ST. PAUL, MINN. (AP) _ St. Paul city officials are forecasting that the Mississippi River in downtown St. Paul will reach flood levels by Friday afternoon.
They outlined their preparations at a news conference on Wednesday, after the national weather service moved its flood forecast forward by 24 hours.
City Emergency Management Director Rick Larkin says the water level is expected to rise more than three feet to 14 feet by Friday.
Officials are predicting that the river will rise another four feet to 18 feet by Monday afternoon, qualifying as a major flood.
Larkin says the city will close several low-lying streets on Saturday.
He says they are preparing to close Harriet Island Regional Park across the Mississippi from downtown St. Paul if the river rises to 17 feet.

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