Alert archive / Minnesota / Flash Flood Warnings in 1993

Flash Flood Warning 22, NWS Twin Cities, MN

August 15, 1993Freeborn County, Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this flash flood warning at Aug 15, 1993, 2:03 AM CDT for Freeborn County, Minnesota. It was in force for 117 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 15, 1993, 2:03 AM CDT (07:03 UTC)
Expired
Aug 15, 1993, 4:00 AM CDT
In force
117 min
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Area
Whole counties

County Freeborn County, MN

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KSTC), launched 00:00Z, 7.1 hours before the alert went out and 132 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 1993-08-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1145 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 1993-08-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 223 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
1145 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-130 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
758 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
38 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
223 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
288 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.5
Supercell composite
2.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KRST 150704
FFWRST
MNC047-150900-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ROCHESTER MN
203 AM CDT SUN AUG 15 1993
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ROCHESTER MN HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING         EFFECTIVE UNTIL  400 AM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA
 
   ...FREEBORN COUNTY
 
AT 200AM CDT...THERE HAVE BEEN WIDESPREAD REPORTS OF FLOODING ACROSS A
LARGE PORTION OF FREEBORN COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA. SOME
UNOFFICIAL RAINFALL REPORTS SINCE 11PM ON SATURDAY INDICATED THAT OVER 6
INCHES OF RAIN HAD FALLEN IN THE TOWN OF GLENVILLE...AND ANYWHERE FROM
4 TO 5 INCHES OVER ALBERT LEA.
 
ACCORDING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS...THE CITY OF ALBERT LEA WAS
EXPERIENCING STREET FLOODING ACROSS MUCH OF THE CITY...AS WELL AS QUITE BIT OF BASEMENT FLOODING. THERE WAS ALSO  A REPORT OF A BRIDGE BEING
COVERED BY WATER ON COUNTY ROAD 26...ABOUT 2 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GLENVILL
 
THE HEAVIEST OF THE RAIN SHOULD MOVE OUT OF ALBERT LEA AREA BY 300AM
...HOWEVER IT WILL TAKE QUITE SOME TIME BEFORE THE STREET FLOODING
CEASES. THERE WILL THEN BE A RESPITE IN THE RAIN ACTIVITY BEFORE THE
NEXT BATCH OF RAIN OVER EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA MOVES IN LATER THIS
MORNING.
 
 
FLOOD WATERS ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.  DRIVING THROUGH HIGH WATER
IS THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO.  TWO FEET OF MOVING WATER IS
ENOUGH TO CARRY AWAY MOST CARS.  IF YOUR CAR BECOMES STALLED
IN HIGH WATER...ABANDON IT IMMEDIATELY.
 
 
 
&

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 14, 9:32 PM CDT, 4 hours 31 minutes before
MNZALL-150600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL MN
930 PM CDT SAT AUG 15 1993

...TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 11 PM FOR PART OF SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA
AND HEAVY RAIN IS POSSIBLE ELSEWHERE...

A FEW SEVERE STORMS ARE STILL POSSIBLE UNTIL 11 PM IN THE SOUTHWEST...
AS LOW PRESSURE AND A WARM FRONT CONTINUED TO LURK JUST TO THE SOUTH
AND SOUTHWEST OF MINNESOTA.  THE ATMOSPHERE IS CHARGED WITH MOISTURE...
AND READY TO BECOME SEVERE AT A MOMENTS NOTICE.  SO IF STORMS DEVELOP
IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA...BE READY TO GET TO SHELTER QUICKLY.

ANOTHER SERIOUS MATTER IS POSSIBLE FLOODING.  ALL THE HUMIDITY WILL
MAKE FOR SOME HEAVY RAINFALL.  A FEW LOCALES MAY VERY WELL PICK UP
3 OR 4 INCHES IN A COUPLE OF HOURS.  BUT SUCH HEAVY RAIN SHOULD BE
ON THE ISOLATED SIDE.  MOST AREAS WHICH SEE STORMS SHOULD INSTEAD
RECEIVE ONE OR TWO INCHES.

IF YOU GET CAUGHT IN A SUDDEN DOWNBURST...BE AWARE OF POSSIBLE FLOODING.
REMEMBER NOT TO CROSS ANY ROAD WITH WATER FLOWING ACROSS.  IT IS VERY
DIFFICULT TO JUDGE THE DEPTH OF WATER DURING NIGHT...WHEN MOST FLOODING
DEATHS OCCUR.

KRAUSE
Special weather statement, Aug 14, 11:46 PM CDT, 2 hours 17 minutes before
MNZALL-150600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL MN
1140 PM CDT SAT AUG 15 1993

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 4AM SUNDAY MORNING FOR PORTIONS OF
WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA...

AT 1130 PM STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HAD DEVELOPED RAPIDLY ACROSS SOUTHWEST
INTO SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA. THE STORMS EXTENDED FROM NEAR MARSHALL AND
REDWOOD FALLS SOUTHEAST THROUGH NEW ULM TO JUST SOUTH OF MANKATO TO NEAR
ALBERT LEA.

THE BAND OF STORMS WAS MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

NO SEVERE WEATHER HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH THE STORMS BUT SOME FLOODING
IS POSSIBLE AS THE STORMS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND TAP THE ABUNDANT
MOISTURE AVAILABLE IN THE AIR. SOME AREAS OF SOUTHERN MINNESOTA MAY SEE
RAINFALL AMOUNT IN EXCESS OF 3 INCHES DURING THE NIGHT.
REMEMBER NOT TO CROSS FLOODED ROADWAYS AT NIGHT BECAUSE ITS
DIFFICULT TO JUDGE THE DEPTH OF WATER DURING NIGHT...WHEN MOST
FLOODING DEATHS OCCUR.

