Heavy rainfall across east central and south central Minnesota, July 13, 2013

In the early morning hours of July 13 a line of thunderstorms that had developed over the eastern Dakotas moved southeast across Minnesota. Continued redevelopment of the storms as they passed through parts of east central and south central Minnesota led to significant precipitation totals of four or more inches resulting in numerous reports of flooding. The National Weather Service issued both Flash Flood Warnings and Flood Warnings for a number of counties from the Twin Cities metropolitan area south to the Iowa border.

The counties of Scott and Rice appear to have been hit the hardest especially the towns of Dundas and Northfield. The Cannon River, which passes through both Dundas and Northfield, rose quickly during the morning hours due to the heavy rainfall. The flooding river washed out roads and railroad tracks while also inundating homes along its banks forcing rescues and evacuations. The Cannon, Straight, and Vermillion Rivers and many of the smaller creeks and streams that feed into these systems were full or out of bank by the evening of July 13 and the morning of July 14.

Numerous precipitation reports of the event came in from law enforcement, trained spotters, and the public. A trained spotter measured 6.69 inches near Crystal Bay in Scott County, while outside New Market in Scott County, a report of 8.30 inches came from the public. The heavy rain was enough to break the daily rainfall record for July 13 for Minneapolis/St. Paul with 2.79 inches measured at the International Airport.

radar image of estimated precipitation

Radar-based precipitation estimate for the 24-hour period ending at 11:00 AM - Saturday - July 13, 2013. Photo courtesy National Weather Service

According to NOAA Atlas 14 Precipitation Frequency Estimates for Minnesota, a 24-hour rainfall total of 7.27 inches in that area has an average recurrence interval of 100 years. Phrased differently, the probability of a location in that area receiving a rainfall of 7.27 inches or more in a 24-hour period in a given year is one percent.

 

