A truly enormous rainfall event brought widespread heavy to extreme rains to a large swath of Minnesota and Wisconsin on July 11-12, 2016, producing flooding and damage to roads and infrastructure.
Morning storms combined with a long-lasting barrage of evening storms to produce the largest flash flood since the June 19-20, 2012 event in northeast Minnesota. Pine County was hit especially hard, with 24-hour totals in excess of 8 inches common, with some values over 9 inches as well. The storms had a sprawling footprint, with 6-inch totals reported near St. Cloud, in and around Brainerd, in Crosby and Cuyuna, and sweeping from eastern Mille Lacs Lake into Wisconsin.
The storm event spanned two observation days at many sites, but occurred within a 24-hour period. The highest total reported was 9.93 inches, recorded by DNR Forestry staff at Willow River. Another volunteer observer around Cloverton in eastern Pine County, near the Wisconsin border, measured 9.34 inches for the event. Flooding rains also affected parts of Morrison, Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Benton, Mille Lacs, Kanabec and Carlton Counties. Numerous roads were affected by water in the hardest hit counties. Southbound I-35 was closed for a time and Highway 61 was closed during the afternoon hours of the 12th.
The area covered by at least six inches of rainfall in Minnesota exceeded 2,000 square miles, easily qualifying this as a "mega" rainfall event--which requires at least 1,000 square miles of 6 inches or more rain. The rain in Pine County alone would have qualified for this unusual distinction. The storm's reach extended well into Wisconsin, where rainfall totals and flooding impacts were greater than in Minnesota. Between the two states, it is likely the 6" rainfall contour covered more than 5,000 square miles, making this one of the most expansive major flash-flood events documented in the region.
The main storm event was the finale of a stormy week across northern and central parts of the state, and formed as a warm front draped from west to east across central Minnesota. Dew point temperatures rose into the middle 70s across southern Minnesota, with a 25-degree air temperature difference over a short distance across the front. Thunderstorms developed along this sharp boundary in the early morning hours on the 11th and continued almost unabated in central Minnesota until the last shower crossed the Wisconsin border in the early hours of July 12th.
Aside from the heavy rain, at least three tornadoes affected Meeker and Stearns Counties, with EF-2 level tornado damage reported in both Watkins and Lichfield in Meeker County.
Storm summaries from the National Weather Service
Photographs of flooding.
Rum River in Milaca and Recreation Park in Milaca Courtesy Mille Lacs Soil and Water Conservation District.
Below is a list of storm reports gathered by the National Weather Service
NWUS53 KMPX 120802 LSRMPX PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN 302 AM CDT TUE JUL 12 2016 ..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 0725 PM TORNADO 4 NW ROCKVILLE 45.52N 94.40W 07/11/2016 STEARNS MN EMERGENCY MNGR BARNS DAMAGED, SHED DESTROYED, TREES DOWN, INCLUDING ONE ON HOUSE. PROBABLE TORNADO. 0545 PM TORNADO 1 W FOREST CITY 45.21N 94.49W 07/11/2016 MEEKER MN STORM CHASER BRIEF TOUCHDOWN. NO DAMAGE. 0605 PM TORNADO 3 N WATKINS 45.36N 94.41W 07/11/2016 STEARNS MN STORM CHASER TORNADO CAUGHT ON VIDEO. TORNADO WAS ON GROUND FOR ABOUT 1.5 MILES. 