Alert archive / Minnesota / Flood Watches in 2011

Flood Watch 6, NWS Twin Cities, MN

July 15, 201128 counties in Minnesota; 6 counties in Wisconsin

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this flood watch at Jul 15, 2011, 12:52 PM CDT for 28 counties in Minnesota; 6 counties in Wisconsin. It took effect at Jul 15, 2011, 1:00 PM CDT. It was in force for 13 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 15, 2011, 12:52 PM CDT (17:52 UTC)
In effect from
Jul 15, 2011, 1:00 PM CDT
Expired
Jul 16, 2011, 2:14 AM CDT
In force
13 hr
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Flood severity
None
All 34 counties

Anoka County, MN, Blue Earth County, MN, Brown County, MN, Carver County, MN, Chippewa County, MN, Dakota County, MN, Faribault County, MN, Freeborn County, MN, Goodhue County, MN, Hennepin County, MN, Kandiyohi County, MN, Le Sueur County, MN, Martin County, MN, McLeod County, MN, Meeker County, MN, Nicollet County, MN, Ramsey County, MN, Redwood County, MN, Renville County, MN, Rice County, MN, Scott County, MN, Sibley County, MN, Steele County, MN, Waseca County, MN, Washington County, MN, Watonwan County, MN, Wright County, MN, Yellow Medicine County, MN, Chippewa County, WI, Dunn County, WI, Eau Claire County, WI, Pepin County, WI, Pierce County, WI, Saint Croix County, WI

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 30 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:53 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 5.9 hours before the alert went out and 29 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 12:00Z on 2011-07-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1183 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 12:00Z on 2011-07-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 101 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
1183 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-78 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
585 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
28 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
101 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
135 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
3.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

479 
WGUS63 KMPX 151752
FFAMPX

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1252 PM CDT FRI JUL 15 2011

...VERY HEAVY RAIN POSSIBLY CONTINUING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.A LARGE AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS
PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA INTO WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN
DURING THE AFTERNOON. NEW DEVELOPMENT OF THUNDERSTORMS IS ALSO
LIKELY OVER PARTS OF SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA DURING
THE AFTERNOON AND CONTINUING THROUGH THE EVENING. ALL OF THIS
ACTIVITY COULD LEAD TO FLOODING OF LOW LYING AND URBAN AREAS AS
WELL AS ALONG SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS . THE FLOOD WATCH INCLUDES
AREA SOUTH OF A LINE FROM BLOOMER...TO THE TWIN CITIES...TO
WILLMAR.


MNZ056>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ023>028-160200-
/O.NEW.KMPX.FA.A.0006.110715T1800Z-110716T1200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CHIPPEWA-KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-WRIGHT-HENNEPIN-ANOKA-RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-
YELLOW MEDICINE-RENVILLE-MCLEOD-SIBLEY-CARVER-SCOTT-DAKOTA-
REDWOOD-BROWN-NICOLLET-LE SUEUR-RICE-GOODHUE-WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-
WASECA-STEELE-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-ST. CROIX-PIERCE-DUNN-
PEPIN-EAU CLAIRE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MONTEVIDEO...WILLMAR...LITCHFIELD...
MONTICELLO...MINNEAPOLIS...BLAINE...ST. PAUL...STILLWATER...
GRANITE FALLS...OLIVIA...HUTCHINSON...GAYLORD...CHASKA...
SHAKOPEE...BURNSVILLE...REDWOOD FALLS...NEW ULM...ST. PETER...
LE SUEUR...FARIBAULT...RED WING...ST. JAMES...MANKATO...WASECA...
OWATONNA...FAIRMONT...BLUE EARTH...ALBERT LEA...HUDSON...
NEW RICHMOND...RIVER FALLS...PRESCOTT...MENOMONIE...BOYCEVILLE...
DURAND...PEPIN...CHIPPEWA FALLS...BLOOMER...EAU CLAIRE...ALTOONA
1252 PM CDT FRI JUL 15 2011

