Flash Flooding and Hail in Minnesota, September 3 to 4, 2005

Golf ball sized hail fell at Games Lake. A number of campers at the lake campground suffered dents and puncture holes in awnings.

The water department in Sauk Centre had to block off several streets because of flooding. Vehicles became stalled in flood waters on Getty, Fourth, and Walnut streets. Highway 22 between highways 34 and 46 in Paynesville had 6 inches of water covering the roadway. Street flooding was reported by the fire department in Holdingford. Flooding was reported by law enforcement on Interstate 94 in Freeport. A total of 2.40 inches of rain was recorded in Melrose. Radar rainfall estimates as high as 5 inches were found across the northern portion of the county.

A trained spotter reported a funnel cloud one mile north of Paynesville.

Golf ball sized hail was reported in the northeast corner of West Union Township. A vehicle and the roof of a house were damaged.

Dime to penny sized hail was reported by a trained spotter.

Power lines were downed in town. Trees were downed at Lake Koronis Regional Park.

Dime sized hail was reported 1 mile east of Eden Valley.

Fire and rescue officials reported that high winds overturned a trailer camper at Lake Ripley Campground. Three people were pined inside and were transported to the hospital after rescue. A woman and a man in the trailer suffered minor injuries and the third victim, a retired police officer, suffered cracked ribs and numbness in his legs. Two other unoccupied campers were overturned nearby and others were damaged. Trees were also downed around town. A wind gust of 55 MPH was recorded at the Litchfield airport at 3:55 PM CDT.

A downed tree caused extensive damage to the roof of a house south of town.

Nickel sized hail was reported by a trained spotter near Highway 12.

Power lines were downed onto Highway 15 near the Meeker County border. In addition, trees were downed at the intersection of 240th Street and Pilot Court in addition to County Road 7 just south of the Meeker County line.

Wind damage was reported to a restaurant under construction on Edmonton Avenue. One mile northeast of town a three foot diameter tree was felled onto a vehicle at 206th Circle. Large tree limbs were downed onto a garage, a small utility shed, and a pickup truck on Main Street.

Trees and power lines were downed at the intersection of Park Avenue and Frank Street. One tree was felled onto a vehicle.

Dime to nickel sized hail was reported in southeast Lynn Township.

Ten trees were downed along Major Avenue.

A 60 MPH wind gust was recorded by the airport AWOS. A tree was downed at the intersection of 15th Street and Armstrong Avenue.

A funnel cloud was reported by law enforcement.

Trees were downed in Hamburg. Trees and a power line were downed in Norwood-Young America.

A shed was damaged. Trees were downed along Arizona Street NW.

Two boats on area lakes were flipped and lost.

Trees up to 3 feet in diameter were downed.

Three inch diameter tree limbs were downed.

Medium sized trees were downed on 1st Avenue and Sunset. A large tree was also downed onto railroad tracks at the County Road 63 intersection.

Hangars were damaged at the city airport. About 100 trees, some greater than 1 foot in diameter, were downed onto houses, power lines, yards, and cars across town. A gazebo on First Street NE was also destroyed. Many nature paths at River Bend Nature Center were blocked by downed trees.

Dime sized hail was reported south of Highway 62 one mile east of Dell Road, in addition to the intersection of Highway 5 and Eden Prairie Drive.

Trees were downed onto a home just west of Summit Lake on 1st Avenue E. Scattered trees were also downed in the northeast portion of the county.

Quarter sized hail was reported in Crow River via HAM radio.

Quarter sized hail was reported at the intersection of Highways 7 and 22.

Four inch diameter tree branches were downed onto Theodore Worth Parkway near Interstate 394.

Quarter sized hail was reported via HAM radio.

Dime sized hail was reported at the intersection of Highway 7 and Walden Avenue.

Dime sized hail fell at the intersection of Tagus Avenue and 210th Street.

Quarter to golf ball sized hail was reported by a trained spotter. The county sheriff's office reported that several squad cars sustained hail damage. The windshield on one patrol car was broken by the hail.

