Staff photo by Fritz Busch The rising Minnesota River floods the lower part of the Minnecon Park Public Water Access Tuesday. The river is forecast to reach moderate flood stage (804 feet) Friday, April 21.

NEW ULM — The rising Minnesota River flooded the Minnecon Park Public Water Access and lower part of Riverside Park Tuesday.

The river was observed at 802.91 feet at 12:45 p.m. Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service. The river was forecast to crest at 804.2 feet Friday, April 21 and remain at that level until Monday, April 24.

Flood stage is 800 feet. Historic crests in New Ulm are 811.03 feet on April 9, 1997, 809.44 feet April 15, 1969 and 808.3 April 16, 2001.

The Cottonwood River at New Ulm was observed at 8.51 feet at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Flood stage is 11 feet. The river was observed at 12.56 feet on Friday, April 14.

The Cottonwood was forecast to climb to 9.6 feet on Friday, April 21, according to the NWS.

A flood warning continues for the Minnesota River at Granite Falls, Montevideo and Morton; and the Redwood River near Redwood Falls.