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.
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: July 15, 2013 by Nick Yates
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