters, a hydro-meteorological technician with the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls. “The water might be deeper than you think.”

MITCHELL — Heavy rains flooded Mitchell Thursday night, causing stranded vehicles on flooded roads and water seeping into local businesses.

The Department of Public Safety issued statements on social media late Thursday night advising residents to avoid travel.

The Mitchell Fire and Emergency Services Department were responding to numerous drivers stranded on flooded roads. City crews blocked off many roads amid the downpour.

Once again, the area along East Hackberry Street in central Mitchell with a history of drainage issues was hit hard. Multiple vehicles were submerged in standing water late Thursday night along East Hackberry Street.

In the fall of 2019 when Mitchell received a record two-day rain storm that dropped 11 inches of rain, numerous businesses and homes along the East Hackberry Street and South Kimball Avenue area were submerged in standing water.

Portions of Interstate 90 surrounding the Mitchell area were also flooded Thursday night, as there were multiple reports of vehicles stranded on I-90.

Unofficial reports indicated Mitchell had received around 4 inches of rain as of Thursday night. The National Weather Service (NWS) of Sioux Falls is forecasting rain to continue falling in Mitchell well into the early morning hours on Friday, June 21.

Flash flood warnings remain in effect until Saturday morning, according to the NWS.

Sam Fosness joined the Mitchell Republic in May 2018. He was raised in Mitchell, S.D., and graduated from Mitchell High School. He continued his education at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, where he graduated in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in English. During his time in college, Fosness worked as a news and sports reporter for The Volante newspaper.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – The Sioux Falls Public Safety Campus is now hosting the state’s Law Enforcement Academy.

The academy trains cadets in the 13-week basic certification course.

In the past, participants would have to travel to Pierre to partake in training.

“The instructors for this course of training is local law enforcement, so people actively doing the job here in Sioux Falls or the Sioux metro will be the instructors,” said Lt. Jessica Speckmeier.

Cadets will complete training in September and then return to their communities as state certified officers.

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