National Weather Service Warnings, Statements, and Reports

RECORD EVENT REPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
149 AM CDT SUN JUL 14 2013
...RECORD DAILY MAXIMUM RAINFALL SET AT TWIN CITIES MN ...
A RECORD RAINFALL OF 2.79 INCHES WAS SET AT TWIN CITIES MN YESTERDAY...JULY 13. THIS BREAKS 
THE OLD RECORD OF 2.03 INCHES SET IN 1919.
------
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1215 PM CDT SUN JUL 14 2013
..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0515 AM     HEAVY RAIN       2 W RICHFIELD           44.88N 93.32W
07/13/2013  M1.43 INCH       HENNEPIN           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
MINOR STREET FLOODING ON HIGHWAY 62 BETWEEN PENN AND
XERXES.
0639 AM     FLASH FLOOD      1 S PRIOR LAKE          44.71N 93.43W
07/13/2013                   SCOTT              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
ROAD CLOSED DUE TO WATER. VEHICLE ALSO STALLED.
0650 AM     HEAVY RAIN       EDEN PRAIRIE            44.85N 93.46W
07/13/2013  M4.50 INCH       HENNEPIN           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
READING TAKEN BY FORMER NWS EMPLOYEE.
0651 AM     FLASH FLOOD      2 WNW SHAKOPEE          44.78N 93.51W
07/13/2013                   SCOTT              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
THREE FEET OF WATER COVERING ROADWAY WITH STALLED
VEHICLES BLOCKING ROAD.
0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       EDEN PRAIRIE            44.85N 93.46W
07/13/2013  M4.53 INCH       HENNEPIN           MN   ASOS
MEASURED AT FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT.
0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       1 SE NEW PRAGUE         44.54N 93.56W
07/13/2013  M3.83 INCH       LE SUEUR           MN   PUBLIC
0700 AM     FLASH FLOOD      LAKEVILLE               44.68N 93.24W
07/13/2013                   DAKOTA             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT
DODD BLVD NEAR 194TH ST CLOSED BETWEEN 7 AM AND 10 AM DUE
TO FOUR FEET OF WATER OVER THE ROAD. NORTH CREEK OF THE
VERMILLION ALSO NEAR TOP OF ITS BANKS.
0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       CHANHASSEN              44.86N 93.56W
07/13/2013  M2.94 INCH       CARVER             MN   NWS EMPLOYEE
MEASURED AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE.
0715 AM     FLASH FLOOD      PRIOR LAKE              44.73N 93.43W
07/13/2013                   SCOTT              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
TWELVE INCHES OF WATER OVER DAKOTA PARKWAY NEAR LITTLE
SIX CASINO. COUNTY ROAD 21 ALSO FLOODED BETWEEN GRAINWOOD
AND EAU CLAIRE AVE.
0717 AM     HEAVY RAIN       3 S CRYSTAL BAY         44.63N 93.37W
07/13/2013  M5.00 INCH       SCOTT              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
OCCURRED IN NEW MARKET TOWNSHIP.
0718 AM     FLASH FLOOD      1 SSE SAVAGE            44.74N 93.35W
07/13/2013                   SCOTT              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
ROAD CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING.
0741 AM     HEAVY RAIN       BLOOMINGTON             44.83N 93.32W
07/13/2013  M3.60 INCH       HENNEPIN           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
OCCURRED NEAR INTERSECTION OF 102ND AND CHICAGO IN SE
PORTION OF CITY.
0745 AM     HEAVY RAIN       EDINA                   44.89N 93.36W
07/13/2013  M4.25 INCH       HENNEPIN           MN   PUBLIC
0745 AM     HEAVY RAIN       2 W PRIOR LAKE          44.73N 93.47W
07/13/2013  M4.30 INCH       SCOTT              MN   NWS EMPLOYEE
0755 AM     FLASH FLOOD      5 SW NEW MARKET         44.52N 93.42W
07/13/2013                   RICE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
EIGHT TO TEN INCHES OF WATER COVERING DALTON AVENUE WITH
DITCHES OVERFLOWING.
0800 AM     HEAVY RAIN       SHAKOPEE                44.77N 93.48W
07/13/2013  M4.15 INCH       SCOTT              MN   PUBLIC
