The Minnesota River is expected to crest at 27.1 feet in Jordan on Saturday.

That level, forecast by the National Weather Service on Tuesday, is just a few inches over the height of 26.7 feet that typically closes the bridge connecting Scott County Road 9 and Carver County Road 11.

It could have been worse.

“There hasn’t been too much precipitation across the area, which has been very fortunate. What could have been a terrible spring flood looks like it may not be terrible,” said Chris O’Brien, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Chanhassen.

Last year produced a record amount of precipitation, and much of that moisture is still frozen in the soil. “If the ground’s still frozen, if we get precipitation, it’s going to run,” O’Brien said.

The National Weather Service is keeping an eye on ice jams, which can cause flooding. The ice at the Highway 41 bridge in Chaska broke on Monday.

“It seems like it’s going fairly orderly so far,” O’Brien said.

The Highway 41 bridge closes when the water reaches 29.5 feet. Last year, the river reached its 9th highest recorded crest, at 32.11 feet. The high water closed Highway 41 from March 21-April 15.

O’Brien asks that the public keeps an eye on the flood levels, and stay away from the water.