Law enforcement officials are still cautiously watching water levels in both Freeborn and Mower counties.

Freeborn County sheriff’s deputies have barricaded Freeborn County Road 30 at 285th Street because of high water where Turtle Creek flows.

The barricade is passable but motorists should avoid going that way if possible. If choosing to proceed, caution is urged.

In Austin, Turtle Creek, which was at a level of 6.3 feet Monday morning, was upgraded Saturday night to flood warning status— the highest of the city’s three flood standards. The water levels have slightly decreased between the city’s last two readings.

Areas of the Cedar River near the Sewage Treatment Plant and the Ramsey dam are currently under flood watches — the second-highest stage, up from flood alert.

The Ramsey area remains steady while the Sewage Treatment Plant area is up slightly.

“For the most part we are holding steady… the snow north of us is melting fast,” said Austin Police Department Lt. John Mueller. “We’re still reading gauges hourly.”

The Cottonwood River near New Ulm was flooding on Sunday night, observed at 11.66 feet at 9 p.m. and expected to rise to 12.5 feet this week. Flood stage starts at 11 feet.

Flood stage for the Winnebago River in Mason City, Iowa, is just 7 feet, but that little river rose Friday night to 11.2 feet. It was observed at 9:30 p.m. Sunday at 9.58 feet. It is expected to rise to 10.4 feet around 10 a.m. Monday.

Albert Lea is the start of the Shell Rock River, but the last town on the waterway before it enters the Cedar River at Waverly, Iowa, is also called Shell Rock. The city was dealing with floods Sunday as the Shell Rock crested at 13.64 feet around 7 p.m. and was about at that level — 13.63 feet — when observed at 8:45 p.m. Sunday. Flood stage is 12 feet. The flood forecast calls for the waters to recede through the week.

In the Albert Lea area, a lot of meltwater will be dumped down the waterways on Monday as the most recent forecast calls for a high of 52, even with dense fog through much of the morning.