A one in 500 year rainfall hit northeast Minnesota and far northwestern Wisconsin June 19th and 20th. An east to west front stalled just south of the area, across southern Minnesota and central Wisconsin early on June 19th: There was high humidity and record-breaking heat to the south of the front.
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.
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 DLH wrote it up.
A one in 500 year rainfall hit northeast Minnesota and far northwestern Wisconsin June 19th and 20th. An east to west front stalled just south of the area, across southern Minnesota and central Wisconsin early on June 19th: There was high humidity and record-breaking heat to the south of the front. Low pressure moving along the front reached southern Minnesota during the pre-dawn hours of June 20th. The low forced the warm humid air up over relatively cool air over northeast Minnesota, resulting in an area of strong thunderstorms with copious amounts of moisture and rain. The resulting June 19th and 20th rainfall amounts formed a sharp gradient along its southern boundary. Two inches or more rain fell north of a line from Little Falls through Mille Lacs Lake to Willow River and Bruno in Pine County and just south of Superior WI. Immediately north of that line, rainfall was over 4 inches in a 70 mile wide and at least 250 mile long band from southern Cass and Crow Wing counties east-northeastward along and south of the crest of the Iron Range, including the entire Duluth area, through the North Shore and the open waters of Lake Superior. More than a half foot fell across Carlton County, the southern quarter of St Louis County and the southern tip of Lake County. Rainfalls were 10 inches or more, according to the final MN Dept of Natural Resources map, in a 10 mile wide band along the Lake Superior shore including all of the residential Duluth area northeastward, for 75 miles, through the Two Harbors area. Another area with 10 inches or more of rain was to the west in a 15 mile wide band from central Carlton County running north for 50 miles, just east of Floodwood, and to the southern edge of the Iron Range. The rainfall resulted in widespread flooding and record-breaking stream and river levels. Most of the rain fell during a 12 hour period from the evening of the 19th through the early morning of of June 20th. The northern edge of heavy rain, with two inches of rain, extended from Cass Lake east-northeast through Hibbing and Embarrass to Ely, then straight northward, with all of Lake and Cook Counties receiving well over 2 inches of rain. The huge thunderstorm complex also produced areas of hail and locally damaging wind.
A Governor's Execute Order declaring a state of emergency was announced for Cook, Lake, St. Louis, and Aitkin counties. The National Guard was activated.
Numerous roads and bridges were washed out from the deluge of rain from Carlton County through the Duluth area and along the north shore of Lake Superior.
A raging Kingsbury Creek flooded the Lake Superior Zoo, drowning many animals. Two seals were swept from their enclosures, but were returned safely after being found on a local street. The polar bear escaped its exhibit, but was safely returned after being tranquilized.
An 8 year-old boy was pulled into a culvert while playing in the flood waters in Proctor. He was swept through the culvert for six blocks, but besides some scrapes, was unharmed.
Much of the towns of Thomson, Carlton, Barnum and Moose Lake in Carlton County and the Fon du Lac neighborhood of Duluth were flooded due to the over topping of water at the Thomas Dam spillway and Reservoir. Highway 210 through Jay Cooke State Park was washed away as was the park's historic swinging pedestrian bridge over the St. Louis River. The park was closed through the rest of the summer and likely into 2013.
Big Sandy Lake in Aitkin County flooded hundreds of properties. The lake is connected to the Mississippi River by a dam, but the Army Corps of Engineers could not let any of the lake water out due to the river levels being too high. That area hadn't seen such severe flooding since 1950.
A Presidential Disaster Declaration was proclaimed for Aitkin, Carlton, Cass, Cook, Crow Wing, Itasca, Lake, Pine, and St. Louis counties as well as the Fon du Lac band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.
Total damage for the entire area of northeast Minnesota was estimated at least $108 million.
