The first significant rain for the Twin Cities in over a month fell in the morning hours of August 20. The heaviest rain fell in a narrow swath from eastern Faribault County to northern Washington County. Most totals were an inch or less with one of the heavier amounts falling at Hastings with 1.52 inches. Amounts across the Twin Cities varied from .22 inches at Buffalo to about .96 inches at Stillwater. Most of the Twin Cities received between a third and three quarters of an inch. While any rain is a welcome sight to parched lawns, this rainfall will not be enough to alleviate the dry spell. The Twin Cities for instance even with last nights rain is still about three and a half inches below normal since July 1st. An inch of rain a week in July and August is the norm for Minnesota. A more widespread rain would be beneficial.

Another area that is receiving some helpful rains during the late morning of August 20th is North Central Minnesota, from International Falls to Lower Red Lake.

Listed below are some amounts from the rainfall in the early morning hours of August 20, 2003. Some of the rain fell also during the evening of August 19th. Most of the amounts are through 7AM August 20.

MSP Airport                   .85 (For calendar day)
Maplewood                     .86 (For calendar day)
Fridley                       .45
U of M St. Paul               .76
Waseca                        .43
St. Paul (Irvine Park)        .97 (as of 2:20 PM August 20)
Savage                        .81
Chanhassen                    .39
Forest Lake                   .50
Faribault                    1.03
Mankato                       .30
Pipestone                     .68
Stillwater                    .96
Spring Park                   .45
Brooklyn Park                 .30
Hastings                     1.52
Farimont                      .03
St. Cloud (SCSU)              .04
Dassel                        .02 
Wild River State Park         .45
          

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URL: http://climate.umn.edu/doc/journal/rain030820.htm
Last modified: August 21, 2003