Heavy Rain, Fillmore
- When
- June 15, 2:40 PM CST to 6:56 PM CST
- Where
- Fillmore County, 0.85 mi NE of Spring Vly
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 43.690, -92.390
An estimated 5.75 inches of rain fell in Spring Valley.
Flash Flooding and Flood in Minnesota, June 15, 2019
A complex of thunderstorms developed over southeast Minnesota during the afternoon of June 15th. As these storms initially formed, some of them dropped large hail on parts of Mower and Fillmore Counties.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it. 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $60,000
- Crop damage
- $590,000
- Events
- 7
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 complex of thunderstorms developed over southeast Minnesota during the afternoon of June 15th. As these storms initially formed, some of them dropped large hail on parts of Mower and Fillmore Counties. The largest hail reported was half dollar sized east of Grand Meadow (Mower County). As the storms matured, they became heavy rain producers with rainfall amounts of 2 to 3 inches common across eastern Mower and much of Fillmore Counties. The heavy rain resulted in some flooding with water covered roads between Grand Meadow and Spring Valley, MN.
What forecasters said that day
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 La Crosse, WI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 15, 1:44 PM CST, 56 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 15, 1:44 PM CST, 56 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service La Crosse WI 244 PM CDT Sat Jun 15 2019 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Sunday) Issued at 244 PM CDT Sat Jun 15 2019 Main forecast concerns are on severe thunderstorm potential late this afternoon through this evening. Severe thunderstorms are possible today mainly between 3 PM and 10 PM. The main threats from the storms will be damaging winds, large hail, and possibly a brief isolated tornado near the warm front. Latest Convective Allowing Models (CAMS) initiate the bulk of the thunderstorms through 4 PM, with the most concentrated area of storms west of Interstate 35. Additional cells then develop near the warm front over southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa. By this time, RAP forecast sounding show surface based CAPE values ranging from 1100 to 1500 J/kg. Shear is rather weak near the start of the event with 0-3 km bulk shear values of 10 to 15 kts, with 0-6 km bulk shear values of 30 to 40 kts. The low level shear then increases as the shortwave moves into the region and we may see 0-3 km line normal bulk shear increase to around 30 kts. If this occurs we could see some bowing segments and cannot rule out a very brief QLCS tornado near the warm front. Showers and perhaps a few thunderstorms will then linger into the overnight hours as a shortwave continues to edge across the area. The bulk of this activity look to be north of Interstate 90 during the overnight hours. A few showers may linger over the area on Sunday before ending as a very weak ridge moves over region. .LONG TERM...(Sunday night through Saturday) Issued at 244 PM CDT Sat Jun 15 2019 Forecast highlights for next week are, more sumer-like temperatures, and periodic chances for showers and thunderstorms. Flow aloft turns zonal Monday night through Thursday with several features to watch bringing chances for showers and thunderstorms to the area. The timeframes with the highest confidence for showers and storms at this times are Tuesday night through Wednesday. Flow aloft then looks to turn more southwest going into next weekend with temperatures edging up and the potential for an active weather pattern, especially if the ECMWF solution holds. Will lean heavily toward a model consensus blend from midweek going into next weekend. Plan on high temperatures in the mid to upper 70s through much of next week. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Sunday afternoon) Issued at 1239 PM CDT Sat Jun 15 2019 Impacts on KRST/KLSE through the next 24hrs will be thunderstorms and low clouds. Watching radar closely early this afternoon for convection. Thunderstorms expected to blossom by 3 pm and move east through the area as an area of low pressure moves from the Northern Plains into the region. Organized convection to time into KRST/KLSE is lacking as this convection is expected to be more scattered in nature. Expect thunderstorm activity in the vicinity of KRST in the 20-02Z and KLSE in the 23-05z timeframe. Plan on VFR sky conditions this afternoon into this evening to deteriorate after 06z into MVFR/IFR range and then remain there through the end of the TAF period. && .ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...None. MN...None. IA...None. && SHORT TERM...Wetenkamp LONG TERM...Wetenkamp AVIATION...DAS
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 15, 2:31 PM CST, 9 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service La Crosse WI 331 PM CDT Sat Jun 15 2019 IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-WIZ054-061- 161100- Mitchell-Howard-Winneshiek-Allamakee-Floyd-Chickasaw-Fayette- Clayton-Wabasha-Dodge-Olmsted-Winona-Mower-Fillmore-Houston- Crawford-Grant- 331 PM CDT Sat Jun 15 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central Iowa...northeast Iowa...southeast Minnesota and southwest Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Thunderstorms will continue into the evening. Some will be strong and a few could be severe with large hail, damaging winds and locally heavy rains. The main threat time is through 10 pm. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday There are periodic thunderstorm chances next week. Organized severe weather is not currently expected. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed through this evening. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... No webinar is scheduled. WIZ017-029-032>034-041>044-053-055-161100- Taylor-Clark-Buffalo-Trempealeau-Jackson-La Crosse-Monroe-Juneau- Adams-Vernon-Richland- 331 PM CDT Sat Jun 15 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Wisconsin...north central Wisconsin...southwest Wisconsin and west central Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Scattered thunderstorms are expected through this evening. A few could be strong with small hail and gusty winds. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday There are periodic thunderstorm chances next week. Organized severe weather is not currently expected. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... No webinar is scheduled. 04
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Jun 15, 1:04 PM CST, 1 hour 36 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service La Crosse WI 204 PM CDT Sat Jun 15 2019 IAZ008-009-018-019-MNZ079-086>088-094-095-152115- Mitchell-Howard-Floyd-Chickasaw-Wabasha-Dodge-Olmsted-Winona- Mower-Fillmore- Including the cities of Osage, Cresco, Charles City, New Hampton, Wabasha, Dodge Center, Rochester, Winona, Austin, and Preston 204 PM CDT Sat Jun 15 2019 ...Strong to Severe Storms This Afternoon... Thunderstorms will continue to increase in coverage through 4 PM. Some of the storms may become severe with large hail and damaging winds. Locally heavy rainfall may lead to localized flooding. Monitor the weather closely this afternoon and be prepared to seek shelter indoors if a thunderstorm approaches your area. Be ready to act if a warning is issued.