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 Duluth, MN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 17, 6:04 PM CST, 4 hours 56 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN 704 PM CDT SUN JUN 17 2012 .AVIATION.../00Z TAF ISSUANCE/ AN ACTIVE NIGHT IS IN STORE FOR THE NORTHLAND...WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. THE BEST CHANCE WILL LIKELY BE IN THE SOUTH...FROM KBRD TO KHYR. THINGS WILL QUIET DOWN LATER IN THE NIGHT...AND INTO MONDAY...ALTHOUGH SOME SPOTTY SHOWERS AND PERHAPS A THUNDERSTORM WILL DEVELOP IN THE NORTH ON MONDAY. SOME MVFR AND IFR CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE TONIGHT...BUT CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE TO VFR BY MONDAY. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 324 PM CDT SUN JUN 17 2012/ SHORT TERM...A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WAS BISECTING THE FA AT 19Z FROM NW TO SE. MEANWHILE...A SFC LOW WAS DEEPENING IN NORTH CENTRAL SD WITH A WARM FRONT EXTENDING INTO SOUTHERN MN WITH A TROF INTO THE NORTHERN RED RIVER VALLEY. MID AND HIGH CLOUDS WERE ADVECTING INTO THE AREA AHEAD OF THE LOW IN WAA REGIME. WEAK INSTABILITY AHEAD OF THE LOW ATTM DUE TO CLOUD COVER LIMITING DIURNAL HEATING. HOWEVER...SATELLITE IMAGERY IS INDICATING SOME CB'S TRYING TO FORM IN NW MN JUST W OF THE FA AT 19Z. MODELS ARE INDICATING AN MCS MAY DEVELOP IN WEST CENTRAL MN NEAR THE ND/SD BORDERS AND SPREADING INTO THE SOUTHERN TIER OF THE FA BEFORE 03Z. HAVE BROKEN POPS DOWN INTO 3HR BLOCKS TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS POTENTIAL AND ITS IMPACTS ON THE FA. THE MCS SHOULD TRAVEL OVER THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE FA AND HAVE PLACED A MENTION OF SEVERE FROM THE BRAINERD LAKES INTO THE PINE CITY AND SIREN AREAS THIS EVENING AS THIS APPEARS TO BE THE AXIS OF SEVERE POTENTIAL. HEAVY RAIN IS POSSIBLE OVER NW WI...ESPECIALLY S OF HIGHWAY 77 FROM MINONG TO HURLEY FROM 06Z TO 12Z MONDAY. AFTER THE MCS PASSES...THE COLD FRONT FOLLOWS MONDAY WITH ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR SHOWERS AND STORMS. THESE STORMS WILL BE MORE OF THE GENERAL VARIETY AS THE ATMOSPHERE OVER THE FA WILL HAVE BEEN WORKED OVER BY THE DEPARTING MCS. HAVE LOW CHANCE POPS FOR THE FROPA. A BREAK IN THE ACTION COMES MONDAY EVENING AS WEAK RIDGING FOLLOWS INTO THE AREA AFTER FROPA. HOWEVER...MODELS INDICATE MORE WAA DRIVEN STORMS WILL DEVELOP AFTER 06Z AHEAD OF A SFC WARM FRONT. THE BETTER CHANCE FOR STORMS WILL BE IN THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA E TO THE GRANTSBURG/SIREN AREA ONCE AGAIN. HAVE POPS ALIGNED TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS TREND. LONG TERM...TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY... MAIN SYNOPTIC SCALE FEATURE MOST OF THIS WEEK IS ANOMALOUS MID LVL RIDGE PARKED OVER ERN CONUS. THIS CIRCULATION SHOULD PROMOTE SIGNIFICANT TRANSPORT OF MOISTURE FROM THE WRN GULF OF MEX TOWARDS THE UPPER MIDWEST. THIS MOISTURE PLUME WILL BE UTILIZED BY A MID LVL TROF/SFC LOW TUES/WED. SFC LOW IS EXPECTED TO FORM OVER CTRL PLAINS AND MOVE INTO THE ERN DAKOTAS LATE TUESDAY. A WARM FRONT WILL MAKE ITS WAY INTO THE SRN EDGE OF THE CWA BY LATE IN THE DAY. AN AREA OF SHOWERS/STORMS SHOULD OCCUR ASSOCIATED WITH STRONG ISENTROPIC ASCENT NORTH OF WARM FRONT. ATMOSPHERE WILL BECOME VERY UNSTABLE AS FRONT APPROACHES WITH ELEVATED CONVECTION POTENTIAL INCREASING. ENOUGH DEEP LYR SHEAR TO PRESENT OPPORTUNITY FOR HAIL/WIND THREAT. MAX TEMPS IN LOW 90S ARE POSSIBLE OVER SERN WISC WITH 60S LIKELY ALONG THE NORTH SHORE...NORTH OF WARM FRONT WITH ONSHORE FLOW. STORMS MAY PERSIST INTO TUESDAY NIGHT DEPENDING ON HOW EXTENSIVE CAPPING WARM LAYER BECOMES. STRONG CONSENSUS AMONG MDL SUITE THAT SFC LOW WILL