Flash Flooding and Hail in Minnesota, October 4, 2005

Reported by Twin Lakes U.S. Post office employee.

Reported by KSUM radio. A 50 knot gust was also measured at the AWOS at the Fairmont airport.

Large branches down, trees felled, and a few power lines down.

Power lines down. Ten to twelve foot trees down, trees in power lines.

Measured with Davis Vantage Pro System.

Street flooding. Rainfall totaled 5.57 inches in Rice.

Water was crossing several roads, especially around Mora, where 6.11 inches fell.

The Harte/Second intersection in Rush City was completely under water. Several residences in this area were sandbagged and or incurred water in their basements up to 3 feet deep. Many other homeowners in Rush City also had minor basement flooding. County Road 30 south of Rush City was flooded with water up to six inches deep. A few roads had waist deep water. County roads 1, 39, 52, 53, 54 and 56 were also flooded. The Rush City Airport reported 9.59 inches of rain for the event, with 8.98 inches in Rush City proper. Wild River State Park reported 7.05 inches. Due to flooding, the Rush City School District cancelled classes on Wednesday. Interstate 35 also had one to three feet of water on the road between Rush City and North Branch.

Flooding was widespread across much of the county. In Minneapolis, a section of East River Road (behind Elliot Hall on the University of Minnesota Campus) washed out. Water rushing through intersection at 38th and Cedar was knee deep and pouring over automobile bumpers, and flooding was over curbs. Flooding in yards in the 4100 block of 31st Avenue was up to 18 inches deep, where a rain gauge measured 4.25 inches 2130 CST. Interstate 35W near Diamond Lake Road was closed. Minnehaha Creek overflowed its banks between Lakes Harriet and Nokomis. In the southern Minneapolis suburbs, portions of Highway 494 were also closed during the evening hours. In Eden Prairie, there was damage to a culvert on West 78th Street at Nine Mile Creek. City repair crews repaired sink holes that developed in the westbound and eastbound traffic lanes after sandy soil beneath the pavement was washed away. Cars flooded at Highway 5 and Mitchell, and the exit ramp from 494 and Valley View Road required mud and sand removal. In Richfield, one foot of water gathered at the intersection of Portland and 70th St. In Bloomington, American Blvd between Nicollet Ave and Portland (0.25 miles SE of I-494 at Nicollet Ave), was flooded over the curbs, cars became disabled, and the road was impassible. Some people in St Louis Park were rescued from flooded vehicles. Rainfall totals included 6.2 inches in Minnetonka and 4.86 inches in South Minneapolis (Chowen and 40th), and 4.27 inches in Golden Valley.

Curb deep water was reported on Lincoln St., from Fairview to Ashland. One foot of water was crossing roadways on the west side of St Paul, mostly around Highland Park. Flooding was also reported at the intersection of Interstate 35W and County Road D in Roseville. 7.00 inches fell in Maplewood, 4.72 inches fell at another location in Maplewood, and 3.56 inches rain was measured in North St Paul.

Several streets flooded Chaska, where a few roads had waist deep water. One automobile stalled due to the flooding. The NWS office in Chanhassen recorded 4.61 inches rain.

Flooding was widespread. In Woodbury, there was backyard flooding on Duckwood Trail, two miles south of Interstate 94 near Radio Drive. Several large ponds developed, with the largest pond encompassing 50 ft. by 150 ft. and up to 3.5 feet deep. One foot of moving water in back yards and streets was near the east side of Eagle Valley Golf course in Woodbury, located South of Valley Creek Rd. on Cottage Grove Dr. In Cottage Grove, one to two feet of water was reported on 80th Street between Jamaica and Hornell Ave. Waist deep water occurred at the bottom of the hill on Hardwood Ave, north of 80th St. Ten vehicles were floating at this location. A spotter measured 7.5 inches rain in Woodbury (near Lake Road and Radio Drive), while another Woodbury spotter (near Highland Circle and 90th), registered 7.04 inches total, including 5.74 inches between 1900 and 2230 CST. A storm chaser in Oakdale picked up 6.5 inches, and 5.62 inches fell in Stillwater.

Many roads around Milaca were covered with up to one foot of water. Onamia saw 4.18 inches rain.

