Heavy Rains Over Southwest and Central Minnesota
September 12-13, 2005

Summary

Tropical dew points in the 70's and a nearly stationary cold front draped from Sioux Falls to Duluth spawned a series of thunderstorm clusters on September 12th. The first wave was during the morning hours which dropped heavy rains mainly on southwest and central Minnesota. During the afternoon and evening hours intense thunderstorms developed over eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota and drifted to the east and northeast. It was another sleepless night for people in central Minnesota as thunderstorms rumbled one after another.

A large swath of heavy rain fell from about Lake Wilson in Murray County to near Duluth. Counties with the most intense rains were McCleod, Wright, Sherburne and Isanti in central Minnesota and Lyon and Murray in southwest Minnesota. The storms reached northeast Minnesota and dropped some badly needed rainfall there.

The heaviest 24 hour rainfall reported in Minnesota was 6.20 inches at Zimmerman in Sherburne County. 4.9 inches of rain was reported in just 90 minutes at Big Lake in Sherburne County. Some higher one hour totals included 2.54 inches at the Cambridge and Rush City Airports. Water three feet deep was reported in downtown Buffalo. Traffic was unable to pass on Main Street in Cambridge for a time and there were reports of flooded basements. Five to six feet of flooded water was over roadways in parts of Monticello. A bank of grass and recently planted trees slumped into the Mississippi River at Monticello. Street flooding was also reported in Elk River and eastern parts of St. Cloud. Some spots in Sherburne county saw three inches of rain just ten days ago with heavy rains on September 3rd-4th.

Severe weather also accompanied these storms. One of the hardest hit areas was Greenfield in Hennepin County. Ten homes were damaged by strong winds and one person suffered minor injuries. Other reports of wind damage came in from Concordian and Independence in Hennepin County.

The State Climatology Office thanks the Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the National Weather Service, and all of the diligent volunteer precipitation observers who make analyses of these events possible.

Radar imagery from the Chanhassen and Sioux Falls National Weather Service depicts the storm rainfall total. Listed below are National Weather Service Statements about the heavy rain and severe storms.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
635 AM CDT WED SEP 14 2005

...MORE STORM DAMAGE SURVEY RESULTS FROM THE EVENING OF SEPTEMBER 12TH...
THUNDERSTORMS THAT RACED ACROSS AMERY...WISCONSIN YESTERDAY EVENING PRODUCED A NARROW 
SWATH OF DAMAGE ORIGINATING FROM INTENSE DOWNBURST WINDS. A STORM SURVEY TEAM FROM THE
WEATHER SERVICE IN CHANHASSEN FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF TORNADIC DAMAGE AROUND OR NEAR AMERY. 
THE DOWNBURST WINDS WHICH PUMMELED THE SOUTH SIDE OF AMERY...MAY HAVE EXCEEDED 100 MPH...
RESULTING IN A DAMAGE PATH A MILE LONG. A LARGE SHED FROM A FARMERS COOPERATIVE WAS 
COMPLETELY DESTROYED. DOZENS OF TREES WERE SNAPPED OFF FROM 20 TO 30 FEET ABOVE THE 
GROUND. AIRPORT HANGERS WERE TORN TO SHREDS. THIS DEBRIS WAS FOUND TWO MILES FROM THE AIRPORT.  

...STORM DAMAGE SURVEY RESULT FROM THE EVENING OF SEPTEMBER 12TH...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHANHASSEN INSPECTED STORM DAMAGE AND FOUND EVIDENCE 
OF A TORNADO ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHERN HENNEPIN COUNTY.  THIS TWISTER MOVED ACROSS 
THE CITIES OF INDEPENDENCE...GREENFIELD AND CORCORAN.  THE TORNADO...RATED AN F1 ON THE
FUJITA SCALE...HAD A PATH LENGTH OF THREE MILES AND WAS 30 YARDS WIDE. THE TORNADO
COMMENCED AT 10:15 PM CDT AT THE INTERSECTION OF HENNEPIN COUNTY ROADS 11 AND 90 
THEN CROSSED LAKE SARAH. ON THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF LAKE SARAH...ONE HOME SUSTAINED 
STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WITH AN ATTACHED GARAGE DESTROYED. SEVERAL 2 TO 3 FOOT DIAMETER 
TREES ALONG THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF LAKE SARAH WERE TOPPLED. 
A SMALL AIRPLANE HANGER WAS BLOWN AWAY ON THE NORTHERN EDGE OF LAKE SARAH AND HUNDREDS
OF 1 TO 2 FOOT DIAMETER TREES WERE KNOCKED DOWN. TWO HOMES WERE DAMAGED JUST NORTH OF 
HIGHWAY 55 IN GREENFIELD. WINDOWS WERE BLOWN OUT AND SECOND FLOOR EXTERIOR WALLS WERE 
DAMAGED AT ONE RESIDENCE. AN ATTACHED GARAGE WAS DESTROYED AT A SECOND RESIDENCE. 
A BARN WAS DESTROYED NEAR COUNTY ROAD 19 AND PIONEER TRAIL IN CORCORAN WHERE THE DAMAGE 
PATH ENDED AT APPROXIMATELY 10:20 PM.


PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1134 PM CDT TUE SEP 13 2005

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..

0641 PM     HAIL             BURR                    44.72N 96.28W
09/12/2005  0.75 INCH        YELLOW MEDICINE    MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0710 PM     HAIL             DAWSON                  44.93N 96.05W
09/12/2005  1.00 INCH        LAC QUI PARLE      MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0712 PM     HAIL             BOYD                    44.85N 95.90W
09/12/2005  1.75 INCH        LAC QUI PARLE      MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0725 PM     HAIL             2 SW MONTEVIDEO         44.93N 95.75W
09/12/2005  1.00 INCH        LAC QUI PARLE      MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0725 PM     HAIL             2 W MONTEVIDEO          44.95N 95.76W
09/12/2005  1.50 INCH        CHIPPEWA           MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0730 PM     HAIL             9 NW GRANITE FALLS      44.90N 95.67W
09/12/2005  1.50 INCH        YELLOW MEDICINE    MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0733 PM     HAIL             1 N MONTEVIDEO          44.97N 95.72W
09/12/2005  0.88 INCH        CHIPPEWA           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0820 PM     HAIL             4 S DASSEL              45.02N 94.31W
09/12/2005  1.00 INCH        MEEKER             MN   PUBLIC

0823 PM     HAIL             COKATO                  45.08N 94.19W
09/12/2005  2.50 INCH        WRIGHT             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

HOUSES SUSTAINED DAMAGE FROM HAIL.

0823 PM     HAIL             COKATO                  45.08N 94.19W
09/12/2005  2.50 INCH        WRIGHT             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0823 PM     HAIL             COKATO                  45.08N 94.19W
09/12/2005  2.75 INCH        WRIGHT             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0825 PM     HAIL             RAYMOND                 45.02N 95.24W
09/12/2005  1.75 INCH        KANDIYOHI          MN   AMATEUR RADIO

ON WEST SIDE OF RAYMOND.

0830 PM     HAIL             1 SE COKATO             45.07N 94.17W
09/12/2005  2.00 INCH        WRIGHT             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0838 PM     TSTM WND DMG     RAYMOND                 45.02N 95.24W
09/12/2005                   KANDIYOHI          MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

POWER LINES DOWN IN TOWN.

0838 PM     TSTM WND DMG     RAYMOND                 45.02N 95.24W
09/12/2005                   KANDIYOHI          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

POWER LINES DOWN

0855 PM     HAIL             BUFFALO                 45.18N 93.87W
09/12/2005  0.88 INCH        WRIGHT             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0859 PM     HAIL             1 W BUFFALO             45.18N 93.89W
09/12/2005  0.75 INCH        WRIGHT             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0902 PM     HAIL             BUFFALO                 45.18N 93.87W
09/12/2005  0.88 INCH        WRIGHT             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0905 PM     TSTM WND DMG     DELANO                  45.04N 93.79W
09/12/2005                   WRIGHT             MN   PUBLIC

SHED BLOWN APART IN FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP OUTSIDE OF DELANO

0907 PM     HAIL             6 SSW DASSEL            45.00N 94.35W
09/12/2005  0.75 INCH        MEEKER             MN   AMATEUR RADIO

REPORTED ON WEST SIDE OF LAKE JENNIE.

0915 PM     TSTM WND DMG     BUFFALO                 45.18N 93.87W
09/12/2005                   WRIGHT             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

30 FOOT TREES 8 INCHES IN DIAMETER BLOWN DOWN

0930 PM     TSTM WND DMG     LITCHFIELD              45.12N 94.53W
09/12/2005                   MEEKER             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

TREE DOWN IN LITCHFIELD. A FEW TREES OVER POWER LINES
ALSO REPORTED DOWN ACROSS MEEKER COUNTY BUT SPECIFIC
LOCATION WAS UNKNOWN.

0930 PM     TSTM WND DMG     BUFFALO                 45.18N 93.87W
09/12/2005                   WRIGHT             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

GARAGE DOOR BLOWN IN.

0942 PM     HAIL             HUTCHINSON              44.89N 94.37W
09/12/2005  0.75 INCH        MCLEOD             MN   AMATEUR RADIO

0948 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SILVER LAKE             44.90N 94.20W
09/12/2005                   MCLEOD             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

TREE DOWN.

0950 PM     HAIL             STEWART                 44.73N 94.49W
09/12/2005  0.75 INCH        MCLEOD             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0950 PM     TSTM WND DMG     GLENCOE                 44.77N 94.15W
09/12/2005                   MCLEOD             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

TREE LIMBS WERE DOWNED.

0950 PM     TSTM WND DMG     STEWART                 44.73N 94.49W
09/12/2005                   MCLEOD             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

FEW TREES DOWN OVER POWER LINES.

1010 PM     FLASH FLOOD      MONTICELLO              45.30N 93.80W
09/12/2005                   WRIGHT             MN   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

5 TO 6 FEET OF WATER OVER ROADWAYS

1010 PM     FLASH FLOOD      BUFFALO                 45.18N 93.87W
09/12/2005                   WRIGHT             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

WATER 3 FEET DEEP AT SEVERAL INTERSECTIONS IN DOWNTOWN
BUFFALO.