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS ISSUED
A

* FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL 
  WISCONSIN...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS...IN MINNESOTA... 
  ANOKA...BLUE EARTH...BROWN...CARVER...CHIPPEWA...DAKOTA... 
  FARIBAULT...FREEBORN...GOODHUE...HENNEPIN...KANDIYOHI...LE 
  SUEUR...MARTIN...MCLEOD...MEEKER...NICOLLET...RAMSEY... 
  REDWOOD...RENVILLE...RICE...SCOTT...SIBLEY...STEELE...WASECA...
   WASHINGTON...WATONWAN...WRIGHT AND YELLOW MEDICINE. IN WEST 
  CENTRAL WISCONSIN...CHIPPEWA...DUNN...EAU CLAIRE...PEPIN... 
  PIERCE AND ST. CROIX. 

* THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING

* VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM ONGOING...AND DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORMS
  THROUGH TONIGHT...COULD CAUSE WIDESPREAD RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1
  TO 3 INCHES AND ISOLATED 4 TO 5 INCH TOTALS.

* FLOODING OF LOW LYING AND URBAN AREAS AS WELL AS ALONG
  SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON
CURRENT FORECASTS.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE
FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE
PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP.

&&

$$
3 follow-up statements
671 
WGUS63 KMPX 152118
FFAMPX

FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
418 PM CDT FRI JUL 15 2011

...VERY HEAVY RAIN CONTINUING OVER SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...

.STORMG THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL CONTINUE OVER
PARTS OF SOUTHEAST AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA THIS EVENING.
RAINFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR HAVE BEEN COMMON IN SOME
OF THE STRONGER STORMS. AREAS OF SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA MAY BE IN THE
CLEAR FROM ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAIN...BUT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAIN IN SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA UNTIL AT LEAST
MIDNIGHT. DUE TO THE 1 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN THAT HAS ALREADY
OCCURRED IN A FEW AREAS THIS AFTERNOON...ANY ADDITIONAL
THUNDERSTORMS WILL CAUSE MORE FLOODING. THE FLOOD WATCH INCLUDES
AREA SOUTH OF A LINE FROM BLOOMER...TO THE TWIN CITIES...TO
WILLMAR.

MNZ056>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ023>028-160530-
/O.CON.KMPX.FA.A.0006.000000T0000Z-110716T1200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CHIPPEWA-KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-WRIGHT-HENNEPIN-ANOKA-RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-
YELLOW MEDICINE-RENVILLE-MCLEOD-SIBLEY-CARVER-SCOTT-DAKOTA-
REDWOOD-BROWN-NICOLLET-LE SUEUR-RICE-GOODHUE-WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-
WASECA-STEELE-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-ST. CROIX-PIERCE-DUNN-
PEPIN-EAU CLAIRE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MONTEVIDEO...WILLMAR...LITCHFIELD...
MONTICELLO...MINNEAPOLIS...BLAINE...ST. PAUL...STILLWATER...
GRANITE FALLS...OLIVIA...HUTCHINSON...GAYLORD...CHASKA...
SHAKOPEE...BURNSVILLE...REDWOOD FALLS...NEW ULM...ST. PETER...
LE SUEUR...FARIBAULT...RED WING...ST. JAMES...MANKATO...WASECA...
OWATONNA...FAIRMONT...BLUE EARTH...ALBERT LEA...HUDSON...
NEW RICHMOND...RIVER FALLS...PRESCOTT...MENOMONIE...BOYCEVILLE...
DURAND...PEPIN...CHIPPEWA FALLS...BLOOMER...EAU CLAIRE...ALTOONA
418 PM CDT FRI JUL 15 2011

...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING...

