A strong storm system, in combination with deep moisture from the remnants of a tropical system, produced a large area of flooding rainfall with amounts as high as 8 and 11 inches in an 18 hour period. , Thursday, September 23rd.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS MPX wrote it up.
A strong storm system, in combination with deep moisture from the remnants of a tropical system, produced a large area of flooding rainfall with amounts as high as 8 and 11 inches in an 18 hour period.
The main area of precipitation occurred across far southern Minnesota, and portions of west central Wisconsin, between 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 22nd, to 9:00 a.m., Thursday, September 23rd.
Some of the smaller rivers in southeast Minnesota had historical crests which caused extensive damage around Northfield, Cannon Falls, Zumbrota and Pine Island. One bridge section on the North Fork River along Highway 52 between Cannon Falls, and Pine Island collapsed. The bridge in Cannon Falls was inundated by the flood waters of the Cannon River.
In addition to the smaller tributaries, the larger Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers had flooding from Redwood Falls, to the Twin Cities, then southeast to Red Wing, Minnesota for about two to three weeks, as the runoff was extensive.
Some of the most notable rainfall measurements are as follows:
It was a record 2-day rain event in Amboy, MN (10.68), Waseca, MN (7.65), and Springfield, MN (5.47). Thursday was also the wettest day on record in Waseca, MN (5.16).
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Twin Cities, MN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 22, 5:17 PM CST, 43 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
617 PM CDT WED SEP 22 2010
.DISCUSSION...
FORECAST THINKING HASN/T CHANGED MUCH FROM PREVIOUS SHIFTS... WITH
A LARGE SCALE HEAVY RAIN EVENT STILL LOOKING TO UNFOLD IN A FEW
WAVES ACROSS THE AREA OVER THE NEXT 24 TO 36 HOURS. MADE SOME
CHANGES TO FLOOD WATCH AREAS AND TIMING THIS AFTERNOON... MAINLY
TO ACCOUNT FOR EARLIER ARRIVAL OF PCPN CURRENTLY ACROSS THE
SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE AREA. THE HEAVY RAIN IS THE MAIN
CONCERN... ALTHOUGH IT STILL APPEARS THERE WILL BE AT LEAST SOME
CHANCE FOR SEVERE WEATHER THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING HOURS AS GOOD
ELEVATED INSTABILITY AND EFFECTIVE SHEAR HELP TO SUPPORT SOME
EMBEDDED STRONG STORMS. NUMEROUS LARGE HAIL REPORTS SOUTHWEST OF
THE AREA THIS MORNING AND SO FAR THIS AFTERNOON ARE INDICATIVE OF
THE STRONG UPDRAFTS BEING SUPPORTED BY THE AFOREMENTIONED
INSTABILITY AND SHEAR. THE WARM SECTOR IS TRYING TO PUSH NORTH...
BUT THE TRAINING OF STORMS NORTH OF THE BOUNDARY THROUGH THE
SOUTHERN PORTION OF OUR AREA IS WORKING TO KEEP IT PINNED SOUTH
FOR THE CURRENT TIME... WHICH WILL HELP LIMIT CHANCES FOR WINDS TO
SOME EXTENT AND PARTICULARLY FOR TORNADO POTENTIAL. HOWEVER...
GIVEN THE STRONG LARGE SCALE SOUTHERLY SURGE... THE FRONTAL
BOUNDARY WILL KEEP WORKING TO LIFT NORTH. GOOD MOISTURE TRANSPORT
AND THETA-E ADVECTION WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT SHOWERS AND
EMBEDDED THUNDER ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE AREA INTO THIS
EVENING... WITH FLOODING A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY IF SUFFICIENT
TRAINING OF ECHOES OCCURS. FARTHER NORTH WE SHOULD SEE PCPN
CONTINUE TO TRY AND EXPAND... ALTHOUGH SOME SUBSIDENCE ON THE
NORTH SIDE OF THE MORE ROBUST CONVECTION OVER OUR SOUTHERN CWFA
WILL WORK TO LIMIT THAT NORTHWARD PROGRESSION TO SOME DEGREE.