TRACK ACROSS CWA WEDNESDAY. DEEP LAYER OF LIFT PROVIDED BY SFC/MID LVL FEATURES SHOULD ENSURE AN AREA OF HEAVY RAIN SOMEWHERE IN THE REGION CONSIDERING PWATS ENTRAINED INTO SYSTEM CIRCULATION.THURSDAY SHOULD BRING A PERIOD OF DRYING AS SFC HIGH MOVES ACROSS REGION. SOME EARLY MORNING SHOWERS MAY SKIRT THE NRN ZONES IN MN SO LOW POPS STILL IN FCST AT THIS TIME. SFC HIGH MOVES EAST FRIDAY WITH WARM ADVECTION REGIME DEVELOPING. CLOUDS AND POSSIBLY PRECIP MAY RETURN FRI/SAT BUT ONLY LOW POPS AT THIS TIME AS CONFIDENCE ON LARGE SCALE PATTERN IS DECREASING. AVIATION...18Z TAF ISSUANCE... VFR EARLY THIS AFTN BEFORE CLOUDS INCREASE AND SHOWERS/STORMS ARRIVE FOR OVERNIGHT PERIOD. CONFIDENCE ON TIMING OF STORMS IS NOT GREAT CONSIDERING POTENTIAL FOR LARGEST CLUSTER OF INTENSE STORMS TO BE LOCATED ALONG SRN PERIPHERY OF CWA...OR FARTHER SOUTH. MAJORITY OF PREVAILING PRECIP SHOULD PASS THRU TAF SITES BY 12Z MONDAY. RESIDUAL MOISTURE ACROSS REGION TOMORROW SO CLOUDS MAY BE TOUGH TO CLEAR. && .POINT TEMPS/POPS... DLH 59 76 59 71 / 80 30 30 60 INL 59 75 55 72 / 30 20 10 50 BRD 64 81 61 80 / 80 20 50 70 HYR 65 82 63 85 / 80 30 30 60 ASX 62 79 61 75 / 80 40 20 60 && .DLH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MN...NONE. WI...NONE. LS...NONE. && SHORT TERM...DAP AVIATION...DAP
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN 1146 AM CDT SUN JUN 17 2012 MNZ010>012-018>021-025-026-033>038-WIZ001>004-006>009-181030- KOOCHICHING-NORTHERN ST. LOUIS-NORTHERN COOK/NORTHERN LAKE- NORTHERN ITASCA-CENTRAL ST. LOUIS-SOUTHERN LAKE/LAKESHORE- SOUTHERN COOK/LAKESHORE-NORTHERN CASS-SOUTHERN ITASCA- SOUTHERN CASS-CROW WING-NORTHERN AITKIN-SOUTHERN AITKIN- CARLTON/SOUTHERN ST. LOUIS-PINE-DOUGLAS-BAYFIELD-ASHLAND-IRON- BURNETT-WASHBURN-SAWYER-PRICE- 1146 AM CDT SUN JUN 17 2012 ...MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS NEAR THE BRAINERD LAKES... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST MINNESOTA AND NORTHWEST WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THE MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND A TORNADO POSSIBLE IN THE VICINITY OF THE BRAINERD LAKES REGION THROUGH TONIGHT. ALSO...A SLIGHT RISK AREA EXTENDS SOUTH OF A LINE FROM NORTHOME MINNESOTA...TO SILVER BAY...OVER THE APOSTLE ISLANDS AND ALL OF NORTHWEST WISCONSIN THROUGH TONIGHT. THE MAIN HAZARDS IN THE SLIGHT RISK AREA INCLUDE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE NORTHLAND MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK THAT SOME THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE SEVERE MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED BY 5 PM. LSZ121-140>148-181030- BAYFIELD TO OAK POINT WI-GRAND PORTAGE TO GRAND MARAIS MN- GRAND MARAIS TO TACONITE HARBOR MN- TACONITE HARBOR TO SILVER BAY HARBOR MN- SILVER BAY HARBOR TO TWO HARBORS MN-TWO HARBORS TO DULUTH MN- DULUTH MN TO PORT WING WI-PORT WING TO SAND ISLAND WI- SAND ISLAND TO BAYFIELD WI-OAK POINT TO SAXON HARBOR WI- 1146 AM CDT SUN JUN 17 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE NEARSHORE WATERS OF WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS SOUTH OF A LINE FROM SILVER BAY...TO DEVILS ISLAND...TO SAXON HARBOR LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK THAT SOME THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE SEVERE MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT. GSF MORE INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE FOLLOWING WEB ADDRESS: HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/DULUTH (ALL LOWER CASE)
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
955 PM CDT SUN JUN 17 2012
MNZ037-038-WIZ001-180315-
CARLTON/SOUTH ST. LOUIS-DOUGLAS-PINE-
955 PM CDT SUN JUN 17 2012
...INTENSIFYING STORMS OVER SOUTHERN DOUGLAS COUNTY..
