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ST. PAUL — A drier weekend will likely lessen the impact of expected rainfall early next week following almost two weeks of flooding across Minnesota, authorities said during a press conference Friday, June 28.

"We got a bit of a reprieve in the last few days with some sunny weather," Gov. Tim Walz told reporters during a Friday press conference in St. Paul. He said it is time to start thinking about moving into a transition and recovery period. "We know this is trying and it causes a lot of stress."

Across the state, heavy rains have led to flooding mainly focused in the northeast, southern and Twin Cities area of the state. Homes and businesses suffered what is likely millions of dollars in damage from the floods.

At one point, authorities believed a dam near Mankato on Blue Earth River would fail. Those concerns were alleviated when the river diverted around the Hydroelectric dam, which eroded the river bank, destroying an Xcel Energy substation and causing a house to fall into the river. Authorities are now worried a bridge downstream may be affected by the diverted river.

Areas in northeastern Minnesota also suffered heavy flooding, with the city of Cook suffering the worst of it.

National Weather Service Meteorologist for the Twin Cities, Dan Hawblitzel, said that 1-2 inches of rain is still likely to come next week but that a drier weekend would help floodwaters recede, saving already hard-hit areas in southern Minnesota.

The concern now is flooding along the Mississippi River, which is likely to cause moderate flooding from Hastings down to Winona and other areas downstream, according to Hawblitzel.

There will be major flooding in St. Paul, with the river reaching a 21-foot crest, the seventh highest on record for the area. Communities in the south metro will likely still see flooded areas going into next week.

Clint Austin / Duluth Media Group

A storm system the NWS is tracking is likely to bring heavier rains to Iowa which would not impact southern Minnesota, though the agency will watch it over the weekend to see if there are any weather pattern changes.

Walz appeared beside several officials Friday, including Federal Emergency Management Agency Regional Administrator Tom Sivak.

Sivak, along with other authorities on Friday, asked people affected by the floods to take pictures and document damage as FEMA representatives will start a door-to-door campaign to assess the destruction left in the wake of the flooding this month.

"Pictures are worth a thousand words to us," Sivak said during Friday's press conference.

The state has also applied for a federal disaster declaration and the damage will likely reach the threshold for approval, Walz said Friday.

Walz said earlier this week he may call a special session if damage costs run higher than the $26.64 million for emergency relief in state funds.

Sen. Grant Hauschild, DFL-Hermantown, who represents some of the hardest hit areas in northeast Minnesota, also called for a special session to address infrastructure needs related to flooding.

A peacetime emergency declared by Walz has been extended another 30 days.