HOWEVER... STILL APPEARS THERE IS SUFFICIENT MOISTURE AND
ISENTROPIC ASCENT... PER THE 305K SURFACE... TO KEEP SOME PCPN
GOING ACROSS A GOOD PART OF THE AREA THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS...
EVEN IF THE HEAVIEST PCPN LOOKS LIKE IT MAY IMPACT THE SOUTHERN
PART OF THE AREA BETWEEN NOW AND MID EVENING.
THE MAIN LARGE SCALE WAVE... CURRENTLY OVER THE SOUTHWEST... WILL
LIFT NORTHEAST TOWARD THE AREA TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY... HELPING
TO DEVELOP A VIGOROUS SURFACE LOW IN THE LEE OF THE ROCKIES AND
BRING IT NORTHEAST ACROSS THE STATE THURSDAY. THE MODELS HAVE BEEN
VERY CONSISTENT THE PAST SEVERAL RUNS WITH RESPECT TO THE TRACK OF
THIS SYSTEM... AND ARE EVEN IN DECENT AGREEMENT ON THE HEAVY PCPN
AXIS. THE PLACEMENT OF PCPN TONIGHT INTO EARLY THURSDAY WILL BE A
BIT MORE FICKLE GIVEN THE SUBSTANTIAL CONVECTIVE COMPONENT... BUT
ON THURSDAY THE PCPN WILL BE PRIMARILY FORCED ON THE LARGE SCALE
AND WILL FOCUS ALONG A WSW-ENE ORIENTED AXIS OF STRONG
FRONTOGENESIS FROM CENTRAL MINNESOTA INTO NORTHERN WISCONSIN.
PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES AOA 2 INCHES RUNNING 200-300 PERCENT OF
NORMAL WILL BE ADVECTED NORTHEAST INTO THE AREA AND WILL RESIDE
ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE AREA OF FRONTOGENESIS... LEADING TO THE
POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT PCPN TOTALS. OBVIOUSLY... THE PLACEMENT
OF HEAVY RAIN THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT COULD HAVE A LARGE IMPACT
ON WHERE THE FLOOD POTENTIAL IS GREATEST ON THURSDAY... AND RIGHT
NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THE MAX AREAS MAY NOT OVERLAP TOO MUCH... WITH
THE BETTER ACTIVITY TONIGHT FARTHER SOUTH THAN THE ACTIVITY ON
THURSDAY. HOWEVER... THERE WILL STILL BE SOME OVERLAP OF THE RAIN
AREAS... AND BOTH BOUTS OF RAIN WILL BE SIGNIFICANT IN THEIR OWN
RIGHT... SO FLOOD POTENTIAL REMAINS HIGH. THE LARGE FOOTPRINT OF
HEAVY RAIN ALSO BRINGS THE POTENTIAL FOR LARGE STEM RIVER FLOODING
OVER THE COMING DAYS AND WEEKS.
SUBSIDENCE IN THE WAKE OF THURSDAY/S SYSTEM WILL START TO WORK IN
ON FRIDAY... ALTHOUGH SOME LINGERING PCPN ON ITS BACKSIDE WILL
IMPACT A PORTION OF THE AREA THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. A SHORTWAVE
LOOKS TO ARRIVE QUICKLY ON NORTHWEST FLOW AND MOVE THROUGH THE
AREA FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY... BRINGING A CHANCE FOR SOME
LIGHT PCPN TO THE AREA. THINGS THEN LOOK TO SETTLE DOWN FROM
SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY WITH LARGE SCALE RIDGING TAKING HOLD
ACROSS THE AREA. THE ECMWF AND GFS ARE IN FAIRLY GOOD AGREEMENT
DURING THE LATER PERIODS... AND THE HPC GUIDANCE GENERALLY FOLLOWS
A CONSENSUS OF THEIR FORECASTS... SO DID NOT STRAY TOO FAR FROM A
SOLUTION ALONG THOSE LINES.