0945 PM FLASH FLOOD 9 NNW QUAMBA 46.02N 93.26W 07/11/2016 KANABEC MN 911 CALL CENTER MOHAGANY AVE AT 300TH AVE AND 310TH AVE CLOSED BY HIGH WATER. . 0932 PM HEAVY RAIN 3 WNW BOCK 45.81N 93.61W 07/11/2016 M3.14 INCH MILLE LACS MN MESONET MESONET STATION BOCK 3WNW /C6351/. RAINFALL PAST 12 HOURS. . 0928 PM HEAVY RAIN 7 N GRANITE LEDGE 45.90N 93.85W 07/11/2016 M3.97 INCH MORRISON MN MESONET MESONET STATION GRANITE LEDGE 7N /C0288/. RAINFALL TOTAL PAST 12 HOURS. . 0900 PM HAIL MONTICELLO 45.31N 93.80W 07/11/2016 M1.00 INCH WRIGHT MN AMATEUR RADIO REPORTED ON EAST SIDE OF TOWN. . 0850 PM HAIL MONTICELLO 45.30N 93.80W 07/11/2016 M1.00 INCH WRIGHT MN AMATEUR RADIO REPORTED AT INTERSECTION OF HWYS 94 AND 25. . 0848 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 5 WSW MONTICELLO 45.27N 93.89W 07/11/2016 WRIGHT MN TRAINED SPOTTER REPORT OF FUNNEL CLOUD HALF WAY DOWN TO GROUND BETWEEN MAPLE LAKE AND MONTICELLO. . 0839 PM HAIL MAPLE LAKE 45.23N 94.00W 07/11/2016 M1.00 INCH WRIGHT MN AMATEUR RADIO . 0836 PM HEAVY RAIN 7 SE ONAMIA 45.99N 93.57W 07/11/2016 M4.28 INCH MILLE LACS MN MESONET MESONET STATION ONAMIA 7SE /TS376/. RAINFALL PAST 12 HOURS. . 0800 PM HEAVY RAIN SAUK RAPIDS 45.60N 94.17W 07/11/2016 M5.00 INCH BENTON MN PUBLIC REPORTED VIA TWITTER. . 0800 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 N SARTELL 45.64N 94.21W 07/11/2016 M5.50 INCH STEARNS MN PUBLIC REPORTED VIA TWITTER. RAINFALL SINCE 7 AM. . 0722 PM FUNNEL CLOUD RICHMOND 45.46N 94.52W 07/11/2016 STEARNS MN EMERGENCY MNGR FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED . 0722 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 4 S ROSCOE 45.38N 94.64W 07/11/2016 STEARNS MN EMERGENCY MNGR FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 4 MILES EAST OF PAYNESVILLE OVER RICE LAKE NEAR TRIPLE T RD. . 0703 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 3 ESE REGAL 45.39N 94.78W 07/11/2016 KANDIYOHI MN TRAINED SPOTTER TRAINED SPOTTER AT INTERSECTION OF HWY 4 AND 55 JUST NW OF PAYNESVILLE REPORTED FUNNEL CLOUD. . 0625 PM TORNADO 2 SSE PLEASANT LAKE 45.48N 94.28W 07/11/2016 STEARNS MN LAW ENFORCEMENT TORNADO TOUCHDOWN REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT 3 MILES EAST OF ROCKVILLE . 1110 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 NNW ST. FRANCIS 45.39N 93.37W 07/11/2016 ANOKA MN TRAINED SPOTTER 4" DIAMETER TREE LIMB DOWN. . 0555 PM TORNADO WATKINS 45.31N 94.41W 07/11/2016 MEEKER MN TRAINED SPOTTER SEVERAL REPORTS OF DAMAGE IN WATKINS, INCLUDING AT A MOBILE HOME PARK. PHOTOS OF DAMAGE RELAYED VIA TWITTER. . 0540 PM TORNADO 2 NNW LITCHFIELD 45.15N 94.54W 07/11/2016 MEEKER MN STORM CHASER ROPE TORNADO STILL ON GROUND. . 0533 PM TORNADO LITCHFIELD 45.12N 94.53W 07/11/2016 MEEKER MN LAW ENFORCEMENT CONFIRMED TORNADO TOUCHDOWN BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TRAINED SPOTTER. DAMAGE REPORTED ON NORTHWEST SIDE OF LITCHFIELD NEAR INTERSECTION OF HWY 12 AND 24. . 0455 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 3 ESE SPENCER BROOK 45.50N 93.39W 07/11/2016 ISANTI MN TRAINED SPOTTER FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED BY TRAINED SPOTTER 7 MILES NORTH OF ST. FRANCIS. . 0300 PM HEAVY RAIN BELGRADE 45.45N 95.00W 07/11/2016 M4.00 INCH STEARNS MN FIRE DEPT/RESCUE 4" OF RAIN MEASURED BY BELGRADE FIRE DEPARTMENT SINCE 8:40 AM. . 0230 PM HAIL MORA 45.88N 93.29W 07/11/2016 M2.50 INCH KANABEC MN PUBLIC PHOTO OF HAIL SHOWS 2.5 INCH DIAMETER STONE. REPORTED VIA TWITTER. . 0120 PM HEAVY RAIN ELROSA 45.57N 94.95W 07/11/2016 M4.30 INCH STEARNS MN PUBLIC TOTAL SO FAR TODAY. REPORTED VIA TWITTER. . 