AT 954 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
OLIVER TO 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF DAIRYLAND...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.
THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL...WIND GUSTS UP
TO 40 MPH...OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...BRIEF HEAVY
DOWNPOURS...
* THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
OLIVER BY 1005 PM...
WASCOTT AND SOUTH RANGE BY 1015 PM...
GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TRASH BINS TO BLOW
AROUND. STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS TREES. SEEK
SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THESE STORMS HAVE PASSED.
LAT...LON 4656 9238 4673 9204 4669 9196 4670 9186
4616 9160 4616 9216SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
958 PM CDT SUN JUN 17 2012
WIZ007>009-180345-
PRICE-SAWYER-WASHBURN-
958 PM CDT SUN JUN 17 2012
...!THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHING...
AT 954 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF RAPIDLY DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM
7 MILES SOUTH OF SARONA TO 32 MILES SOUTH OF EXELAND TO 64 MILES
SOUTH OF KENNAN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL...WIND GUSTS UP
TO 40 MPH...OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...BRIEF HEAVY
DOWNPOURS...
* THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
ANGUS BY 1005 PM...
BIRCHWOOD BY 1010 PM...
EDGEWATER BY 1020 PM...
STONE LAKE AND EXELAND BY 1025 PM...
NORTHWOODS BEACH AND RESERVE BY 1035 PM...
CHIEF LAKE AND OJIBWA BY 1040 PM...
KENNAN AND NEW POST BY 1045 PM...
GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TRASH BINS TO BLOW
AROUND. STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS TREES. SEEK
SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THESE STORMS HAVE PASSED.
LAT...LON 4538 9069 4563 9070 4563 9195 4599 9129
4553 9051 4537 9045SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
1051 PM CDT SUN JUN 17 2012
MNZ038-WIZ001-006-007-180430-
BURNETT-DOUGLAS-PINE-WASHBURN-
1051 PM CDT SUN JUN 17 2012
...THUNDERSTORMS INTENSIFYING WITH GUSTY WINDS...
AT 1046 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM HINCKLEY TO 7 MILES
WEST OF GRANTSBURG TO 20 MILES SOUTH OF RANDALL...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
55 MPH.
THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL...WIND GUSTS UP
TO 50 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...BRIEF HEAVY
DOWNPOURS...
* THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
TRADE RIVER BY 1100 PM...
TRADE LAKE AND FOUR CORNERS BY 1105 PM...
DUXBURY AND YELLOWLAKE BY 1110 PM...
WEBSTER AND SIREN BY 1115 PM...
MARKVILLE AND CLOVERTON BY 1120 PM...
KINGSDALE AND WEBB LAKE BY 1125 PM...
DAIRYLAND AND HERTEL BY 1130 PM...
GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL BRANCHES TO BE BLOWN DOWN...AND LOOSE
OBJECTS TO BLOW AROUND. STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS
TREES. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THESE STORMS HAVE
PASSED.
LAT...LON 4565 9289 4572 9288 4579 9285 4605 9303
4639 9207 4613 9189 4568 9211 4566 9216
4572 9218 4572 9252 4564 9254 4564 9288SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
1054 PM CDT SUN JUN 17 2012
WIZ001>004-180430-
ASHLAND-BAYFIELD-DOUGLAS-IRON-
1054 PM CDT SUN JUN 17 2012
...THUNDERSTORMS INCREASING OVER BAYFIELD PENINSULA...
AT 1051 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 11 MILES NORTH OF
CLOVERLAND TO 6 MILES NORTH OF NAMEKAGON...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.
THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH...
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS...
* THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
PORT WING AND MASON BY 1100 PM...
MOQUAH BY 1105 PM...
SANBORN AND HERBSTER BY 1110 PM...
MELLEN AND MARENGO BY 1115 PM...
BARKSDALE AND ASHLAND BY 1120 PM...
CORNUCOPIA AND WASHBURN BY 1125 PM...
ODANAH AND GURNEY BY 1130 PM...
GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TRASH BINS TO BLOW
AROUND. STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS TREES. SEEK
SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THESE STORMS HAVE PASSED.