&&
.AVIATION.../00Z TAF ISSUANCE/
VERY COMPLICATED AVIATION FORECAST AS A SERIES OF TSRA/SHRA MOVE
ACROSS SOUTHERN MN DURING THE NEXT 6 HRS AND HOW THIS WILL
TRANSLATE INTO IFR/MVFR CEILINGS NORTH OF THE CONVECTION...AND
MVFR/VFR CEILINGS WITH THE CURRENT SHRA/TSRA. ALTHOUGH THE VSBY
WILL BE IFR IN TSRA...MOST OF THE ACTIVITY SHOULD REMAIN BETWEEN
3-5SM IN SHRA/TSRA. ONLY A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME SHOULD THE
VSBY LOWER TO 1SM OR LESS. HOWEVER...IF TRAINING OF THE TSRA
DEVELOPS...THERE COULD BE AN AREA THAT DOES HAVE THE VERY LOW
VSBYS...BUT THIS IS TOO COMPLICATED TO PINPOINT TOO FAR FROM THE
CURRENT OBSERVATIONS. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS WHETHER OR NOT THE
C0MPLEX OF TSRA/SHRA MOVES NORTHWARD INTO CENTRAL MN OVERNIGHT AS
THE CURRENT MODELS INDICATE. THIS WOULD LEAVE A PERIOD OF NIL WX
ACROSS S MN. AS PER CURRENT REGIONAL RADAR IS DEPICTING ACROSS
EASTERN SD...AND THE CONTINUED RE-GENERATION OF TSRA/SHRA...WILL
LIKELY CONTINUE THE WORSE CONDITIONS IN VSBYS/CEILINGS FOR
RWF/MSP/EAU/RNH FOR THE NEXT 3-6 HRS...WITH AXN/STC EXPECTED TO
SEE THE WORSE CONDITIONS TOWARD 6Z. THIS WILL LIKELY NEED TO BE
UPDATED AS RADAR TRENDS INDICATE IN THE NEXT FEW HRS. WNDS WILL
ALSO BE PROBLEMATIC AS TSRA WILL LIKELY CAUSE OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES
AND VARIABLE GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 KTS AS IT HAS IN THE PAST FEW HRS.
THEREFORE...WILL CONTINUE THE E/SE FLOW FOR RWF/MSP/RNH/EAU...WITH
MORE OF A E/NE FLOW AT STC/AXN. AFT 6Z...WNDS SHOULD BE MORE S/SE
AT RWF/MSP/EAU.
MSP...SEVERAL WAVES OF SHRA/TSRA WILL OCCUR DURING THE NEXT 3 TO 6
HRS...WITH VSBYS AS LOW AS 1/2SM AND CEILINGS AS LOW AS 500 FT.
HOWEVER...MOST OF THE PREVAILING CEILINGS/VSBYS SHOULD REMAIN IN
THE MVFR RANGE FOR MOST OF THE EVENING. AFT 6Z...IFR/LIFR MAY
DEVELOP AS THE COMPLEX OF SHRA/TSRA SHIFTS TO THE NORTH.
&&
.MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MN...FLOOD WATCH THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING FOR BLUE EARTH-BROWN-
FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-LE SUEUR-MARTIN-NICOLLET-REDWOOD-
RENVILLE-RICE-SIBLEY-STEELE-WASECA-WATONWAN.
FLOOD WATCH THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING FOR CARVER-CHIPPEWA-DAKOTA-
DOUGLAS-GOODHUE-HENNEPIN-KANDIYOHI-LAC QUI PARLE-MCLEOD-
MEEKER-POPE-RAMSEY-SCOTT-STEARNS-STEVENS-SWIFT-TODD-WRIGHT-
YELLOW MEDICINE.