Special weather statement, Jun 15, 2:06 PM CST, 34 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service La Crosse WI 306 PM CDT Sat Jun 15 2019 MNZ086-087-094-152045- Olmsted-Dodge-Mower- 306 PM CDT Sat Jun 15 2019 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN OLMSTED... NORTHEASTERN MOWER AND SOUTHEASTERN DODGE COUNTIES... At 304 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Kasson, or near Dodge Center, moving southeast at 20 mph. Lightning, winds in excess of 40 mph, and nickel size hail are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Rochester, Mantorville, Kasson, Stewartville, Byron, Hayfield, High Forest, Rock Dell, Dexter, Oslo, Sargeant, and Rochester Airport. If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause localized ponding of water. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. LAT...LON 4394 9294 4407 9275 4394 9234 4368 9266 TIME...MOT...LOC 2004Z 310DEG 17KT 4395 9276 Batzek
The radar
The La Crosse radar (KARX), 97 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:38 UTC.
Event by event
3 hail, 2 flash flood, 1 heavy rain, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail, Fillmore
- When
- June 15, 3:35 PM CST
- Where
- Fillmore County, Spring Vly
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 43.680, -92.400
Hail, Fillmore
- When
- June 15, 3:45 PM CST
- Where
- Fillmore County, Spring Vly
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 43.680, -92.400
Quarter sized hail fell in Spring Valley.
Flash Flood, Mower
- When
- June 15, 3:52 PM CST to 6:45 PM CST
- Where
- Mower County, 5.77 mi NE of Le Roy to 3.6 mi ESE of Racine
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $25,000
- Crop damage
- $320,000
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 43.580, -92.440
Runoff from heavy rain produced flash flooding across the eastern portions of Mower County. The intersection of U.S. Highway 63 and State Highway 16 was covered in water and both Deer Creek and Bear Creek went out of their banks.
Hail, Mower
- When
- June 15, 3:53 PM CST
- Where
- Mower County, 6.53 mi E of Grand Meadow
- Measured
- 1.5 in hail
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 43.690, -92.450
Half dollar sized hail fell east of Grand Meadow near the Fillmore County line.
Flash Flood, Fillmore
- When
- June 15, 4:00 PM CST to 6:45 PM CST
- Where
- Fillmore County, 2.81 mi S of Ostrander to 2.43 mi SE of Hamilton
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $35,000
- Crop damage
- $270,000
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 43.580, -92.440
Runoff from heavy rain produced some flash flooding across the western portions of Fillmore County. Water covered roads west of Spring Valley and several small creeks went out of their banks including Spring Valley, Little Kingsley, Deer and Bear. In the city of Spring Valley, water from Spring Valley creek flooded the downtown area for the first time in more than a decade. At least three people tried to drive their vehicles through the flood waters with all three vehicles becoming stranded. Two of the people needed assistance from the Spring Valley fire department to be safely removed from the flood waters. Near Ostrander, water went over County Road 14 and deposited debris from a farm field that made travel difficult after the water receded.
Flood, Olmsted
- When
- June 15, 6:30 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
- Where
- Olmsted County, 3.27 mi SSE of Little Vly to 3.12 mi SSE of Little Vly
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- River/Stream Gage
- Coordinates
- 44.036, -92.105
Runoff from heavy rains pushed the Whitewater River out of its banks in the Whitewater State Park. The river crested a half foot above the flood stage at 13.98 feet.
What these are
- Heavy Rain
- Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
- Hail
- Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
- Flash Flood
- Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
- 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
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Indiana, June 15 to 16, 2019
- Tornadoes and Hail in Oklahoma, June 15, 2019
- Tornadoes and Hail in Indiana, June 15, 2019
- Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Illinois, June 15 to 16, 2019
- Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Iowa, June 15, 2019
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in Iowa, June 15, 2019
- Tornado and Hail in Texas, June 15, 2019
- Tornado and Damaging Winds in Ohio, June 15, 2019
- Flood and Hail in Texas, June 15, 2019
- Tornado and Damaging Wind in Illinois, June 15, 2019
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Indiana, June 15 to 16, 2019
- Tornadoes in North Dakota, June 15, 2019
More
Every storm in Minnesota in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, June 2019
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: 830206, 830191, 830192, 830200, 830193, 830204, 839481.