Flooding was widespread. Several low lying sections of roads closed in and around Burnsville, including Cliff Road at Nicollet Avenue, sections of County Road 11 between McAndrews Road and Highway 13, sections of Burnsville Parkway between County Road 11 and Nicollet Avenue, and County Road 5 at Southcross Drive. Heavy rain also washed out bedding beneath the railroad tracks in the Minnesota River bottom. Dupont Avenue was subsequently blocked by stalled train cars and remained closed for at least 18 hours. In Apple Valley, knee deep water reported over the road near intersection of County Rd 42 and Pennock Ave. In Eagan, a small pond developed behind Eagan Community Center. Two feet of water reported in crawl space under house located at 1303 Windcrest Ave. Nicols Road south of Erin Drive was closed due to standing water. Burnsville recorded 6.76 inches of rain, a spotter in Inver Grove Heights had 5.67 inches, and 4.75 inches were measured in Lakeville.

Flooding was widespread. In Shakopee, street flooding was reported, and flooding was also noted in several residential basements, along with water retention ponds overflowing their walls. Several gravel alleys and streets were washed out. At Huber Park, volunteers pumped water out of the footings they dug the day before for a community playground. A classroom had to be relocated at the Sweeney Elementary School. The classroom sustained water damage from the flooding. Specific road flooding included: Near the junction of 4th Avenue East and Dakota Street and along 10th Avenue East, near Market Street. Portions of First Avenue flooded, making the roadway almost impassable. Sections of Valley View Road closed temporarily when mud washed down the bluff. In New Prague, Standing water forced the evacuation of automobiles to higher ground from Palmer Welcome Auto, located on Highways 13 and 21. Standing water was also reported in many New Prague Intersections and low lying areas of the city. Flooding was also reported in many residential basements and swollen ditches and creeks. Some of the areas most affected by rising water were Second Avenue NW, just North of Wells Fargo Bank and the Strike Force Bowl, and First Avenue NW, just south of Scott County Road 37, near Philipp's Creek. In Savage, police were dispatched to flooding reported at 14000 block of Hunters Lane. Police received another report about a stalled vehicle in standing water on South Park Drive and Lousiana Ave, and also at West 143rd Street, between O'Connel Road and Salem Avenue. Additional flooding was noted downtown on 126th Street, with water rising most severely at the Natchez and Lynn Avenue intersections. As the evening progressed heavy flooding reported at Yosemite Avenue and 139th Street. Savage Public Works crews were called out to Yosemite Ave. and Connelly Parkway where water levels were rising rapidly from a drainage pond. A series of ponds along Yosemite Avenue South of 137th Street spilled over onto the roadway. The Fire Department shut down Quentin Avenue when the banks of the Credit River flooded over onto the road and spilled onto Highway 13. Flooding in one home was also reported just south of the Quentin Avenue bridge. 4.55 inches rain was measured in Savage.

Street flooding was reported in Fridley and Columbia Heights, where 4.55 inches rain were recorded.

Two feet of water crossed several roads.

Roads flooded across portions of Isanti County include: County roads 55 (south of Highway 65), County Road 24, and roads in the city of Crown. County Road 12 in Athens county was damaged, with shoulders and sections of the roadway stripped down to dirt. Approximately nine inches rain fell in Spencer Brook, and 8.7 inches were measured six miles west of Cambridge.

In Langsburgh Township, County Road 144 was under water. In New Prague, Flooding was also reported in many residential basements and swollen ditches and creeks. Some of the areas most affected by rising water were: Le Sueur County Road 29 (just east of the railroad tracks) and also just south of Scott County Road 37, near Philipp's Creek.

County Road 53 south of Granada was flooded with over six inches of flowing water.

Numerous streets were flooded in Mapleton, and a few in Mankato.

Lightning damaged computers, garage door openers, and other small appliances at the Heatherton Ridge Drive residences on the 14000 block of Heatherton Ridge Drive, and an alarm system at the Comfort Inn on Highway 13 was damaged.

A lightning strike hit a home in the 7900 Block of 71st Street. The bolt caused an immediate explosion, and injured two 50 year olds who owned the home. The individuals were transported to Regions Hospital, where they were listed in fair and stable condition on the 5th. The fire destroyed the residence and caused some damage to neighboring residences.