Minnesota, 1997

Flooding in Minnesota, April 6 to 10, 1997

April 6 to 10, 1997 · NWS DLH · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

Rapid melting of a snowpack with above normal water content and heavy rain caused flooding across parts of northeastern Minnesota. Water from the Crow Wing River rose above bank levels and flooded low-lying areas in southern Crow Wing and southern Cass Counties.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS DLH wrote it up.

Rapid melting of a snowpack with above normal water content and heavy rain caused flooding across parts of northeastern Minnesota. Water from the Crow Wing River rose above bank levels and flooded low-lying areas in southern Crow Wing and southern Cass Counties. Rising water threatened several homes and concerned dam operators to the extent that sand-bagging was done, but no significant flood damage was reported.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Southern Cass

When
April 6, 4:50 PM CST to April 10, 2:00 PM CST
Where
Southern Cass forecast zone
Coordinates
46.950, -94.325 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Crow Wing

When
April 6, 4:50 PM CST to April 10, 2:00 PM CST
Where
Crow Wing forecast zone
Coordinates
46.482, -94.071 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Minnesota in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, April 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5601558, 5601559.