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MnDOT: Use Caution During Memorial Day Weekend

ST. PAUL, Minn.—The Minnesota Department of Transportation urges motorists to use extra caution while driving through highway work zones this Memorial Day weekend. 

Plan ahead, think about alternate routes or go to www.511mn.org to get advance information about road construction and detours.

“With hundreds of construction projects going on around the state, work zone safety is crucial during this busy weekend,” said Mike Barnes, MnDOT’s Operations director. “We ask drivers to pay attention in work zones and make it a safe weekend for everyone.”

Highway projects that may affect weekend travel on May 24-27 include the following:

Hormel Foods Misses Q2 Projections, Earns $2.15 Billion

AUSTIN, Minn. (AP) — Hormel Foods’ fiscal second-quarter net income fell 2 percent as it dealt with one-time costs related to its acquisition of the Skippy peanut butter brand, higher grain costs and weaker turkey prices.

Its quarterly performance missed Wall Street’s expectations.

The meat producer, known for Spam and other cured, smoked and deli meats, earned $125.5 million, or 46 cents per share, for the three months ended April 28. That compares with $127.9 million, or 48 cents per share, a year earlier.

Analysts predicted earnings of 49 cents per share, according to a FactSet survey.

The current quarter included about $9 million in one-time costs related to the Skippy deal. Hormel Foods Corp. agreed to buy Skippy in January from Unilever for $700 million.

Revenue rose 7 percent to $2.15 billion from $2.01 billion, but fell short of the $2.19 billion that Wall Street expected.

Sunshine Returns Today

That very slow-moving storm system that brought us all the rain has finally left the area! We woke up to a few clouds, but they have cleared out of the area, allowing for the sun to come back out! Temperatures will remain on the cool side however, as our high in Austin tops out around 63° today. Skies should remain clear overnight, allowing our overnight low to cool off to around 39°!

Quiet weather in store for Friday as well, however another stubborn storm system is expected to make an appearance for the Memorial Day weekend. Unfortunately scattered showers and thunderstorms are looking likely for the weekend, and with this storm being another slow-mover, the soggy stretch lasts well into next week!

Temperatures will gradually warm to the 70s next week, after a brief cool-down for the weekend with highs in the lower & middle 60s Sat. & Sun.

Local Schools Practice for Emergencies

(ABC 6 NEWS) -- The images are haunting ... two Oklahoma elementary schools, torn apart by a mile-wide tornado.

Historically, every state in America has experienced a tornado, and that means no place is immune.

But nationwide, schools are preparing for the potential of an Oklahoma-like storm

“I think you always have to be ready for the unexpected," said principal Sheila Berger at Sumner Elementary School in Austin.

Elementary schools were just letting-out for the day when Monday’s tornado hit Moore, Oklahoma. Seven students were killed:

"The scene over there at the school is just catastrophic," one parent said.

“We are required by law to do drills," said Sumner principal Sheila Berger.

In the Austin school district, that includes fire drills, code red drills and tornado drills.

Scattered Showers/T-Storms Today

Flooding remains on the mind of many.  Heavy, persistent downpours over the past few days has caused flooding across parts of Mower, Mitchell and Floyd counties.  Many measurements in these areas came in with 3+" of rainfall, with 5+ in a few spots too. 

Austin and the surrounding areas can expect more rain for today and Wednesday, as the upper level storm system that brought us the heavy rain Sunday slowly moves east, and through the area. Dry air is trying to work into the system, meaning most of today will be dry, however the chance is there for a few scattered showers and thunderstorms to pop up across the area. Severe weather is not expected today or Wednesday.

Although we aren't expecting heavy rain like we saw Sunday evening, river levels will still need to be closely monitored.

AHS Spring Choral Festival

AHS Spring Choral Festival

The Austin High School Choir Department will present their annual Spring Choral Festival Concert Tuesday, May 21 at 7:00 pm in Knowlton Auditorium.  The concert will feature Concert, Treble, Mixed Choir, and Vocal Jazz as well as a combined Festival Choir for a grand finale.   Music will include folk songs, spirituals, Gospel, popular tunes as well as some classics.  This year’s event also features the honoring of the 2013 Austin High School Music Hall of Fame winners: Myron Haug, Allison Alcorn and David Hays.  Tickets will be available at the door for $7 adults and $5 seniors/students.  Activity passes and season music passes will also be accepted. 

Heavy Rain Causes Flooding/More Storms Today

Persistent, heavy rainfall Sunday evening has led to flooding in many spots in southern Minnesota and Northern Iowa, especially Mitchell and Mower counties. Numerous roads have been impacted by high water and rivers are running out of their banks in spots. Radar estimates point to 3 to 7" of rain fell in parts of Mitchell and Mower counties.

More rain is in the forecast for again today for Austin and the surrounding areas, as a very slow-moving storm system continues to impact the area. The potential is there for another round of severe weather across SE MN & northern IA later this afternoon and evening, mainly along and to the east of I-35. Main threats with any storms that fire up later today will be large damaging hail, strong damaging winds, very heavy rain, and an isolated tornado or two later this afternoon and evening.