Flood and Hail in Minnesota, July 13, 1997

Name: Flood and Hail in Minnesota, July 13, 1997
Start: 1997-07-13T20:10
End: 1997-07-13T22:45
Location: Minnesota

July 13, 1997 · NWS ARX · 8 events in 2 counties and zones

5 inches of rain fell in 15 minutes, causing widespread urban flooding in the city of Rochester.

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.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $100,000
Crop damage: $10,000
Events: 8

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 ARX wrote it up.

A line of severe thunderstorms hit the area with dime to nickel size hail along with 60 to 65 mph winds.1.5 inches of rain fell in 15 minutes, causing widespread urban flooding in the city of Rochester.

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 92 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:11 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dodge

When: July 13, 8:10 PM CST
Where: Dodge County, 1 mi N of West Concord
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 44.170, -92.900

Hail, Dodge

When: July 13, 8:10 PM CST
Where: Dodge County, 1 mi N of West Concord
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Crop damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 44.170, -92.900

Thunderstorm Wind, Olmsted

When: July 13, 8:37 PM CST
Where: Olmsted County, Byron
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph)
Property damage: $12,000
Coordinates: 44.030, -92.650

Hail, Olmsted

When: July 13, 8:50 PM CST
Where: Olmsted County, 3 mi W of Rochester
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 44.030, -92.530

Hail, Olmsted

When: July 13, 8:50 PM CST
Where: Olmsted County, Rochester
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Coordinates: 44.030, -92.470

Thunderstorm Wind, Olmsted

When: July 13, 8:52 PM CST
Where: Olmsted County, Rochester
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph)
Property damage: $55,000
Coordinates: 44.030, -92.470

Flood, Olmsted

When: July 13, 9:00 PM CST to 10:45 PM CST
Where: Olmsted County, Byron
Coordinates: 44.004, -92.402 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Olmsted

When: July 13, 9:21 PM CST
Where: Olmsted County, 1 mi S of Eyota
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph)
Property damage: $8,000
Coordinates: 43.970, -92.230

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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

Every storm in Minnesota in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in Minnesota, July 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: 5606493, 5606494, 5606495, 5606496, 5606497, 5606498, 5606500, 5606499.