0805 AM     HEAVY RAIN       2 SSE MINNEAPOLIS       44.94N 93.25W
07/13/2013  M3.00 INCH       HENNEPIN           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
SOME STREET FLOODING...A FEW CARS INUNDATED PAST THEIR
WHEEL WELLS.
0805 AM     FLASH FLOOD      4 SE NEW MARKET         44.53N 93.29W
07/13/2013                   RICE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
PART OF CANBY AVE NORTH OF 38TH ST WEST WASHING AWAY.
SEVERAL ROADS IN THIS AREA HAVE WATER OVER THEM.
0810 AM     HEAVY RAIN       FARMINGTON              44.66N 93.18W
07/13/2013  M3.30 INCH       DAKOTA             MN   PUBLIC
0820 AM     HEAVY RAIN       MONTGOMERY              44.44N 93.58W
07/13/2013  M2.01 INCH       LE SUEUR           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
0828 AM     FLASH FLOOD      WELLS                   43.74N 93.73W
07/13/2013                   FARIBAULT          MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT
SEVEN TO EIGHT INCHES OF WATER REPORTED OVER SEVERAL
ROADS IN TOWN.
0830 AM     FLASH FLOOD      1 SW DUNDAS             44.42N 93.22W
07/13/2013                   RICE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
BASEMENT WALL COLLASPED SW CORNER OF KOLB DR AND WEST AVE
W...TIME EST. DAMAGE NOT VISIBLE UNTIL WATER RECEDED.
FLOODING WAS LOCAL NOT FROM THE CANNON RIVER.
0830 AM     FLASH FLOOD      5 WNW NORTHFIELD        44.48N 93.26W
07/13/2013                   DAKOTA             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
ABOUT A FOOT OF WATER OVER COUNTY ROAD 19 ABOUT A QUARTER
MILE EAST OF I-35
0835 AM     HEAVY RAIN       LE CENTER               44.39N 93.73W
07/13/2013  M3.25 INCH       LE SUEUR           MN   EMERGENCY MNGR
0840 AM     HEAVY RAIN       NORTHFIELD              44.45N 93.17W
07/13/2013  M4.75 INCH       RICE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
0845 AM     FLASH FLOOD      NORTHFIELD              44.45N 93.17W
07/13/2013                   RICE               MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT
STREET FLOODING IN TOWN
0845 AM     FLASH FLOOD      5 N FARIBAULT           44.37N 93.27W
07/13/2013                   RICE               MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT
A FOOT OF WATER OVER I-35 IN SPOTS BETWEEN 150TH STREET
AND MILLERSBURG BLVD.
0845 AM     HEAVY RAIN       NORTHFIELD              44.45N 93.17W
07/13/2013  M4.00 INCH       RICE               MN   EMERGENCY MNGR
0847 AM     FLASH FLOOD      5 W NORTHFIELD          44.45N 93.27W
07/13/2013                   RICE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
APPROXIMATELY 2 FEET OF WATER OVER HOLK OAK AVE NEAR THE
INTERSECTION OF HWY 19 AND HOLY OAK AVE.
0850 AM     HEAVY RAIN       MAPLE PLAIN             45.01N 93.66W
07/13/2013  M4.10 INCH       HENNEPIN           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
0859 AM     FLASH FLOOD      NEW MARKET              44.57N 93.35W
07/13/2013                   SCOTT              MN   EMERGENCY MNGR
XERXES AVE IMPASSABLE APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES SOUTH OF
COUNTY ROAD 2.
0900 AM     FLASH FLOOD      DUNDAS                  44.43N 93.20W
07/13/2013                   RICE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
100 YDS OF DUNDAS BLVD FLOODED JUST NORTH OF TOWN. TIME
ESTIMATED FLOODING FROM CULVERTS NOT THE CANNON RIVER.
0900 AM     FLASH FLOOD      DUNDAS                  44.43N 93.20W
07/13/2013                   RICE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
10 TO 15 FT OF RR BRIDGE TRUSTLE ERODED NEAR CR 1 AND
KOLD DR. TIME ESTIMATED. FLOODING NOT FROM THE CANNON
RIVER.
0900 AM     HEAVY RAIN       ST LOUIS PARK           44.95N 93.36W
07/13/2013  M3.93 INCH       HENNEPIN           MN   COCORAHS
BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 9 AM
0905 AM     HEAVY RAIN       BURNSVILLE              44.76N 93.28W