THE FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR

* PORTIONS OF MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN...INCLUDING 
  THE FOLLOWING AREAS...IN MINNESOTA...ANOKA...BLUE EARTH... 
  BROWN...CARVER...CHIPPEWA...DAKOTA...FARIBAULT...FREEBORN... 
  GOODHUE...HENNEPIN...KANDIYOHI...LE SUEUR...MARTIN...MCLEOD... 
  MEEKER...NICOLLET...RAMSEY...REDWOOD...RENVILLE...RICE... 
  SCOTT...SIBLEY...STEELE...WASECA...WASHINGTON...WATONWAN... 
  WRIGHT AND YELLOW MEDICINE. IN WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN... 
  CHIPPEWA...DUNN...EAU CLAIRE...PEPIN...PIERCE AND ST. CROIX. 

* THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING

* VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH
  TONIGHT...COULD CAUSE MORE FLOODING.

* FLOODING OF LOW LYING AND URBAN AREAS AS WELL AS ALONG SMALL 
  CREEKS AND STREAMS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON
CURRENT FORECASTS.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE
FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE
PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP.

&&

$$
613 
WGUS63 KMPX 160045
FFAMPX

FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
745 PM CDT FRI JUL 15 2011

...VERY HEAVY RAIN STILL POSSIBLE FOR SOUTH CENTRAL INTO SOUTHEAST
MINNESOTA TONIGHT...

.THE FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED ACROSS MUCH OF CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND ALL OF WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN.
THUNDERSTORMS HAVE ENDED ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA. THE BEST CHANCE
FOR WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAIN PRODUCING THUNDERSTORMS TO REDEVELOP
LATER TONIGHT WILL BE ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND INTO
SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA WHERE THE FLOOD WATCH WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT.
ALSO...MUCH OF SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA RECEIVED
HEAVY RAINFALL EARLIER TODAY WHICH WILL MAKE THAT AREA SUSCEPTIBLE
TO FLOODING IF HEAVY RAINS OCCUR AGAIN TONIGHT.

THE FLOOD WATCH WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR AREAS ROUGHLY SOUTH OF A
LINE FROM ST. JAMES TO MANKATO TO OWATONNA TO RED WING.

MNZ056>070-073>077-082-WIZ023>028-160145-
/O.CAN.KMPX.FA.A.0006.000000T0000Z-110716T1200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CHIPPEWA-KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-WRIGHT-HENNEPIN-ANOKA-RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-
YELLOW MEDICINE-RENVILLE-MCLEOD-SIBLEY-CARVER-SCOTT-DAKOTA-
REDWOOD-BROWN-NICOLLET-LE SUEUR-RICE-WATONWAN-ST. CROIX-PIERCE-
DUNN-PEPIN-EAU CLAIRE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MONTEVIDEO...WILLMAR...LITCHFIELD...
MONTICELLO...MINNEAPOLIS...BLAINE...ST. PAUL...STILLWATER...
GRANITE FALLS...OLIVIA...HUTCHINSON...GAYLORD...CHASKA...
SHAKOPEE...BURNSVILLE...REDWOOD FALLS...NEW ULM...ST. PETER...
LE SUEUR...FARIBAULT...ST. JAMES...HUDSON...NEW RICHMOND...
RIVER FALLS...PRESCOTT...MENOMONIE...BOYCEVILLE...DURAND...
PEPIN...CHIPPEWA FALLS...BLOOMER...EAU CLAIRE...ALTOONA
745 PM CDT FRI JUL 15 2011

...FLOOD WATCH IS CANCELLED...

THE FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MINNESOTA
AND ALL OF WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN HAS BEEN CANCELLED. SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS REMAIN POSSIBLE IN THE OVERNIGHT...BUT THE THREAT OF
WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAINS IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN FARTHER SOUTH ACROSS
SOUTH CENTRAL INTO SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA.

$$

MNZ078-083>085-091>093-160845-
/O.CON.KMPX.FA.A.0006.000000T0000Z-110716T1200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
GOODHUE-BLUE EARTH-WASECA-STEELE-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...RED WING...MANKATO...WASECA...
OWATONNA...FAIRMONT...BLUE EARTH...ALBERT LEA
745 PM CDT FRI JUL 15 2011

...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM CDT SATURDAY...