1015 PM     HAIL             NORWOOD/YOUNG AMERICA   44.78N 93.92W
09/12/2005  0.75 INCH        CARVER             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

TREES DOWN.

1015 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CORCORAN                45.12N 93.59W
09/12/2005                   HENNEPIN           MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

SIGNS BLOWN DOWN AT INTERSECTION OF COUNTY ROAD 116 AND
COUNTY ROAD 30. WIRES WERE DOWNED. A TREE WAS DOWNED ONTO
A CAR AND A GARAGE. A BARN WAS DESTROYED AND SEVERAL
SHEDS WERE DAMAGED.

1015 PM     TSTM WND DMG     INDEPENDENCE            45.02N 93.71W
09/12/2005                   HENNEPIN           MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

DETACHED GARAGE DAMAGED IN NORTHEAST PORTION OF TOWN.

1015 PM     TORNADO          INDEPENDENCE            45.02N 93.71W
09/12/2005                   HENNEPIN           MN   NWS STORM SURVEY

SURVEY DETERMINED THE TORNADO PRODUCED F1 DAMAGE. THE
TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN INDEPENDENCE...JUST SOUTHWEST OF
LAKE SARAH. IT MOVED THROUGH THE EXTREME SOUTHEAST PART
OF GREENFIELD BEFORE DISSIPATING IN THE SOUTHWEST CORNER
OF CORCORAN. PATH LENGTH WAS THREE MILES.

1015 PM     TSTM WND DMG     GREENFIELD              45.10N 93.70W
09/12/2005                   HENNEPIN           MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

ABOUT TEN HOMES WERE DAMAGED IN SOUTHEAST PORTION OF
GREENFIELD...TWO SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. A TRACTOR
TRAILER PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN FRONT OF A HOME
WAS BLOWN ON ITS SIDE.

1020 PM     TSTM WND DMG     NORWOOD/YOUNG AMERICA   44.78N 93.92W
09/12/2005                   CARVER             MN   AMATEUR RADIO

6 INCH BRANCHES DOWN

1023 PM     FLASH FLOOD      3 SE ST CLOUD           45.52N 94.13W
09/12/2005                   SHERBURNE          MN   AMATEUR RADIO

STREET FLOODING EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER ON THE EAST
SIDE OF ST CLOUD

1028 PM     FLASH FLOOD      1 S BIG LAKE            45.32N 93.75W
09/12/2005                   SHERBURNE          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

4.9 INCHES OF RAIN IN 90 MINUTES JUST SOUTH OF BIG LAKE.
STREET FLOODING IN ELK RIVER.

1034 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CORCORAN                45.12N 93.59W
09/12/2005                   HENNEPIN           MN   PUBLIC

WINDOWS BLOWN OUT

1034 PM     TSTM WND DMG     INDEPENDENCE            45.02N 93.71W
09/12/2005                   HENNEPIN           MN   PUBLIC

TREE DOWN

1035 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SHAKOPEE                44.77N 93.48W
09/12/2005                   SCOTT              MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

COUPLE OF DOWNED TREES.

1045 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 N ANDOVER             45.32N 93.33W
09/12/2005                   ANOKA              MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

TREE DOWN ON POWER LINES ON OAK GROVE.

1050 PM     TSTM WND DMG     EAST BETHEL             45.34N 93.20W
09/12/2005                   ANOKA              MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

TREE DOWN ON POWER LINES.

1055 PM     TSTM WND DMG     EAGAN                   44.82N 93.16W
09/12/2005                   DAKOTA             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

SEVERAL TREES DOWN OVER POWER LINES.

1103 PM     HAIL             BURNSVILLE              44.76N 93.28W
09/12/2005  0.75 INCH        DAKOTA             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1114 PM     FLASH FLOOD      CAMBRIDGE               45.56N 93.23W
09/12/2005                   ISANTI             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

MAIN STREET WAS COVERED BY WATER THAT SPILLED ONTO THE
SIDEWALK AND NEARBY YARDS. TRAFFIC UNABLE TO PASS THROUGH
NORTH MAIN STREET. WATER IN BASEMENTS. CARS STALLED ON
THE ROAD.

1135 PM     TSTM WND DMG     HAMMOND                 44.97N 92.44W
09/12/2005                   ST. CROIX          WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

WINDOWS BLOWN OUT OF HOME. SOME STRUCTURAL DAMAGE AT
SCHOOL.

1145 PM     TSTM WND DMG     AMERY                   45.30N 92.36W
09/12/2005                   POLK               WI   EMERGENCY MNGR

6 HANGERS DAMAGED AT AIRPORT. FARMERS CO-OP WERE SEVERELY
DAMAGED. THE TIME WAS ESTIMATED.

0109 AM     TSTM WND DMG     CHETEK                  45.32N 91.65W
09/13/2005                   BARRON             WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

POWER LINES BLOWN DOWN.

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URL: http://climate.umn.edu/doc/journal/flash_floods/ff050913.htm
Last modified: September 14, 2005