0115 PM HAIL 3 SE ST. STEPHEN 45.68N 94.23W 07/11/2016 M1.00 INCH STEARNS MN TRAINED SPOTTER HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS REPORTED 5 MILES SOUTH OF RICE. . 0115 PM HEAVY RAIN 3 SE ST. STEPHEN 45.68N 94.23W 07/11/2016 E4.00 INCH STEARNS MN TRAINED SPOTTER WATER IN DITCHES. RAINFALL TOTAL SO FAR TODAY. 1115 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 NNW ST. FRANCIS 45.39N 93.37W 07/11/2016 E3.00 INCH ANOKA MN COCORAHS OCCURRED WITHIN 1 HOUR. 0955 PM HEAVY RAIN 7 NNE GRANITE LEDGE 45.91N 93.83W 07/11/2016 M4.77 INCH MORRISON MN TRAINED SPOTTER 24 HOUR RAINFALL TOTAL. MEASURED 8 MILES SSE OF HILLMAN. . 0616 PM FUNNEL CLOUD ROCKVILLE 45.48N 94.34W 07/11/2016 STEARNS MN LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED NEAR ROCKVILLE BY LAW ENFORCEMENT. PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN 429 PM CDT TUE JUL 12 2016 ..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 0222 PM HEAVY RAIN BREEZY POINT 46.60N 94.22W 07/12/2016 M10.30 INCH CROW WING MN TRAINED SPOTTER PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN 1028 AM CDT TUE JUL 12 2016 ..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 0800 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 SE FINLAYSON 46.17N 92.89W 07/12/2016 E9.00 INCH PINE MN PUBLIC THIS IS A 36 HOUR RAINFALL REPORT AND ALSO INCLUDES RAIN THAT FELL EARLY MONDAY THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY. 0800 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 SE MALMO 46.32N 93.50W 07/12/2016 M5.03 INCH AITKIN MN CO-OP OBSERVER . THE DURATION OF THE HEAVY RAIN EVENT WAS 24 HOURS. 0653 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 SW ASHLAND 46.55N 90.92W 07/12/2016 M5.20 INCH ASHLAND WI ASOS ASOS STATION ASHLAND AIRPORT /ASX/. THE DURATION OF THE HEAVY RAIN EVENT WAS 24 HOURS. 0653 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 WNW WOODROW 46.40N 94.13W 07/12/2016 M5.11 INCH CROW WING MN ASOS ASOS STATION BRAINERD AIRPORT /BRD/. THE DURATION OF THE HEAVY RAIN EVENT WAS 24 HOURS. 0656 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 S GRAND MARAIS 47.75N 90.34W 07/12/2016 M2.02 INCH COOK MN ASOS ASOS STATION THE BAY OF GRAND MARAIS /GNA/. THE DURATION OF THE HEAVY RAIN EVENT WAS 24 HOURS. 0653 AM HEAVY RAIN 5 E HIBBING 47.39N 92.84W 07/12/2016 M0.64 INCH ST. LOUIS MN ASOS ASOS STATION CHISHOLM-HIBBING AIRPORT /HIB/. THE DURATION OF THE HEAVY RAIN EVENT WAS 24 HOURS. 0653 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 ENE HAYWARD 46.03N 91.44W 07/12/2016 M5.75 INCH SAWYER WI ASOS ASOS STATION HAYWARD AIRPORT /HYR/. THE DURATION OF THE HEAVY RAIN EVENT WAS 24 HOURS. 0655 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 S INTERNATIONAL FALLS 48.57N 93.40W 07/12/2016 M0.01 INCH KOOCHICHING MN ASOS ASOS STATION INTERNATIONAL FALLS /INL/. THE DURATION OF THE HEAVY RAIN EVENT WAS 24 HOURS. 0653 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 SE EVELETH 47.42N 92.50W 07/12/2016 M0.89 INCH ST. LOUIS MN AWOS AWOS STATION EVELETH-VIRGINIA AIRPORT /EVM/. THE DURATION OF THE HEAVY RAIN EVENT WAS 24 HOURS. 0655 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 NW PHILLIPS 45.71N 90.42W 07/12/2016 M0.73 INCH PRICE WI AWOS AWOS STATION PHILLIPS /PBH/. THE DURATION OF THE HEAVY RAIN EVENT WAS 24 HOURS. 0655 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 WSW SUPERIOR 46.69N 92.09W 07/12/2016 M2.91 INCH DOUGLAS WI AWOS AWOS STATION SUPERIOR AIRPORT /SUW/. THE DURATION OF THE HEAVY RAIN EVENT WAS 24 HOURS. 