FLOOD WATCH FROM 1 AM CDT THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING FOR
ANOKA-BENTON-CHISAGO-ISANTI-KANABEC-MILLE LACS-MORRISON-
SHERBURNE-WASHINGTON.
WI...FLOOD WATCH FROM 1 AM CDT THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING FOR
BARRON-CHIPPEWA-DUNN-EAU CLAIRE-PEPIN-PIERCE-POLK-RUSK-ST.
CROIX.
&&
TRH/JLTHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN 403 PM CDT WED SEP 22 2010 MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028- 232115- DOUGLAS-TODD-MORRISON-MILLE LACS-KANABEC-STEVENS-POPE-STEARNS- BENTON-SHERBURNE-ISANTI-CHISAGO-LAC QUI PARLE-SWIFT-CHIPPEWA- KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-WRIGHT-HENNEPIN-ANOKA-RAMSEY-WASHINGTON- YELLOW MEDICINE-RENVILLE-MCLEOD-SIBLEY-CARVER-SCOTT-DAKOTA- REDWOOD-BROWN-NICOLLET-LE SUEUR-RICE-GOODHUE-WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH- WASECA-STEELE-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-POLK-BARRON-RUSK- ST. CROIX-PIERCE-DUNN-PEPIN-EAU CLAIRE- 403 PM CDT WED SEP 22 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MINNESOTA...AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...REST OF THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT FOR LOCATIONS ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 94. THE PRIMARY THREATS WITH THIS ACTIVITY WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND HEAVY RAINFALL. HOWEVER... LOCALIZED DAMAGING WINDS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH THIS EVENING. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE MOST PREVALENT ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 90 THROUGH EARLY EVENING... WITH ACTIVITY BECOMING MORE WIDESPREAD OVER THE REMAINDER OF THE AREA AS THE NIGHT PROGRESSES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE OUTLOOK AREA INTO THURSDAY AS A STRONG AREA OF LOW PRESSURE MOVES INTO CENTRAL MINNESOTA. THIS LOW WILL SEND A COLD FRONT ACROSS THE AREA THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT. THIS WILL CONTINUE THE HEAVY RAIN AND FLOOD THREAT FOR THE AREA. IN ADDITION... A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL AND EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA INTO WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN... WITH THE GREATEST LIKELIHOOD FOR SEVERE WEATHER ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA. THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM ANY ACTIVITY ON THURSDAY WILL BE DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS. HEAVY RAINFALL EXPECTED FROM TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT WILL LEAD TO RISES ON MANY LOCAL STREAMS AND RIVERS. THIS MAY RESULT IN SEVERAL RIVERS REACHING OR EXCEEDING FLOOD STAGE... ESPECIALLY ACROSS CENTRAL MINNESOTA INTO WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN... FROM LATER THIS WEEK INTO NEXT WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS IN PROGRESS FOR PORTIONS OF THE AREA... WITH ADDITIONAL ACTIVATION POSSIBLE TONIGHT.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
316 PM CDT WED SEP 22 2010
MNZ084-085-092-093-222100-
FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-STEELE-WASECA-
316 PM CDT WED SEP 22 2010
...STRONG HEAVY RAIN PRODUCING THUNDERSTORMS MOVING OVER
FARIBAULT...FREEBORN...STEELE AND WASECA COUNTIES THROUGH 400 PM
CDT...
AT 315 PM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF BRUSH CREEK. THIS STORM WAS MOVING
EAST AT 35 MPH.
HAIL UP TO DIME SIZE...WINDS UP TO 45 MPH...AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL
ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
EASTON.
WELLS.
WALDORF.
FREEBORN.
OTISCO.
HARTLAND.
ALBERT LEA.
OWATONNA.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF ONE HALF TO ONE AND A HALF INCHES ARE PROBABLE
FROM THE THUNDERSTORM BY 430 PM. THIS MAY RESULT IN BRIEF RUNOFF
PROBLEMS AND PONDING OF WATER ON AREA ROADWAYS.
THIS THUNDERSTORM COULD INTENSIFY QUICKLY...SO BE READY TO ACT IF A
WARNING IS ISSUED.
&&
LAT...LON 4385 9405 4385 9378 4393 9377 4409 9319
4361 9314 4359 9397
TIME...MOT...LOC 2015Z 257DEG 31KT 4375 9383SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN 413 PM CDT WED SEP 22 2010 MNZ064>067-073>076-082-083-222215- YELLOW MEDICINE-RENVILLE-MCLEOD-SIBLEY-REDWOOD-BROWN-NICOLLET- LE SUEUR-WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...GRANITE FALLS...OLIVIA...HUTCHINSON... GAYLORD...REDWOOD FALLS...NEW ULM...ST. PETER...LE SUEUR... ST. JAMES...MANKATO 413 PM CDT WED SEP 22 2010 ...STRONG WINDS LIKELY THROUGH 515 PM ACROSS PARTS OF SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA... STRONG SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 35 TO 50 MPH WILL OCCUR ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA...INCLUDING ALONG THE MINNESOTA RIVER VALLEY. WIND GUSTS OF 46 MPH HAVE BEEN OBSERVED NEAR 400 PM AT MARSHALL AND REDWOOD FALLS...ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER GUSTS NEAR 35 MPH. CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THESE GUSTS TO CONTINUE ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH 515 PM. EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS WITHIN THE RAIN MAY PRESENT EVEN STRONGER WINDS. WHILE THESE BROAD SCALE STRONG WINDS WILL LIKELY SUBSIDE BY THE END OF THE AFTERNOON....THE RISK FOR SOME SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL LAST INTO THE EVENING. THESE WINDS ARE BEING CAUSED BY WHAT IS COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS A WAKE LOW NEAR AREAS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN 616 PM CDT WED SEP 22 2010 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 680...PREVIOUSLY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CDT THIS EVENING...IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN MINNESOTA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 11 COUNTIES IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA MCLEOD RENVILLE SIBLEY IN SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA BLUE EARTH BROWN FARIBAULT MARTIN NICOLLET WATONWAN IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA REDWOOD IN WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA YELLOW MEDICINE THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...BLUE EARTH...FAIRMONT...GAYLORD... GRANITE FALLS...HUTCHINSON...MANKATO...NEW ULM...OLIVIA... REDWOOD FALLS...ST. JAMES AND ST. PETER.
The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 117 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:01 UTC.
13 flood, 12 flash flood, 10 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
A trained spotter measured 10.53 inches of rainfall between 6 pm and 8 am.
Strong thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon, and early evening across the county, and dropped one to two inches of rainfall, along with some hail stones. By 730 pm, another band of thunderstorms developed across the county and began to train over the same areas. By 9 pm, portions of southern Brown County already received two to four inches of rainfall. Over the next several hours periods of heavy rainfall added up, and officials advised no travel on township roads. The City of Comfrey received 10,000 sandbags from the county during the height of the storm to keep water and sewage out of homes.
A cooperative observer measured 5.20 inches of rainfall overnight.
A trained spotter measured 4.90 inches of rainfall overnight.
The local media measured 7.0 inches of rainfall overnight.
A trained spotter measured 9.82 inches of rainfall overnight.
Strong thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon, and early evening across the county, and dropped one to two inches of rainfall, along with some hail stones. By 730 pm, another band of thunderstorms developed across the county and began to train over the same areas. County Road 10, south of Highway 14, was flooded due to the excessive rainfall and closed for a portion of the night.
Strong thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon, and early evening across the county, and dropped around 1 to 2 inches of rainfall, along with some large hail stones. By 730 pm, another band of thunderstorms developed across the county and began to train over the same areas. By 8 pm, portions of Watonwan County, northeast of Darfur, Minnesota had already received 2.35 inches of rainfall. By 11 pm, an observer measured 5.50 inches of rainfall near St. James. Over the next several hours periods of heavy rainfall added up, with several observers measuring between 8 and 10 inches across the southern part of the county, with localized 10 to 12 inches near Butterfield, Odin, and South Branch, Minnesota. Numerous streets were underwater and closed for several hours. A few apartment complexes in St. James were evacuated due to the flooding.
The local law enforcement officials measured 6 inches of rainfall overnight.
A trained spotter measured 6 inches of rainfall overnight.
A cooperative observer measured 4.50 inches of rainfall in 4.5 hours.
A cooperative observer measured 4.85 inches of rainfall in 4.5 hours.
A cooperative observer measured 4.92 inches of rainfall in less than 5 hours.
Bands of thunderstorms began to develop across the county by mid evening, with several thunderstorms training over the same areas. By midnight, nearly five inches of rain fell in the northeast corner around Truman. The town of Fairmont started receiving reports of flooding in town. Total rainfall amounts by morning ranged from over 6 inches in the northeast corner, to around 3 to 4 inches in the far south. By morning, the town of Truman had flooded roadways, and four to five feet of water in basements.
Bands of thunderstorms began to develop across the county by the late evening, with several thunderstorms training over the same areas. After midnight, nearly five inches of rain fell in the northwest corner around Winnebago. Minnesota Lake had over 8 inches by morning with local streams and creeks flowing out of their banks.
Bands of thunderstorms began to develop across the county by mid evening, with several thunderstorms training over the same areas. By midnight, nearly five inches of rain fell in the southwest corner around Willow Creek and Amboy. By morning, Amboy had nearly 9 inches of rainfall, with roads closed across the southern part of the county. In addition, several county roads and highways were closed or blocked by flood waters, including Highway 30 west of Mapleton, and Highway 30 east of Mapleton by County Road 14. Highway 66 south of Mankato also had water over the road.
Bands of thunderstorms began to develop across the county by the late evening, with several thunderstorms training over the same areas. By early morning, nearly five inches of rain fell across the southern part of the county. By morning, several roads were closed or covered with water. Highway 83 north of Waldorf was closed in both directions. Highway 13 south of Waseca had single lane traffic due to flooded roadways.
Periods of heavy rainfall developed toward midnight, and continued through most of the early morning hours. Rainfall rates increased to over 1.5 inches per hour, which caused flash flooding in portions of northern and central Freeborn County. Several county roads were inundated by water, and streams and creeks rose rapidly during the morning.
Periods of heavy rainfall developed toward midnight, and continued through most of the early morning hours. Rainfall rates increased to over 1.5 inches per hour which caused flash flooding. By 5 am, several county roads were covered by water, including Highway 14 near Meridan and Highway 218 between Highway 14 and Blooming Prairie. The county emergency manager reported street flooding in Owatonna, with intersections closed. Homes were also evacuated along Maple Creek, and sandbagging occurred along the Straight River south of town.
Periods of heavy rainfall developed toward midnight, and continued through most of the early morning hours. Rainfall rates increased to over 1.5 inches per hour which caused flash flooding. Several county roads were inundated by water, along with several streams and creeks that rose rapidly during the morning.
Periods of heavy rainfall developed toward midnight, and continued through most of the early morning hours. Rainfall rates increased to over 1.5 inches per hour which caused flash flooding. Several county roads were inundated by water, along with several streams and creeks that rose rapidly during the morning. By 5 am, Highway 60 west of Kenyon was closed due to flood waters.
