Alert archive / Minnesota / Flash Flood Watches in 2017

Flash Flood Watch 1, NWS Twin Cities, MN

May 16, 20176 counties in Minnesota; 6 counties in Wisconsin

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this flash flood watch at May 16, 2017, 2:54 PM CDT for 6 counties in Minnesota; 6 counties in Wisconsin. It took effect at May 16, 2017, 9:00 PM CDT. It was in force for 6 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 16, 2017, 2:54 PM CDT (19:54 UTC)
In effect from
May 16, 2017, 9:00 PM CDT
Expired
May 17, 2017, 3:19 AM CDT
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Flood severity
None

Counties Faribault County, MN, Freeborn County, MN, Goodhue County, MN, Rice County, MN, Steele County, MN, Waseca County, MN, Chippewa County, WI, Dunn County, WI, Eau Claire County, WI, Pepin County, WI, Pierce County, WI, Rusk County, WI

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 93 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:58 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, 7.9 hours before the alert went out and 95 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 2017-05-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 241 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 2017-05-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -35 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
241 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-181 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1186 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
48 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-35 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-4 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
-1.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

608 
WGUS63 KMPX 161954
FFAMPX

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Flood Watch
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
254 PM CDT Tue May 16 2017

...Thunderstorms with heavy rain could cause flash flooding
tonight in southeast Minnesota and west central Wisconsin...

.A flash flood watch has been issued from 9 pm through Wednesday
morning. This means be prepared, flash flooding is possible in 
the watch area. 

Thunderstorms are expected to develop later this evening across 
southeast Minnesota and west central Wisconsin. Multiple storms 
could move over the same location bringing a few inches of rain in
just a couple of hours, which could cause rapid rises on small
rivers and streams and low water crossings. Never drive through
flood waters.

MNZ077-078-084-085-092-093-WIZ016-024>028-170400-
/O.NEW.KMPX.FF.A.0001.170517T0200Z-170517T1200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Rice-Goodhue-Waseca-Steele-Faribault-Freeborn-Rusk-Pierce-Dunn-
Pepin-Chippewa-Eau Claire-
Including the cities of Faribault, Red Wing, Waseca, Owatonna, 
Blue Earth, Albert Lea, Ladysmith, River Falls, Prescott, 
Menomonie, Durand, Chippewa Falls, and Eau Claire
254 PM CDT Tue May 16 2017

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING THROUGH
WEDNESDAY MORNING...

The National Weather Service in Twin Cities/Chanhassen has issued
a

* Flash Flood Watch for portions of Minnesota and Wisconsin, 
  including the following areas, in Minnesota, Faribault, 
  Freeborn, Goodhue, Rice, Steele, and Waseca. In Wisconsin, 
  Chippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, and Rusk. 

* From 9 PM CDT this evening through Wednesday morning

* Thunderstorms with heavy rain are likely tonight.

* This could lead to flooded roads. 

* Half of all flood fatalities are vehicle related. Never drive
  through flood waters.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead
to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

&&

$$

jrb
2 follow-up statements
626 
WGUS63 KMPX 170408
FFAMPX

Flood Watch
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
1108 PM CDT Tue May 16 2017

...Thunderstorms with heavy rain could cause flash flooding
tonight in southeast Minnesota and west central Wisconsin...

.A flash flood watch remains in effect through tonight. This 
means be prepared, flash flooding is possible in the watch area.

More thunderstorms will move up into the area tonight, moving over
the same locations that have seen heavy rains since Monday. Multiple
storms could move over the same location bringing a few inches of
rain in just a couple of hours, which could cause rapid rises on 
small rivers and streams and low water crossings. Never drive 
through flood waters.