PERS4ONS IN SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA SHOULD BE
ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK
SAFE SHELTER.
SES
Special weather statement, Aug 15, 12:25 AM CDT, 1 hour 38 minutes before
MNZ016-151000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL MN
1225 AM CDT SUN AUG 15 1993

...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHING THE TWIN CITIES...

AT 1225 AM...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED 45 MILES SOUTHWEST
FROM THE TWIN CITIES METROPOLITAN AREA MOVING INTO SIBLEY AND LE SUEUR
COUNTIES.

THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN
HOUR AND WILL MOVE INTO SCOTT AND DAKOTA COUNTIES BY 1:15 AM. IF THE
THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE ON THE PRESENT COURSE THEY WILL REACH THE
DOWNTOWN AREAS OF MINNEAPOLIS AND ST PAUL BETWEEN 2:00 AM AND 2:30 AM.

THE MOST DANGEROUS ASPECTS OF THESE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE FREQUENT
LIGHTNING AND PERIODS OF HEAVY RAINFALL. SOME GUSTY WINDS ARE
ALSO LIKELY. DOWNPOURS MAY CAUSE FLOODING OF URBAN AND LOW LYING AREAS
SUCH AS UNDERPASSES AND DITCHES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE ACROSS
ROADWAYS THAT MAY BECOME COVERED BY RAPID RUNOFF.
Special weather statement, Aug 15, 12:30 AM CDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before
MNZ016-151000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL MN
1225 AM CDT SUN AUG 15 1993

...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHING THE TWIN CITIES...

AT 1225 AM...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED 45 MILES SOUTHWEST
FROM THE TWIN CITIES METROPOLITAN AREA MOVING INTO SIBLEY AND LE SUEUR
COUNTIES.

THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN
HOUR AND WILL MOVE INTO SCOTT AND DAKOTA COUNTIES BY 1:15 AM. IF THE
THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE ON THE PRESENT COURSE THEY WILL REACH THE
DOWNTOWN AREAS OF MINNEAPOLIS AND ST PAUL BETWEEN 2:00 AM AND 2:30 AM.

THE MOST DANGEROUS ASPECTS OF THESE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE FREQUENT
LIGHTNING AND PERIODS OF HEAV|Y RAINFALL. SOME GUSTY WINDS ARE
ALSO LIKELY. DOWNPOURS MAY CAUSE FLOODING OF URBAN AND LOW LYING AREAS
SUCH AS UNDERPASSES AND DITCHES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE ACROSS
ROADWAYS THAT MAY BECOME COVERED BY RAPID RUNOFF.
Special weather statement, Aug 15, 1:25 AM CDT, 38 minutes before
MNZ016-151100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL MN
125 AM CDT SUN AUG 15 1993

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHING THE TWIN CITIES...

AT 125 AM...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO APPROACH THE
TWIN CITIES FROM THE WEST AND SOUTHWEST. THE THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM
THE TWIN CITIES SOUTH TO NEAR OWATONNA AND TO THE SOUTHWEST TO AROUND
NEW ULM. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 25 MILES
AN HOUR. THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOW AFFECTING PARTS OF HENNIPEN..SCOTT..SIBLEY
AND WRIGHT COUNTIES. WITH THE PRESENT DIRECTION AND SPEED OF MOVEMENT ALL
OF THE TWIN CITIES METROPOLITAN AREA SHOULD BE EXPERIENCING THUNDESTORMS
BY 230 AM.

THESE THUNDERATORMS WERE PRODUCING NEARLY CONTINUOUS AND VIDID LIGHTNING.
REPORTS HAVE BEEN TRICKLING INTO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OF RAINFALL
TOTALS IN EXCESS OF 4 INCHES IN 2 HOURS OVER PARTS OF WESTERN MINNESOTA.
THESE TORRENTIAL RAINS CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE
ACROSS ROADWAYS THAT ARE UNDER WATER NOR ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THROUGH
UNDERPASSES WITH STANDING WATER.
LRS
Special weather statement, Aug 15, 1:30 AM CDT, 33 minutes before
MNZ016-151100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL MN
125 AM CDT SUN AUG 15 1993

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHING THE TWIN CITIES...

AT 125 AM...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO APPROACH THE
TWIN CITIES FROM THE WEST AND SOUTHWEST. THE THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM
THE TWIN CITIES SOUTH TO NEAR OWATONNA AND TO THE SOUTHWEST TO AROUND
NEW ULM. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 25 MILES
AN HOUR. THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOW AFFECTING PARTS OF HENNIPEN..SCOTT..SIBLEY
AND WRIGHT COUNTIES. WITH THE PRESENT DIRECTION AND SPEED OF MOVEMENT ALL
OF THE TWIN CITIES METROPOLITAN AREA SHOULD BE EXPERIENCING THUNDESTORMS
BY 230 AM.

THESE THUNDERATORMS WERE PRODUCING NEARLY CONTINUOUS AND VIDID LIGHTNING.
REPORTS HAVE BEEN TRICKLING INTO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OF RAINFALL
TOTALS IN EXCESS OF 4 INCHES IN 2 HOURS OVER PARTS OF WESTERN MINNESOTA.
THESE TORRENTIAL RAINS CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE
ACROSS ROADWAYS THAT ARE UNDER WATER NOR ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THROUGH
UNDERPASSES WITH STANDING WATER.
LRS

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Minnesota, 1993Every flash flood warning in 1993

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.