Heavy rain fell across small areas of Koochiching County and west central St. Louis County on August 6 and August 7, 2002. The largest rainfall amount reported was at Big Falls with 2.96 inches. Rainfall amounts were probably higher in sparsely populated areas of Koochiching County. 

WSI radar-based precipitation estimate - August 6
WSI radar-based precipitation estimate - August 7

Below you will find a National Weather Service Flood Statement regarding the heavy rain event on August 6th and 7th:

FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
844 AM CDT WED AUG 7 2002
...THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN IN SOUTHERN KOOCHICHING...FAR 
NORTHWEST ITASCA AND NORTHWEST SAINT LOUIS COUNTIES...

THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN AFFECTING SOUTHERN KOOCHICHING...NORTHEAST 
ITASCA AND NORTHWEST SAINT LOUIS COUNTIES OVERNIGHT...AND HAVE 
PRODUCED HEAVY RAIN. THE THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM THE SOUTHEAST 
CORNER OF KOOCHICHING COUNTY INTO NORTHWEST SAINT LOUIS COUNTY AND 
THE TOWNS OF CELINA...LINDEN GROVE AND COOK. THE STORMS HAVE BEEN 
MOVING SLOWLY SOUTHEAST.
A SPOTTER IN BIG FALLS REPORTED 2.96 INCHES OF RAIN AS OF 815 AM. 
THE HEAVIEST RAIN TOTALS FROM OVERNIGHT STORMS...STRETCHED FROM JUST 
SOUTH OF BIG FALLS NEAR MARGIE IN KOOCHICHING COUNTY...TO NEAR 
COOK. HEAVY RAIN ALSO HAS OCCURRED IN EXTREME NORTHEAST ITASCA 
COUNTY NEAR TOGO. RAINFALL TOTALS OF 3-6 INCHES...WITH SOME LOCALLY 
HIGHER AMOUNTS...HAVE OCCURRED IN SOUTHERN KOOCHICHING...NORTHWEST 
SAINT LOUIS...AND FAR NORTHEAST ITASCA COUNTIES.