MNZ077-078-084-085-092-093-WIZ016-024>028-171200-
/O.CON.KMPX.FF.A.0001.000000T0000Z-170517T1200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Rice-Goodhue-Waseca-Steele-Faribault-Freeborn-Rusk-Pierce-Dunn-
Pepin-Chippewa-Eau Claire-
Including the cities of Faribault, Red Wing, Waseca, Owatonna, 
Blue Earth, Albert Lea, Ladysmith, River Falls, Prescott, 
Menomonie, Durand, Chippewa Falls, and Eau Claire
1108 PM CDT Tue May 16 2017

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM CDT WEDNESDAY...

The Flash Flood Watch continues for

* Portions of Minnesota and Wisconsin, including the following 
  areas, in Minnesota, Faribault, Freeborn, Goodhue, Rice, 
  Steele, and Waseca. In Wisconsin, Chippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire, 
  Pepin, Pierce, and Rusk. 

* Until 7 AM CDT Wednesday

* Thunderstorms with heavy rain are likely tonight.

* This could lead to flooded roads.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead
to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

&&

$$
948 
WGUS63 KMPX 170819
FFAMPX

Flood Watch
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
319 AM CDT Wed May 17 2017

...Flash Flood Watch cancelled for portions of south central and
southeast Minnesota into west central Wisconsin...

.Rainfall rates over the watch area will be light to moderate at
best through daybreak. Therefore, the Flash Flood Watch has been
cancelled. More thunderstorms with the potential to produce heavy
rainfall are possible this afternoon and evening. Stay tuned to
future forecasts. 

MNZ077-078-084-085-092-093-WIZ016-024>028-170930-
/O.CAN.KMPX.FF.A.0001.000000T0000Z-170517T1200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Rice-Goodhue-Waseca-Steele-Faribault-Freeborn-Rusk-Pierce-Dunn-
Pepin-Chippewa-Eau Claire-
Including the cities of Faribault, Red Wing, Waseca, Owatonna, 
Blue Earth, Albert Lea, Ladysmith, River Falls, Prescott, 
Menomonie, Durand, Chippewa Falls, and Eau Claire
319 AM CDT Wed May 17 2017

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS CANCELLED...

The Flash Flood Watch for portions of Minnesota and Wisconsin has
been cancelled. Rainfall rates over the watch area will be light to moderate at
best through daybreak. Therefore, the Flash Flood Watch has been
cancelled. More thunderstorms with the potential to produce heavy
rainfall are possible this afternoon and evening. Stay tuned to
future forecasts. 

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 15, 8:53 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXFaribault37 min
May 15, 9:32 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXWaseca43 min
May 15, 9:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBlue Earth, Waseca35 min
May 15, 10:04 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXSteele56 min
May 15, 10:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXGoodhue26 min
May 15, 11:11 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXWaseca34 min
May 15, 11:39 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXRice36 min
May 16, 1:18 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXRice42 min
May 16, 3:05 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXLac qui Parle, Yellow Medicine55 min
May 16, 3:47 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXChippewa, Kandiyohi, Stevens, Swift28 min
May 16, 4:20 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXKandiyohi, Stearns55 min
May 16, 5:06 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXBrown, Martin, Redwood, Watonwan84 min
May 16, 3:04 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXRice26 min
May 16, 3:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXDakota, Goodhue, Rice48 min
May 16, 4:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXDakota, Washington39 min
May 16, 4:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXWashington52 min
May 16, 5:32 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXDakota, Goodhue, Rice43 min
May 16, 5:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXRice33 min
May 16, 6:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXDakota, Goodhue44 min
May 16, 6:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXGoodhue47 min
May 16, 4:01 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXPolk, Saint Croix44 min
May 16, 4:39 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXBarron, Polk51 min
May 16, 4:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBarron, Rusk65 min
May 16, 5:05 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXBarron55 min
May 16, 5:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBarron, Dunn, Saint Croix47 min
May 16, 5:37 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXRusk38 min
May 16, 6:01 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedMPXRusk59 min
May 16, 6:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMPXBarron, Chippewa, Rusk65 min
May 16, 6:14 PM CDTTornado WarningMPXChippewa35 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Watches in Minnesota, 2017Flash Flood Watches in Wisconsin, 2017Every flash flood watch in 2017

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.