LAT...LON 4670 9180 4679 9141 4690 9119 4687 9111
4693 9101 4695 9103 4678 9085 4670 9084
4660 9093 4663 9080 4668 9075 4654 9037
4632 9036 4616 9102SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
1057 PM CDT SUN JUN 17 2012
WIZ002>004-008-009-180430-
ASHLAND-BAYFIELD-IRON-PRICE-SAWYER-
1057 PM CDT SUN JUN 17 2012
...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS FLAMBEAU RIVER BASIN...
AT 1051 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 5 MILES SOUTH OF
TEAL LAKE TO 24 MILES SOUTH OF OGEMA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL...WIND GUSTS UP
TO 40 MPH...OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...BRIEF HEAVY
DOWNPOURS...
* THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
OGEMA BY 1110 PM...
CLAM LAKE AND PRENTICE BY 1115 PM...
PHILLIPS BY 1120 PM...
SPIRIT AND PARK FALLS BY 1125 PM...
GLIDDEN AND MORSE BY 1130 PM...
GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TRASH BINS TO BLOW
AROUND. STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS TREES. SEEK
SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THESE STORMS HAVE PASSED.
LAT...LON 4542 9070 4563 9069 4563 9088 4608 9128
4633 9033 4591 9003 4539 9003 4537 9065SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
1149 PM CDT SUN JUN 17 2012
WIZ002>004-008-009-180530-
ASHLAND-BAYFIELD-IRON-PRICE-SAWYER-
1149 PM CDT SUN JUN 17 2012
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTHWEST WISCONSIN...
AT 1147 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 4 MILES NORTHWEST OF
CEDAR TO GLIDDEN TO 6 MILES EAST OF EXELAND...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.
THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HALF INCH DIAMETER HAIL...WIND
GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY
DOWNPOURS.
GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TRASH BINS TO BLOW
AROUND. STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS TREES. SEEK
SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THESE STORMS HAVE PASSED.
LAT...LON 4563 9070 4564 9152 4675 9108 4673 9085
4660 9092 4665 9077 4669 9075 4673 9081
4660 9057 4660 9049 4655 9039 4656 9033
4649 9020 4634 9010 4630 8991 4598 8992
4597 9003 4547 9003 4537 9012 4537 9068
BERDESThe Duluth radar (KDLH), 119 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:01 UTC.
27 flash flood, 10 flood, 6 hail, 5 thunderstorm wind, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Flooding began at 1100 PM CST, June 17th as the Mississippi River rose to the flood stage of 12 feet. The river crested at 18.72 feet at 600 PM CST on June 29th, and ended the month above flood stage at 18.42 feet.
Large trees were blown down along West Shore Road.
Several large trees were blown down.
A twelve-inch diameter tree was blown down.
Low -lying areas and curb to curb road flooding occurred.
Many roads are flooded and impassable in town.
The downtown area was flooded where 4 to 6 inches of water covered roadways.
Arrowhead Road, between Haines and Arlington roads, was flooded.
Two inches of water covered Superior Street in downtown Duluth.
Deepening water covered roadways around Woodland and St Marie Avenues.
A ten-inch diameter tree blew over and brought down a power line.
Water covered the eastbound lane at Highway 194 and US Highway 53.
Six to 10 inches of rain fell overnight on the 19th and during the following day, resulting in stream and river flooding. Many driveways were washed out. The Knife River flooded Highway 61 and resulted in evacuations in the town of Knife River. Other smaller state and county roads were washed out. Water was flowing across Highway 61 on the northeast end of Two Harbors.
An 8 inch diameter tree was uprooted and a 6 inch diameter tree was snapped off three feet above the ground.
The first southbound tunnel on Interstate 35 in Duluth was flooded and impassable.
Brewer Creek overflowed onto 3rd Street between 6th Avenue East and 7th Avenue East. There are 4 inches of water on the roadway and considerable debris.
Water was over the road at Washington Street. Other roads in the area were also flooded.
There was six inches of water over Highway 61 at the junction with Highway 1 due to the flooding of the west branch of the Baptism River. There was also significant flooding of the golf course at Beaver bay and of Rockwood Road at Silver Bay, due to flooding of the Beaver River and Palisade River, respectively.
The Mississippi River at Fort Ripley rose to its 10 foot flood stage at 11:00 PM CST June 19th. The Mississippi River crested at 12.42 feet at 8:00 AM CST on June 25th. The river remained at 11.68 feet, above flood stage, through the end of June. As a result of the Mississippi River flooding, many tributaries became backed up and flooded. Parts of Crow Wing State Park were flooded, included the picnic areas, trails and the boat landing. The boat landing was reopened on July 24th. The Black Bear and Miller Lakes neighborhoods was flooded. Numerous roads and bridges were damaged across Crow Wing County.
