Minnesota, 1997

Flood in Minnesota, April 6 to 9, 1997

April 6 to 9, 1997 · NWS DLH · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Rapid melting of a snowpack with above normal water content and heavy rain caused flooding across parts of northeastern Minnesota. Rising water on the Floodwood River affected mainly the community of Floodwood in southern St.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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
$161,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

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. Rising water on the Floodwood River affected mainly the community of Floodwood in southern St. Louis county. High water flooded 10 to 20 homes and businesses, and two highways had standing water, nearly closing one of them. Sandbagging of roads and structures was carried out. An estimated $135,800 in public, private, and retail damage occurred in Floodwood, with about $25,000 in road and bridge damage in Duluth and Lakewood Township. Federal disaster aid was granted.

The radar

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

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Event by event

1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Southern St. Louis / Carlton

When
April 6, 5:00 PM CST to April 9, 5:00 PM CST
Where
Southern St. Louis / Carlton forecast zone
Property damage
$161,000
Coordinates
47.091, -92.569 (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: 5601561.