07/13/2013  M4.47 INCH       DAKOTA             MN   NWS EMPLOYEE
0907 AM     HEAVY RAIN       NERSTRAND               44.34N 93.06W
07/13/2013  M3.90 INCH       RICE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
0909 AM     FLASH FLOOD      NORTHFIELD              44.45N 93.17W
07/13/2013                   RICE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
SIX TO TWELVE INCHES OF WATER OVER HIGHWAY 3...NEAR
INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 3 AND HONEY LOCUST DRIVE.
APPROXIMATELY 200 YARDS OF ROADWAY AFFECTED.
0920 AM     HEAVY RAIN       3 S CRYSTAL BAY         44.63N 93.37W
07/13/2013  M6.69 INCH       SCOTT              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
0920 AM     FLASH FLOOD      DUNDAS                  44.43N 93.20W
07/13/2013                   RICE               MN   EMERGENCY MNGR
TWO HOMES BEING EVACUATED BY FIRE DEPT. ROADWAY
IMPASSABLE ON DUNDAS BLVD NEAR INTERSECTION WITH HESTER
STREET.
0920 AM     FLASH FLOOD      NORTHFIELD              44.45N 93.17W
07/13/2013                   RICE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
SEVERAL INCHES OF WATER OVER JEFFERSON PARKWAY. FLOODED
ROADWAYS NOTED OVER SEVERAL LOCATIONS IN CITY.
0928 AM     HEAVY RAIN       RICHFIELD               44.88N 93.28W
07/13/2013  M3.80 INCH       HENNEPIN           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
0929 AM     HEAVY RAIN       KENYON                  44.27N 92.99W
07/13/2013  M1.90 INCH       GOODHUE            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
CUL-DE-SAC IN NNW PORTION OF TOWN UNDER 4 INCHES OF
WATER.
0930 AM     HEAVY RAIN       MINNEAPOLIS             44.96N 93.27W
07/13/2013  E2.50 INCH       HENNEPIN           MN   PUBLIC
BIKE PATH BETWEEN HARRIET AND MINNEHAHAH FALLS UNDER ONE
TO TWO FEET OF WATER.
0930 AM     HEAVY RAIN       PRIOR LAKE              44.73N 93.43W
07/13/2013  M4.95 INCH       SCOTT              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
MEASURED AT MDEWAKANTON FIRE STATION.
0930 AM     HEAVY RAIN       WASECA                  44.08N 93.50W
07/13/2013  E2.60 INCH       WASECA             MN   COUNTY OFFICIAL
WATER OVER CURBS NEAR INTERSECTION OF 7TH AVENUE AND 2ND
STREET.
0930 AM     HEAVY RAIN       SSE EDEN PRAIRIE        44.85N 93.45W
07/13/2013  M5.24 INCH       HENNEPIN           MN   COCORAHS
LOCAL CREEKS OUT OF THEIR BANKS.
0944 AM     HEAVY RAIN       3 WNW EXCELSIOR         44.95N 93.62W
07/13/2013  M4.88 INCH       HENNEPIN           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
RAIN OCCURRED IN TONKA BAY.
0947 AM     FLASH FLOOD      DUNDAS                  44.43N 93.20W
07/13/2013                   RICE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
3 TO 4 FT OF WATER OVER WEST AVENUE JUST WEST OF
INTERSECTION OF WEST AVENUE AND FOREST AVENUE. SEVERAL
HOMES IN THIS AREA SURROUNDED BY WATER.
0948 AM     HEAVY RAIN       NERSTRAND               44.34N 93.06W
07/13/2013  M4.80 INCH       RICE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
SEVERAL INCHES OF WATER OVER COUNTRY ROAD 246 ON EAST
SIDE OF CITY.
0950 AM     HEAVY RAIN       MONTICELLO              45.30N 93.80W
07/13/2013  M2.75 INCH       WRIGHT             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
1000 AM     HEAVY RAIN       MINNESOTA LAKE          43.84N 93.83W
07/13/2013  E2.50 INCH       FARIBAULT          MN   COUNTY OFFICIAL
FIRE DEPT PUMPED WATER OUT OF INTERSECTION OF LAKE STREET
AND HIGHWAY 22. TWO TO THREE INCHES OF WATER WERE NOTED
OVER THIS INTERSECTION.
1000 AM     HEAVY RAIN       OWATONNA                44.09N 93.22W
07/13/2013  M2.92 INCH       STEELE             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
1027 AM     FLASH FLOOD      2 S DUNDAS              44.40N 93.20W
07/13/2013                   RICE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
APPROXIMATELY ONE FOOT OF WATER OVER ROAD AT INTERSECTION