Periods of heavy rainfall developed toward midnight, and continued through most of the early morning hours. Rainfall rates increased to over 1.5 inches per hour which caused flash flooding. Numerous county and highway roads were inundated by flood waters, and streams and creeks rose rapidly during the morning. By 5 am, several major highways were closed due to flooded roadways, including Highway 52 from Highway 60 to Goodhue County Road 11 near Pine Island, Highway 60 west of Kenyon, and Highway 60 east of Kenyon between Highway 56 and Goodhue County Road 1. By 7 am, Northbound Highway 52 from Highway 60 to Goodhue County Road 11 was closed due to flood waters. Then by 9 am, Highway 58 north of Zumbrota was closed. Other county roads were closed along Highway 60 near Bombay. County Road 3 in Pine Island closed due to flood waters. The flood waters also caused a Grocery Store in Pine Island to close down.
Numerous roads were closed due to excessive rainfall that fell on September 22nd and 23th.
Numerous roads were closed due to excessive rainfall that fell on September 22nd and 23th.
Numerous roads were closed due to excessive rainfall that fell on September 22nd and 23th.
Numerous roads were closed due to excessive rainfall that fell on September 22nd and 23th. The major areal flooding didn't recede until late Saturday when most of the small streams and creeks had crested and only mainstem rivers remained flooded.
Numerous roads were closed in extreme southern Dakota County, around the streams and creeks that flow into the Cannon River due to excessive rainfall that fell on September 22nd and 23th. The major areal flooding didn't recede until late Saturday when most of the small streams and creeks had crested and only mainstem rivers remained flooded.
Numerous roads were closed due to excessive rainfall that fell on September 22nd and 23th. The major areal flooding didn't recede until late Saturday when most of the small streams and creeks had crested and only mainstem rivers remained flooded.
Numerous roads were closed due to excessive rainfall that fell on September 22nd and 23th. The major areal flooding didn't recede until late Saturday when most of the small streams and creeks had crested and only mainstem rivers remained flooded.
Numerous roads were closed due to excessive rainfall that fell on September 22nd and 23th. The major areal flooding didn't recede until late Saturday when most of the small streams and creeks had crested and only mainstem rivers remained flooded. In New Richland, Minnesota, Highway 30 and Highway 13 were closed, making it impossible for the roughly 1,000 residents to get out of town.
Numerous roads were closed due to excessive rainfall that fell on September 22nd and 23th. The major areal flooding didn't recede until late Saturday when most of the small streams and creeks had crested and only mainstem rivers remained flooded. Residents in Owatonna, Minnesota, were fighting to save their homes along the flooded Maple Creek. 70 homes were evacuated in Owatonna due to the rising flood waters. Friday morning was the first time that I-35 was closed due to flood waters south of Owatonna. It re-opened during the afternoon as waters started to recede.
Numerous roads were closed due to excessive rainfall that fell on September 22nd and 23th. The major areal flooding didn't recede until late Saturday when most of the small streams and creeks had crested and only mainstem rivers remained flooded.
Numerous roads were closed due to excessive rainfall that fell on September 22nd and 23th. The major areal flooding didn't recede until late Saturday when most of the small streams and creeks had crested and only mainstem rivers remained flooded.
Numerous roads were closed due to excessive rainfall that fell on September 22nd and 23th. The major areal flooding didn't recede until late Saturday when most of the small streams and creeks had crested and only mainstem rivers remained flooded.
Numerous roads were closed in Goodhue County, around the streams and creeks that flow into the Cannon and Zumbro Rivers due to excessive rainfall that fell on September 22nd and 23th. The major areal flooding didn't recede until Sunday when most of the small streams and creeks had crested and only mainstem rivers remained flooded.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Minnesota in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, September 2010
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: 259876, 259784, 259877, 259878, 259879, 259880, 260828, 259780, 259874, 259875, 259871, 259872, 259873, 259854, 259855, 259857, 259863, 259864, 259866, 259867, 259869, 259870, 260809, 260810, 260811, 260814, 260816, 260820, 260822, 260823, 260824, 260825, 260826, 260827, 260817.