Heavy Rains Fall on Southern Minnesota
May 17 and 18, 2000

A low pressure system moving through the Midwest dropped heavy rains upon south central and southeastern Minnesota on May 17th and 18th.The rains began in southwestern Minnesota during the morning hours of the 17th and finally departed southeastern Minnesota by noon on the 18th.The initial wave of thunderstorms brought severe weather, including hail, high winds, and torrential rain. The severe weather led to some crop damage, some property damage, isolated urban flooding, and a report of a mudslide in Winona county. Precipitation totals ranged from two to six inches across a multi-county area, with values exceeding six inches in small areas of Freeborn and Mower counties. Fortunately the heavy rains fell upon relatively dry soils, limiting the extent of flooding and soil erosion. In many areas, the rain was welcome break in an extended dry spell.

radar-based precipitation estimate from WSI
related story from Minneapolis Star Tribune
related story from St,. Paul Pioneer Press
related story from Rochester Post-Bulletin
related story from Mankato Free Press

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URL: http://climate.umn.edu/doc/journal/000518.htm
Last modified: May 18, 2000