OF DUNDAS BLVD AND 130TH STREET.
1113 AM     HEAVY RAIN       GLENVILLE               43.57N 93.28W
07/13/2013  M3.60 INCH       FREEBORN           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
1134 AM     HEAVY RAIN       NORTHFIELD              44.45N 93.17W
07/13/2013  E5.05 INCH       RICE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
CANON RIVER PARTIALLY FLOODING SMALL PORTION OF AMES PARK
NEAR INTERSECTION OF WATER STREET AND HIGHWAY 19.
1219 PM     HEAVY RAIN       3 WSW MARYSTOWN         44.70N 93.59W
07/13/2013  M3.80 INCH       SCOTT              MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
1233 PM     HEAVY RAIN       LAKEVILLE               44.68N 93.24W
07/13/2013  M3.30 INCH       DAKOTA             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
1251 PM     HEAVY RAIN       7 N NEW MARKET          44.67N 93.35W
07/13/2013  M8.30 INCH       SCOTT              MN   PUBLIC
OCCURRED IN NEW MARKET TOWNSHIP.
0100 PM     FLASH FLOOD      NORTHFIELD              44.45N 93.17W
07/13/2013                   RICE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
PARKING LOT AT NORTHFIED JUST DOWNSTREAM OF CR 2 BRIDGE
WHERE THE RIVER GAGUE IS MOUNTED ARE FLOODED.
0100 PM     FLASH FLOOD      NORTHFIELD              44.45N 93.17W
07/13/2013                   RICE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
BALL FIELD AT CARLETON COLLEGE FLOODED
0125 PM     HEAVY RAIN       CHANHASSEN              44.86N 93.56W
07/13/2013  M3.02 INCH       CARVER             MN   OFFICIAL NWS OBS
MEASURED AT THE NWS FORECAST OFFICE.
0130 PM     FLOOD            DUNDAS                  44.43N 93.20W
07/13/2013                   RICE               MN   EMERGENCY MNGR
WATER FROM THE CANNON RIVER WITHIN 15 FT OF RESIDENCES
ALONG THE RIVER.
0130 PM     FLASH FLOOD      NORTHFIELD              44.45N 93.17W
07/13/2013                   RICE               MN   EMERGENCY MNGR
BACK DUNDAS ROAD... WOLKF CREK WASHED OUT CULVERT. IT IS
ON THE SW SIDE OF TOWN.
0130 PM     FLASH FLOOD      NORTHFIELD              44.45N 93.17W
07/13/2013                   RICE               MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT
IN GENERAL NORTHERN AND EASTERN SIDE OF RICE COUNTY HAS
SEVERAL COUNTY ROADS WASHED OUT.
0130 PM     FLASH FLOOD      NORTHFIELD              44.45N 93.17W
07/13/2013                   RICE               MN   EMERGENCY MNGR
SOCCER FIELDS AT CARLTON FLOODED.
0130 PM     FLASH FLOOD      NORTHFIELD              44.45N 93.17W
07/13/2013                   RICE               MN   EMERGENCY MNGR
BASEMENTS OF BUSINESS ON WEST BANK OF CANNON RIVER
DOWNSTREAM OF THE DAM UPSTREAM OF CR2 FLOODED.
SANDBAGGING OPERATIONS ONGOING.
0130 PM     FLASH FLOOD      NORTHFIELD              44.45N 93.17W
07/13/2013                   RICE               MN   EMERGENCY MNGR
CANNON RIVER HITTING BASE OF WALKING BRIDGE AND GOING
AROUND OVER THE ACCESS PATHS.
0130 PM     FLASH FLOOD      NORTHFIELD              44.45N 93.17W
07/13/2013                   RICE               MN   EMERGENCY MNGR
CR 78 OR DUNDAS BLVD CLOSED BETWEEN DUNDAS AND
NORTHFIELD. RAILROAD AND GAS LINES ALSO WASHED OUT.
0245 PM     FLASH FLOOD      DUNDAS                  44.43N 93.20W
07/13/2013                   RICE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
CR 1 FROM KALB ST AND WEST STILL HAS 1 FT OF WATER FOR A
200 TO 400 FT STREACH.
0545 AM     HEAVY RAIN       3 NW WATSON             45.04N 95.84W
07/14/2013  M2.00 INCH       CHIPPEWA           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
TWO INCHES OF RAIN FELL IN ONLY 35 MINUTES. HEAVY RAIN
CONTINUES.
0622 AM     HEAVY RAIN       3 NW WATSON             45.04N 95.84W
07/14/2013  M2.50 INCH       CHIPPEWA           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
Last modified: April 27, 2015
Prepared by Nick Yates

 

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