Water covered a large area of road at Highway 53 and Maple Grove Road making that area impassable and flooding many businesses due to the flooding from Miller Creek and urbanization.
The wind was measured at Blatnik Bridge, near Pier 20, in Duluth.
Numerous roads were washed out and flooded throughout Duluth. This flooding included several large sink holes and collapsed roads. There were large numbers of high-water rescues and evacuations across the city.
Flooding of the St Louis River began at the Scanlon gage at 1:30 AM CST on June 20th when it reached a level of 10.50 feet. The St Louis River reached a record-breaking crest of 16.66 feet at 3 am CST on June 21. The St Louis River returned below its flood stage of 10.50 feet on June 28th at 10:00 AM CST. Businesses and a campground near the river were flooded.
Three to five inches of rain in less that 24 hours lead to road damage as many small streams flooded.
Martin Road, between Lavaque Road and Rice Lake Road, was under water due to flooding of Miller Creek. Downstream, the Miller Creek flooded many businesses in the Mall area, including Target a large restaurant and parts of the Miller Hill Mall. The mall was closed for two days.
The Mississippi River, at Brainerd, rose to its flood stage of 13 feet at 500 AM CST on June 20th, rising to a record-breaking crest of 17.61 feet at 11:30 AM CST on June 28th. The Mississippi River ended the month at 17.48 feet, which was well above flood stage and also nearly a foot above the previous record stage.
The White Pine River flooded onto Highway 33, with three feet of water covering the roadway.
Maple Grove Road, about a mile east of Midway Road, was under at least three feet of water from the flooded Midway River.
Deep water covered the road at 57th Avenue West from the flooded Keene Creek. Irving Park was completely under water and many homes in the Irving Park area were flooded.
Jay Cooke State Park was evacuated due to severe flooding of the St. Louis River.|Highway 210 through the park was heavily damage. The historic swinging pedestrian bridge was washed away. Miles of hiking and biking trails were damaged.
The reservoir at the City of Thomson overflowed and Carlton County Emergency Management ordered the evacuation of Thomson. Most of the town was flooded. The water remained for many days. Many homes were lost or severely damaged.
The gage at Big Sandy Lake reached its flood stage of 1218.30 feet ASL at 8:00 AM CST on June 20th. The lake crested at 1222.93 feet ASL at 1100 PM CST on June 26th. Big Sandy Lake remained above flood stage, at 1222.73 feet ASL at the end of June.
Numerous roads were washed out due to flooding of streams due to heavy rain of 3 to 5 inches that fell June 19th and 20th. The worse area was from Longville to Remer and points east.
In Midway Township, the Midway River nearly washed out the bridge at Midway Road.
Roadways were completely under water at Pacific Avenue and Exeter Street.
The bridge in North Cloquet, at Midway River was washed out. Local railroads were no longer usable.
Much of Ridge Road was washed out due to St. Louis River flooding.
The Kettle River crested at a record-breaking stage of 18.0 feet from 11:00 PM CST on June 21st through 5:00 AM CST on June 22nd. The Kettle River returned to a 10 foot stage on June 25th at noon CST.
The St. Louis River and Floodwood River flooded many streets in Floodwood. Law Enforcement ordered the evacuation of several houses on 4th and 5th Avenues.
The center of town was under 1.5 to 2 feet of water due to the flooding of the St. Louis River.
Moose Head Lake in Moose Lake overflowed its banks after the area received 6 to 8 inches of rain, flooding 30 percent of the town. One hundred and fifty homes were flooded. The schools were flooded. The town's water and sewer system were compromised.
The Little Cloquet River rose rapidly and was at the base of the bridge over Pequaywan Lake Road. The river rose about a foot in 12 hours.
Fox Farm Road was washed out near the intersection of Pequaywan Lake Road. It was also washed out two miles east of that intersection.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Minnesota in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, June 2012
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: 391106, 390335, 390339, 390340, 390338, 390324, 390325, 390346, 390410, 390411, 390412, 390348, 390347, 390552, 390554, 390567, 390356, 390588, 390602, 390336, 390592, 390600, 390604, 390609, 391108, 390614, 390401, 390616, 391110, 404801, 390621, 391107, 390617, 390619, 390620, 390624, 390626, 391109, 397414, 390628, and more.