Flood alerts and a watch have been issued around Austin, but area officials said most of Austin’s rivers and creeks peaked by Friday morning.

“We lost a lot of snow cover yesterday, which is why we saw the rise,” said Austin Police Department Lt. John Mueller.

Rising water levels have largely been caused by melting snow, not rain, Mueller said.

According to Mueller, Dobbins Creek is currently under a flood watch. The police department has notified businesses and residences along the creek of the situation, but Mueller said no issues are expected. A warning is the most serious threat level, followed by a watch then an alert.

A flood alert has been issued for Turtle Creek, which means deputies are checking the water levels hourly. Mueller said water levels at Turtle Creek were steady early Friday.

An alert was also issued at the Sewage Treatment Plant, where there was a slight rise in water levels, but Mueller didn’t anticipate the alert would be upgraded to a watch.

The Cedar River is under a flood alert at Ramsey Golf Course, but water levels are believed to have peaked.

The Austin Police Department often watches areas north of Austin, like Turtle Creek near Hollandale, because water flowing from the north often leads to flooding in Austin. Unless the area is hit with heavy rains, Mueller didn’t anticipate there will be any flooding issues.

The National Weather Service observes waterways that regularly flood.

Turtle Creek as of 2 p.m. Saturday was at 9.31 feet and was expected to crest Sunday morning at 10.1 feet. Flood stage is 10.5 feet.

The Cedar River at Lansing was at 16.34 feet at 2 p.m. Saturday., reaching its crest. Flood stage is 18 feet.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warnings for counties along the Minnesota River this weekend. Jackson County on the West Fork Des Moines River, also had a flash food warning.

Warnings were issued for parts of northern Iowa Friday night and law officers closed streets that crossed the Winnebago River as waters began rising and ice chunks were deposited along roadways.

The Winnebago was at 11.2 feet about 10:30 p.m. Friday at the Mason City reporting station after having receded some during the day. It was at 8.75 feet at 8 p.m. Flood stage is 7 feet.

City emergency workers were placing barricades along strees crossing the river in central and eastern Mason City Friday night. Observers reported fast-moving water and ice coursing down the Winnebago.

The forecast calls for a chance of rain both today and Sunday. This time of year the river level is determined by rain and by melting snow runoff.

The highest recorded Winnebago River level occurred on June 8, 2008, the day of the great flood in Mason City, when the Winnebago crested at 18.74 feet.

Officials in Bemidji and Beltrami County are urging residents to prepare as rain and melting snow threatens to give way to overland flooding.

The city is offering a sandbagging class Saturday and selling unfilled sandbags all next week.

The bags are going for 25 cents apiece, which helps cover the cost of delivering sand. Residents can get the sand delivered to their homes.

The threat of flooding is rising statewide as warm temperatures and rainfall persist.

Last year’s rapid thaw led to overland flooding that damaged six homes in Bemidji.

In North Dakota, Fargo officials say the city is in full flood-fighting mode.

City officials gathered Saturday morning to assess the flood threat. The Red River at Fargo has risen into a minor flood stage.

Mayor Dennis Walaker says residents need to know “this is the real thing.” He urges them not to procrastinate on flood measures.

For Fargo officials, putting up clay levees in vulnerable parts of the city is a priority. But contractors say the soil is too wet for their equipment.

Sandbags were being filled Saturday, but county administrator Pat Zavoral says more volunteers are needed. The city will likely begin distributing sandbags next week.

The river in Fargo-Moorhead is expected to rise more than 10 feet in the next week and cause moderate flooding.

— The Associated Press and Mason City Globe-Gazette contributed to this report.