Alert archive / Minnesota / Flood Watches in 2026

Flood Watch 4, NWS Twin Cities, MN

September 6, 2026Martin County, Watonwan County, Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this flood watch at Sep 6, 2026, 10:26 AM CDT for Martin County, Watonwan County, Minnesota. It took effect at Sep 6, 2026, 11:00 AM CDT. It was in force for 8 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Sep 6, 2026, 10:26 AM CDT (15:26 UTC)
In effect from
Sep 6, 2026, 11:00 AM CDT
Expired
Sep 6, 2026, 6:44 PM CDT
In force
8 hr
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
Flood severity
None

Counties Martin County, MN, Watonwan County, MN

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 140 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:28 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, 3.4 hours before the alert went out and 138 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 2026-09-06Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 257 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Minneapolis, MN at 12:00Z on 2026-09-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 24 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
257 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-330 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1056 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
23 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
24 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
55 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

192 
WGUS63 KMPX 061526
FFAMPX

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Flood Watch
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
1026 AM CDT Sun Sep 6 2026

.Slow moving thunderstorms are possible throughout the day today.
These storms could produce high rainfall rates, which could lead to
flash flooding. A flash flood watch means "be prepared", and make
sure you are able to receive any warnings if they are issued.

MNZ082-091-070300-
/O.NEW.KMPX.FA.A.0004.260906T1600Z-260907T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Watonwan-Martin-
Including the cities of St James and Fairmont
1026 AM CDT Sun Sep 6 2026

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible.

* WHERE...A portion of south central Minnesota, including the
  following counties, Martin and Watonwan.

* WHEN...Until 10 PM CDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
  - The potential for slow moving thunderstorms to produce heavy rain
    across parts of the area.
  - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

$$

JRB
1 follow-up statement
649 
WGUS63 KMPX 062344
FFAMPX

Flood Watch
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
644 PM CDT Sun Sep 6 2026

MNZ082-091-070045-
/O.CAN.KMPX.FA.A.0004.000000T0000Z-260907T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Watonwan-Martin-
Including the cities of St James and Fairmont
644 PM CDT Sun Sep 6 2026

...FLOOD WATCH IS CANCELLED...

The Flood Watch is cancelled for a portion of south central
Minnesota, including the following areas, Martin and Watonwan.

Flash Flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat. Please
continue to heed remaining road closures.

$$

MPG

What forecasters said that day

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

NWS Twin Cities, MN wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flood watch went out at Sep 6, 6:24 AM CDT, 4 hours 2 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Higher confidence in scattered storm development across western MN this afternoon, likely dissipating before reaching Twin Cities and eastern MN.
  • More widespread rainfall possible Monday night into Tuesday, though areas across northern MN are favored for heaviest amounts.
  • Seasonable airmass arrives for the rest of the week after Tuesday with only small chances for rain.
Area forecast discussion, Sep 6, 6:24 AM CDT, 4 hours 2 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
624 AM CDT Sun Sep 6 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Higher confidence in scattered storm development across
  western MN this afternoon, likely dissipating before reaching
  Twin Cities and eastern MN.

- More widespread rainfall possible Monday night into Tuesday,
  though areas across northern MN are favored for heaviest
  amounts.

- Seasonable airmass arrives for the rest of the week after
  Tuesday with only small chances for rain.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 247 AM CDT Sun Sep 6 2026

TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY...Ridging remains in place across the
central plains this morning, with a corridor of greater
surface moisture stretching from the Gulf Coast up through the
Dakotas. The Marginal Risk from the Day 1 SWO does look a little
goofy, though it does match up with this region of greater
moisture and instability. Zooming into our area, the greatest
chance for storm development today will be across western MN.
Timing and coverage are still pretty low confidence though. The
remnants/energy from the storms ongoing across western Nebraska
this morning are the most likely trigger for storms this
afternoon in Minnesota and Iowa. You see this idea with the
latest runs of the HRRR and RRFS, where storms bubble along the
axis of higher instability. There are reasonable scenarios where
storms are relatively limited in coverage, but have a greater
chance of producing marginally severe wind or hail... or you get
widely scattered storms that are mostly garden variety with a
few becoming more organized at points. Regardless of how
widespread in coverage the storms become, the drop-off in
MUCAPE values to the east will struggle to support any storms
from advancing much farther than the line from St Cloud to
Mankato.

After storms dissipate some time Sunday evening, it will be a
relatively quiet end to the long weekend until our final wave
of this pattern moves through overnight Monday into Tuesday.

A potent shortwave trough will break us out of this hot and
stormy pattern, bringing one last push for rain. The trough
itself will not be orientated as favorably for a high end
severe threat, though the SPC does have a Marginal Risk for Days
2-3 covering the Monday night to Tuesday morning window. The
greatest rainfall amounts are still favored along the
international border closer to the surface low, though we will
certainly take any moisture we can squeeze out from the cold
front that sweeps across the southern half of the state and into
western WI. The majority of the morning actively should be
mostly wrapped up by noon, leaving us in a cooler and drier
airmass heading into the rest of the week.

WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...Seasonable temperatures and mostly
dry conditions look to be the main story for the second half
of the week. Northwest flow aloft may support a weak wave from
sparking small rain chances any day, though there is no real
strong signal from any long range ensemble guidance. As we get
to the end of the weekend and into next week, there are some
signs pointing towards a negative PNA phase which could support
an even bigger push into fall-like weather for the central US.
Heck, there are trees near the office already starting to drop
their leaves, though it is more out of moisture preservation at
this point...

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 606 AM CDT Sun Sep 6 2026

Very few issues this TAF duration with mainly high ceilings.
MVFR ceilings starting out at AXN with IFR ceilings at RWF, both
of which will dissipate by late morning, with VFR conditions
continuing for all sites through Monday morning. A few showers
are possible in western MN later this morning into early
afternoon, thus the PROB30 at AXN, but chances are too low
elsewhere so have kept other TAF sites dry. Winds will run SE
throughout this duration with speeds around 10kts, with fairly
frequent gusts to near 20kt in western MN from late morning
onward.

KMSP...No precipitation is expected at MSP at this point, as the
precip ongoing in western-northern MN looks to run into more
stable air and dissipate, along with there being high
uncertainty with the CAMs.

/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/
TUE...SHRA/MVFR likely with chc TSRA in mrng. Clearing late.
Wind S 10-15kts bcmg W.
WED...VFR. Wind WNW 15G25kts.
THU...VFR. Wind W 5-10kts.

&&

.MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MN...None.
WI...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...BED
AVIATION...JPC
Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 6, 4:24 AM CDT, 6 hours 2 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
424 AM CDT Sun Sep 6 2026

MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028-
070930-
Douglas-Todd-Morrison-Mille Lacs-Kanabec-Stevens-Pope-Stearns-
Benton-Sherburne-Isanti-Chisago-Lac Qui Parle-Swift-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-Polk-Barron-Rusk-
St. Croix-Pierce-Dunn-Pepin-Eau Claire-
424 AM CDT Sun Sep 6 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central and
southern Minnesota, and west central Wisconsin.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.

Isolated thunderstorms are possible in far western Minnesota late
this morning through the afternoon. A few storms may be strong to
severe, potentially producing large hail or damaging winds.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

Scattered thunderstorms are possible Monday evening into Tuesday
morning. Some storms may be strong to severe, potentially
producing large hail or damaging winds.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN spotter activation may be needed later today and again
Monday evening into Tuesday morning.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Sep 6, 8:31 AM CDT, 1 hour 55 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
831 AM CDT Sun Sep 6 2026

MNZ074-061415-
Brown MN-
831 AM CDT Sun Sep 6 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN BROWN COUNTY UNTIL
915 AM CDT...

At 831 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Springfield, or 22 miles south of Redwood Falls, moving north at 5
mph.

HAZARD...Pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Heavy rainfall is occurring with this nearly stationary
         storm.

Locations impacted include...
  Springfield.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4416 9487 4415 9510 4420 9510 4420 9511
      4428 9511 4428 9487
TIME...MOT...LOC 1331Z 195DEG 3KT 4422 9503

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH

Dye
Special weather statement, Sep 6, 8:34 AM CDT, 1 hour 52 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
834 AM CDT Sun Sep 6 2026

MNZ082-091-061415-
Watonwan MN-Martin MN-
834 AM CDT Sun Sep 6 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN MARTIN AND
SOUTHWESTERN WATONWAN COUNTIES UNTIL 915 AM CDT...

At 834 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Butterfield, or 26 miles northwest of Fairmont, moving north at 5
mph.

HAZARD...Half inch size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Heavy rainfall
         is occurring with this nearly stationary storm. Minor
         flooding is possible.

Locations impacted include...
  Ormsby, Odin, Echols and Butterfield.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4399 9486 4399 9464 4379 9463 4379 9485
      4385 9485 4385 9486
TIME...MOT...LOC 1333Z 188DEG 3KT 4390 9482

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH

Dye
Special weather statement, Sep 6, 9:27 AM CDT, 59 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
927 AM CDT Sun Sep 6 2026

MNZ073-061500-
Redwood MN-
927 AM CDT Sun Sep 6 2026

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN REDWOOD
COUNTY UNTIL 10 AM CDT...

At 927 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking heavy rain and minor
flooding near Morgan, or 9 miles southeast of Redwood Falls, moving
north at 15 mph.

Locations impacted include...
  Redwood Falls, Morgan, Morton, Clements, Redwood Falls Airport and
  North Redwood.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the weather situation closely and never drive through flood
waters.

&&

LAT...LON 4434 9487 4436 9513 4461 9515 4458 9509
      4457 9510 4457 9507 4455 9502 4455 9501
      4454 9502 4455 9499 4454 9498 4454 9497
      4453 9497 4453 9494 4452 9494 4452 9488
      4451 9488 4450 9487
TIME...MOT...LOC 1426Z 191DEG 12KT 4443 9500

JRB

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 6, 8:31 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXBrown44 min
Sep 6, 8:34 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXWatonwan41 min
Sep 6, 9:27 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXRedwood33 min
Sep 6, 1:12 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXBlue Earth33 min
Sep 6, 1:28 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningMPXFaribault3 hr
Sep 6, 1:37 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMPXStearns23 min

Nearby

Flood Watches in Minnesota, 2026Every flood watch in 2026

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.