A large tree fell onto a house at the intersection of Central Avenue and First Street SE.

Nineteen trees were downed at a farming showground on County Road 26. A 26-foot camper was also rocked by the high winds on site.

Dime sized hail fell in town and a few miles north of town at the intersection of 110th Street and Highway 15.

Crop damage was reported from large hail and/or gusty winds in several Le Sueur county townships, including northeast of Waterville.

Flash flooding was reported by the fire department in Stewart. Flash flooding was also reported near the intersection of Common Street and County Road 7 about 5 miles northeast of Hutchinson. A total of 2.62 inches of rain fell in Brownton. Radar rainfall estimates as high as 4 inches were indicated across the western portion of the county.

Law enforcement reported dime sized hail covering the ground.

Dime sized hail fell for 5 minutes.

Three quarter to two inch diameter hail was reported by a trained spotter.

The public reported baseball sized hail.

Quarter sized hail was reported between Silver Lake and Hutchinson and along 236th Circle northeast of Hutchinson.

A law enforcement officer parked on 183rd Street reported that golf ball sized hail fell for 14 minutes.

Dime sized hail covered the ground. Moderate crop damage was reported in the area.

Quarter sized hail fell in Stockholm Township.

Hail ranging from three quarters to two inches in diameter was reported by a trained spotter and an off-duty National Weather Service employee. A deck was dented, a light fixture was broken, some roofs needed repair, and 3 squad cars were damaged in the area.

A total of 3.5 inches of rain caused street flooding.

Hail estimated around two inches in diameter was pictured in a local newspaper.

A lightning strike started a fire that cauased $500,000 damage to a home in Minnetrista. Lightning related house fires were also reported in Eden Prairie and Mound.

Law enforcement reported significant street flooding and water up to the bumpers of cars in parking lots in Excelsior. Significant portions of Mound were "under water" according to law enforcement. The county sheriff reported significant flooding in Brooklyn Park. A holding pond overflowed into 6 homes and minor street flooding was reported in Eden Prairie. Rainfall totals between the afternoon of the 3rd and morning of the 4th included 5.40 inches in Eden Prairie, 4.20 inches in Minnetonka, 3.85 inches in Wayzata, 2.80 inches at Crystal Airport, and 2.70 inches in Mound.

Three homes were struck by lightning and were damaged by the resulting fire. The first home on Highview Court suffered damage when lightning struck the outside gas meter. An outer wall caught fire and damage was estimated at $4,000. The second house on Prairie Hills Lane was engulfed in flames and has extensive roof and garage damage totaling $500,000. The third home on Century Lane suffered $100,000 in fire damage to interior walls after two bolts struck the building.

Dime sized hail covered the ground at the National Weather Service office.

Power lines were downed across the intersection of West Shadow Lake Drive and Birch Street.

Law enforcement reported water up to the roofs of cars in a low spot in Shakopee. Rainfall totals between the afternoon of the 3rd and morning of the 4th included 6.62 inches in New Market, 6.17 inches in Cedar Lake Township, 4.76 inches in Shakopee, and 2.6 inches in Prior Lake.

A trained spotter reported nickel to quarter sized hail covering a deck.

A trained spotter reported one to two inch diameter hail.

Nickel sized hail covered the ground at the National Weather Service office.

A pilot reported quarter sized hail in a PIREP from Minneapolis Crystal Airport.

A total of 1.35 inches of rain fell in 35 minutes. Minor street flooding was reported in poor drainage areas.

Up to 4 inches of water was running across Robert Street between Annapolis Street and Butler Street.

A car was submerged in flood waters.

Law enforcement reported significant flooding at several city intersections. A bluff slump was reported along Highway 101, but did not impact the roadway. Rainfall totals between the afternoon of the 3rd and morning of the 4th included 5.66 inches 2 miles southwest of Chanhassen, 5.55 inches at the National Weather Service office in Chanhassen, and 3.12 inches in Chaska.