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

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