THE FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR

* PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...
  INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...IN SOUTH CENTRAL
  MINNESOTA... BLUE EARTH...FARIBAULT...FREEBORN...MARTIN...STEELE
  AND WASECA. IN SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...GOODHUE.

* UNTIL 7 AM CDT SATURDAY

* VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH 
  TONIGHT...COULD CAUSE MORE FLOODING. 

* FLOODING OF LOW LYING AND URBAN AREAS AS WELL AS ALONG SMALL 
  CREEKS AND STREAMS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON
CURRENT FORECASTS.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE
FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE
PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP.

&&

$$
BAP
206 
WGUS63 KMPX 160714
FFAMPX

FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
214 AM CDT SAT JUL 16 2011

...FLOOD WATCH CANCELLED...

THE FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST
MINNESOTA HAS BEEN CANCELLED. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS REMAIN
POSSIBLE EARLY THIS MORNING...BUT THE THREAT FOR WIDESPREAD HEAVY
RAIN IS EXPECTED TO BE FARTHER SOUTH...ACROSS IOWA.

MNZ078-083>085-091>093-160815-
/O.CAN.KMPX.FA.A.0006.000000T0000Z-110716T1200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
GOODHUE-BLUE EARTH-WASECA-STEELE-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...RED WING...MANKATO...WASECA...
OWATONNA...FAIRMONT...BLUE EARTH...ALBERT LEA
214 AM CDT SAT JUL 16 2011

...FLOOD WATCH IS CANCELLED...

THE FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND
SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA HAS BEEN CANCELLED. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS
REMAIN POSSIBLE EARLY THIS MORNING...BUT THE THREAT FOR WIDESPREAD
HEAVY RAIN IS EXPECTED TO BE FARTHER SOUTH....ACROSS IOWA.

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Twin Cities, MN issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 15, 3:40 AM CDTExcessive Heat WatchMPXAnoka, Benton, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Chippewa and 36 more36 hr
Jul 15, 4:58 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXDouglas62 min
Jul 15, 5:55 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMPXDouglas, Todd3 hr
Jul 15, 6:13 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXTodd62 min
Jul 15, 6:19 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXDouglas, Stearns, Todd56 min
Jul 15, 6:44 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXStearns, Todd61 min
Jul 15, 6:50 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXDouglas55 min
Jul 15, 7:05 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXStearns55 min
Jul 15, 7:11 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXMorrison79 min
Jul 15, 7:33 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXDouglas, Pope, Stearns, Todd57 min
Jul 15, 8:14 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningMPXDouglas, Todd3 hr
Jul 15, 8:37 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXStearns53 min
Jul 15, 8:51 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningMPXPope, Stearns3 hr
Jul 15, 9:00 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXMeeker, Stearns, Wright45 min
Jul 15, 9:36 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningMPXTodd5 days
Jul 15, 10:12 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXAnoka, Hennepin, Sherburne, Wright63 min
Jul 15, 11:07 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXFreeborn, Steele38 min
Jul 15, 12:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXDakota, Goodhue, Rice52 min
Jul 15, 2:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBlue Earth, Le Sueur, Nicollet, Waseca44 min
Jul 15, 3:09 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMPXBlue Earth, Carver, Le Sueur, Nicollet, Rice, Scott and 2 more3 hr
Jul 15, 3:20 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXFreeborn, Le Sueur, Rice, Steele, Waseca55 min
Jul 15, 3:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXFreeborn, Rice, Steele, Waseca26 min
Jul 15, 3:35 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningMPXDakota, Le Sueur, Rice, Scott, Steele, Waseca3 hr
Jul 15, 3:46 PM CDTExcessive Heat WarningMPXAnoka, Benton, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Chippewa and 36 more5 days
Jul 15, 3:50 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningMPXDakota, Goodhue, Rice3 hr
Jul 15, 4:55 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMPXFaribault, Freeborn, Steele, Waseca3 hr

Nearby

Flood Watches in Minnesota, 2011Flood Watches in Wisconsin, 2011Every flood watch in 2011

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.