0655 AM HEAVY RAIN 6 NNW WALKER 47.16N 94.65W 07/12/2016 M0.47 INCH CASS MN AWOS AWOS STATION WALKER AIRPORT /Y49/. THE DURATION OF THE HEAVY RAIN EVENT WAS 24 HOURS. 0124 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 NE HERMANTOWN 46.84N 92.21W 07/12/2016 U2.27 INCH ST. LOUIS MN OFFICIAL NWS OBS 0500 AM HEAVY RAIN BARNUM 46.50N 92.69W 07/12/2016 E5.30 INCH CARLTON MN PUBLIC 24 HOUR STORM TOTAL. REPORT RELAYED VIA FACEBOOK. 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN WASCOTT 46.17N 91.80W 07/12/2016 E10.00 INCH DOUGLAS WI PUBLIC 24 HOUR STORM TOTAL. RELAYED VIA FACEBOOK. 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN TOWER 47.81N 92.29W 07/12/2016 E3.00 INCH ST. LOUIS MN PUBLIC 24 HOUR STORM TOTAL. REPORT RELAYED VIA FACEBOOK. 0318 AM FLASH FLOOD 6 N DADS CORNER 46.42N 93.26W 07/12/2016 AITKIN MN DEPT OF HIGHWAYS TRAVEL NOT ADVISED ON MN HIGHWAY 65 BETWEEN 180TH STREET (NEAR MCGRATH) AND 360TH STREET (2 MILES SOUTH OF MCGREGOR). 0500 AM HEAVY RAIN BARNUM 46.50N 92.69W 07/12/2016 E5.30 INCH CARLTON MN PUBLIC 24 HOUR STORM TOTAL. REPORT RELAYED VIA FACEBOOK. 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN WASCOTT 46.17N 91.80W 07/12/2016 E10.00 INCH DOUGLAS WI PUBLIC 24 HOUR STORM TOTAL. RELAYED VIA FACEBOOK. 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN TOWER 47.81N 92.29W 07/12/2016 E3.00 INCH ST. LOUIS MN PUBLIC 24 HOUR STORM TOTAL. REPORT RELAYED VIA FACEBOOK. 0645 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 WSW SAXON 46.49N 90.44W 07/12/2016 M9.65 INCH IRON WI CO-OP OBSERVER 0809 PM FLASH FLOOD 6 SSE BRUNO 46.20N 92.62W 07/11/2016 PINE MN PUBLIC PICTURE ON SOCIAL MEDIA OF A FLOODED ROADWAY IN FLEMING TOWNSHIP. UNCERTAIN AT THIS TIME ON THE EXACT ROADWAY FLOODED. THIS IS A LOCATION CORRECTION TO PREVIOUS STORM REPORT AT 5 ESE WALDECK. 0715 PM FLASH FLOOD 3 E EAST GULL LAKE 46.41N 94.29W 07/11/2016 CROW WING MN 911 CALL CENTER ROADWAY COVERED WITH WATER AT THE INTERSECTION OF 371 AND BIRCHDALE. 0715 PM FLASH FLOOD BAXTER 46.34N 94.28W 07/11/2016 CROW WING MN 911 CALL CENTER 1 FOOT OF WATER ON ROADWAYS IN THE INDUSTRIAL PARK AREA IN BAXTER. ALSO HAVE REPORTS OF WATER COVERING THE ROADWAY ON HIGHWAY 371 IN BAXTER. 0704 PM HEAVY RAIN BARNES 46.40N 91.50W 07/11/2016 M4.50 INCH BAYFIELD MN TRAINED SPOTTER RAIN FELL BETWEEN 1700 AND 1900. 2 HOUR PERIOD. 0626 PM FLASH FLOOD 1 S CROSBY 46.48N 93.95W 07/11/2016 CROW WING MN PUBLIC FLOODING IS REPORTED IN CROSBY. 0530 PM FLASH FLOOD 2 SE AITKIN 46.51N 93.69W 07/11/2016 AITKIN MN 911 CALL CENTER 10 TO 12 INCHES OF WATER OVER ROADWAY AT INTERSECTION OF 344TH STREET AND COUNTY ROAD 12 IN NORDLAND TOWNSHIP. A CAR WAS REPORTED BEING PUSHED BY THE WATER ON THE ROADWAY. 0530 PM FLASH FLOOD SW KIMBERLY 46.56N 93.47W 07/11/2016 AITKIN MN 911 CALL CENTER 10 TO 12 INCHES OF WATER ON ROADWAY AT THE INTERSECTION OF COUNTY ROAD 5 AND RICE RIVER CROSSING. WATER FLOWING OVER THE ROADWAY. 0530 PM FLASH FLOOD 4 SSE RICE LAKE WILDLIF 46.48N 93.28W 07/11/2016 AITKIN MN 911 CALL CENTER 10 TO 12 INCHES OF WATER OVER ROADWAY AT CROSSING OF RICE RIVER AND COUNTY ROAD 4 IN RICE RIVER TOWNSHIP. 0420 PM HEAVY RAIN 2 NNE BRAINERD 46.38N 94.18W 07/11/2016 M3.75 INCH CROW WING MN TRAINED SPOTTER TOTAL PRECIPITATION SINCE MIDNIGHT. STILL RAINING AT THE TIME OF THE REPORT. 0317 PM TSTM WND DMG SANDSTONE 46.13N 92.86W 07/11/2016 PINE MN 911 CALL CENTER TREES DOWNED IN SANDSTONE WHICH BROUGHT POWER LINES DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR