Heat and Storms Strike Again, June 7,2020

2-day rainfall totals, as estimated by radars, official observations, automated gauges, and other sources. Valid through the morning of June 8, 2020.

Source, NOAA/Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service

Thunderstorms battered northern Minnesota twice, and the hottest air mass of the year so far surged into western parts of the state.

A complicated weather pattern developed over the weekend, as an unusually potent low-pressure system moved straight north out of Montana, into southern Canada on Saturday June 6. Another system formed in its wake, passing from the Black Hills into north-central North Dakota on Sunday June 7th. These two systems produced back-to-back nights of extraordinary thunderstorms in the region, with some of those storms affecting northwestern and northern Minnesota.

The worst of Saturday's thunderstorms remained confined to Colorado, Nebraska, and South Dakota, where the storms tapped into intense winds aloft to produce surface wind gusts of 80 to 110 mph. The Storm Prediction Center tallied 45 separate reports of observed and/or measured gusts exceeding hurricane-force (74 mph) on Saturday evening.

The thunderstorms rolled into Minnesota late in the night, with vivid lightning and heavy rains spreading over much of the northern quarter of the state into Sunday morning. Rainfall totals of 1-2 inches were common from west of Thief River Falls through the Iron Range.

As the next weather system developed on Sunday, hot and humid air spread into the state from the south, with western Minnesota bearing the brunt of the heat initially. Cooperative observers at Milan, Artichoke Lake, and Sabin all recorded highs of 100 degrees F, with readings in the 90s common from along the Red River into the southwestern third of the state.

On the edge of that steamy air mass, intense thunderstorms erupted once again late Sunday afternoon and evening, with many of them initiating in far northwestern Minnesota. Storms in Kittson, Roseau, Pennington, Clay, and Marshall Counties produced half-dollar to golf ball-sized hail between 3and 7 PM. Many of the storms regenerated and moved over the same areas, producing prolonged torrential rains and repeat bouts of severe weather.

Other storms in North Dakota merged together and marched into northwestern Minnesota around and after sunset. These storms produced strong and damaging thunderstorm winds, affecting many areas that had observed large hail earlier in the evening. Both Crookston and Thief River Falls reported 62 mph wind gusts at their airports, and an agricultural weather station near Perley in Norman County recorded a 65 mph gust. The strong winds blew down power lines in Ada, and damaged large tree limbs and farm fencing in Clay and Marshall Counties.

The thunderstorms spread into north-central Minnesota overnight, producing another half-inch to inch-and-a-half of rain across many of the same areas that saw rains on Sunday morning.

The two events, ending on the morning of June 8, produced rainfall totals in excess of 2 inches across a 50-mile-wide swath covering parts of northwest, north-central, and northeast Minnesota. The highest official total was 5.21 inches at the National Weather Service cooperative observation site in Lancaster (Kittson County). Automated rain gauges in the county reported 3.5 to 4.5 inches, and radar estimates indicated that the Thief River Falls and Red Lake areas may have received 3-4 inches also.

Although the extreme rains prompted Flood Warnings for river flooding near Hallock and Crookston, the more general heavy rains were welcomed in much of north-central Minnesota, which had become parched by moderate drought. These rains did not erase the precipitation deficits, but in many cases reduced their size by 50-75%.

The following precipitation reports were gathered by National Weather Service forecast offices in Duluth and Grand Forks. Please note that not all reports are from Minnesota, and not all were obtained from standardized equipment.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN  
716 PM CDT SUN JUN 7 2020  
..24 HOUR PRECIPITATION REPORTS  
LOCATION                     AMOUNT    TIME/DATE       LAT/LON                
MAKINEN                      3.50 IN   1212 PM 06/07   47.36N/92.37W          
3.4 SE LITTLE SWAN           2.30 IN   0500 PM 06/07   47.25N/92.81W          
4.6 N TACONITE               2.25 IN   0515 PM 06/07   47.39N/93.38W          
LITTLEFORK                   2.16 IN   0500 PM 06/07   48.40N/93.55W          
3.6 W CRANE LAKE             1.90 IN   0500 PM 06/07   48.26N/92.57W          
SKIBO RAWS                   1.77 IN   0522 PM 06/07   47.49N/91.99W          
SEAGULL LAKE RAWS            1.63 IN   0604 PM 06/07   48.12N/90.84W          
HIBBING RAWS                 1.58 IN   0507 PM 06/07   47.39N/92.83W          
SUPERIOR QD NO. 3            1.56 IN   0517 PM 06/07   47.66N/92.61W          
AURORA                       1.55 IN   0602 PM 06/07   47.52N/92.24W          
BOY RIVER NR BOY RIVER       1.51 IN   0515 PM 06/07   47.08N/94.10W          
DEER RIVER 3.7 W             1.50 IN   0800 AM 06/07   47.34N/93.88W          
COLVIN CREEK NR HOYT LAKES   1.45 IN   0430 PM 06/07   47.53N/92.00W          
BLACKDUCK MN                 1.40 IN   0559 PM 06/07   47.18N/93.95W          
HAYWARD AIRPORT              1.39 IN   0553 PM 06/07   46.02N/91.45W          
CELINA 2 E                   1.30 IN   0924 AM 06/07   47.87N/93.03W          
CLOQUET RIVER NR BRIMSON     1.26 IN   0500 PM 06/07   47.26N/91.85W          
1.4 W ERICKSBURG             1.26 IN   0500 PM 06/07   48.49N/93.36W          
KABETOGAMA RAWS              1.23 IN   0531 PM 06/07   48.44N/93.05W          
EFFIE RAWS                   1.23 IN   0507 PM 06/07   47.78N/93.65W          
3.7 SE CELINA                1.21 IN   0545 PM 06/07   47.82N/93.02W          
LITTLEFORK RAWS              1.20 IN   0508 PM 06/07   48.39N/93.56W          
0.9 NE SIDE LAKE             1.18 IN   0600 PM 06/07   47.68N/93.01W          
3.8 E EMBARRASS              1.17 IN   0315 PM 06/07   47.67N/92.12W          
KEEWATIN 0.2 SSE             1.16 IN   0800 AM 06/07   47.40N/93.08W          
ISABELLA RAWS                1.13 IN   0604 PM 06/07   47.62N/91.38W          
DEER RIVER                   1.10 IN   0600 PM 06/07   47.40N/93.62W          
EMBARRASS                    1.05 IN   0900 AM 06/07   47.66N/92.20W          
GRAND PORTAGE                1.03 IN   0602 PM 06/07   47.97N/89.69W          
4 NE GRAND PORTAGE           1.02 IN   0500 PM 06/07   48.01N/89.62W          
LUTSEN                       1.02 IN   0400 PM 06/07   47.64N/90.71W          
BLACK RIVER AT LOMAN         1.00 IN   0545 PM 06/07   48.51N/93.80W          
GRAND PORTAGE RAWS           1.00 IN   0544 PM 06/07   47.95N/89.78W          
2.1 NW HOYT LAKES            1.00 IN   0500 PM 06/07   47.54N/92.17W          
GRAND RAPIDS AIRPORT         0.98 IN   0556 PM 06/07   47.22N/93.52W          
2.3 SE BALL CLUB             0.94 IN   0430 PM 06/07   47.30N/93.90W          
1.8 E COHASSET               0.87 IN   0500 PM 06/07   47.25N/93.59W          
CHISHOLM 0.4 WSW             0.84 IN   0745 AM 06/07   47.49N/92.89W          
WINTON                       0.83 IN   0605 PM 06/07   47.98N/91.43W          
HAYWARD RAWS                 0.83 IN   0603 PM 06/07   46.00N/91.50W          
BEAVER R NR BEAVER BAY       0.82 IN   0515 PM 06/07   47.27N/91.31W          
BIG FORK AT BIG FALLS        0.79 IN   0530 PM 06/07   48.20N/93.81W          
ORR RAWS                     0.79 IN   0508 PM 06/07   48.02N/92.85W          
SCHROEDER                    0.77 IN   0605 PM 06/07   47.47N/91.02W          
LIND RAWS                    0.77 IN   0506 PM 06/07   45.74N/92.80W          
5.6 S BABBITT                0.77 IN   0500 PM 06/07   47.62N/91.93W          
ST. CROIX RAWS               0.76 IN   0515 PM 06/07   45.97N/92.62W          
OAKLAND 9.0 ENE              0.76 IN   0715 AM 06/07   45.95N/92.22W          
1.3 S BUYCK                  0.75 IN   0500 PM 06/07   48.12N/92.52W          
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND  
906 AM CDT MON JUN 8 2020  
..PRECIPITATION REPORTS FROM THE PAST 24 HOURS  
LOCATION                     AMOUNT    TIME/DATE       PROVIDER               
LANCASTER MN                 4.70 IN   0700 AM 06/08   COOP                   
HALLOCK                      4.37 IN   0838 AM 06/08   TRAINED SPOTTER        
HALLOCK AP MN                4.14 IN   0835 AM 06/08   AWOS                   
CARIBOU MN                   4.13 IN   0645 AM 06/08   HADS                   
HALLOCK MN                   3.99 IN   0530 AM 06/08   HADS                   
3 SSE MATTSON                3.69 IN   0844 AM 06/08   NDAWN                
LAKE BRONSON MN              3.04 IN   0700 AM 06/08   HADS                   
HALLOCK AP MN                2.79 IN   0815 AM 06/08   AWOS                   
CARIBOU MN                   2.79 IN   0645 AM 06/08   HADS                   
4 SW HUMBOLDT                2.56 IN   0845 AM 06/08   NDAWN                
CASSELTON ND 0.4 ENE         2.34 IN   0700 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
HOLT MN 6 E                  2.27 IN   0500 PM 06/07   HADS                   
2 WSW SAINT THOMAS           2.22 IN   0850 AM 06/08   NDAWN                
GRAFTON ND 6.8 N             2.21 IN   0630 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
PEMBINA ND                   2.10 IN   0700 AM 06/08   COOP                   
THIEF RIVER FALLS MN         1.97 IN   0345 PM 06/07   HADS                   
BAGLEY MN                    1.88 IN   0610 PM 06/07   AWS                    
LEEDS ND 4 SE                1.84 IN   0700 AM 06/08   HADS                   
GLYNDON MN 2 NW              1.83 IN   0800 AM 06/08   HADS                   
HOLT MN 15 E                 1.81 IN   0520 PM 06/07   RAWS                   
LAKE BRONSON MN              1.79 IN   0700 AM 06/08   HADS                   
5 NW PROSPER                 1.73 IN   0851 AM 06/08   NDAWN                
HIGHLANDING MN 20 E          1.72 IN   0100 AM 06/08   HADS                   
LAKE BRONSON MN              1.71 IN   0600 PM 06/07   HADS                   
NEW ROCKFORD ND 4.0 WNW      1.70 IN   0700 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
HAWLEY MN 5.2 WNW            1.70 IN   0700 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
CANDO ND 1 E                 1.70 IN   0700 AM 06/08   COOP                   
BEMIDJI MN 3.5 WSW           1.67 IN   0700 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
THIEF RIVER FALLS AP MN      1.66 IN   0556 PM 06/07   AWOS                   
RED LAKE MN                  1.65 IN   0509 PM 06/07   RAWS                   
THIEF RIVER FALLS MN 5 N     1.63 IN   0515 PM 06/07   HADS                   
FERTILE MN 0.6 E             1.60 IN   0700 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
1 ESE FARGO                  1.59 IN   0841 AM 06/08   BROADCAST MEDIA        
GLYNDON MN 2 N               1.58 IN   0800 AM 06/08   HADS                   
6 E PERLEY                   1.57 IN   0851 AM 06/08   NDAWN                
FLORIAN MN 1 S               1.55 IN   0545 PM 06/07   HADS                   
HORACE                       1.54 IN   0842 AM 06/08   BROADCAST MEDIA        
GLYNDON MN 6.9 ENE           1.54 IN   0700 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
FARGO ND 7 SW                1.52 IN   0844 AM 06/08   CWOP                   
TWIN VALLEY MN 0.1 NE        1.52 IN   0800 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
HORACE ND 2.0 N              1.51 IN   0700 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
4 NW CRYSTAL                 1.50 IN   0852 AM 06/08   NDAWN                
MCLEOD ND 3 E                1.50 IN   0825 AM 06/08   COOP                   
THIEF RIVER FALLS MN 0.3 NW  1.50 IN   0700 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
LISBON ND 0.5 ENE            1.50 IN   0614 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
WEST FARGO ND 3.8 SSE        1.49 IN   0700 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
DILWORTH MN 0.8 WNW          1.49 IN   0700 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
2 NE SABIN                   1.47 IN   0854 AM 06/08   NDAWN                
MOORHEAD MN 2.0 N            1.46 IN   0700 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
2 W LISBON                   1.45 IN   0854 AM 06/08   NDAWN                
LISBON ND 18 E               1.45 IN   0849 AM 06/08   RAWS                   
MOORHEAD MN 1 NE             1.44 IN   0851 AM 06/08   CWOP                   
LISBON ND 18 E               1.44 IN   0749 AM 06/08   RAWS                   
NORTHCOTE MN 2 ENE           1.44 IN   0600 AM 06/08   HADS                   
FARGO ND 3.7 SSE             1.43 IN   0700 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
10 E GRAFTON                 1.41 IN   0855 AM 06/08   NDAWN                
ADA MN 2 S                   1.41 IN   0700 AM 06/08   HADS                   
HIGHLANDING MN 20 E          1.38 IN   0530 PM 06/07   HADS                   
7 ESE ULEN                   1.37 IN   0854 AM 06/08   NDAWN                
LENGBY 1.7 NNE               1.37 IN   0800 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
FARGO 7.2 S                  1.37 IN   0700 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
WARREN MN 3 ENE              1.36 IN   0515 PM 06/07   HADS                   
GLYNDON MN 2 NW              1.35 IN   0730 AM 06/08   HADS                   
BAGLEY MN                    1.33 IN   0855 AM 06/08   AWS                    
BARNESVILLE 7.7 N            1.33 IN   0800 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
THIEF RIVER FALLS MN 0.6 NW  1.33 IN   0700 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
MOORHEAD MN 2.8 SW           1.32 IN   0800 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
HORACE ND 9.3 SSE            1.32 IN   0600 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
RED LAKE FALLS MN            1.32 IN   0345 PM 06/07   HADS                   
1 S FARGO                    1.31 IN   0843 AM 06/08   BROADCAST MEDIA        
PARK RIVER ND                1.31 IN   0800 AM 06/08   HADS                   
LAKE ITASCA MN 2 SE          1.30 IN   0807 AM 06/08   RAWS                   
MENTOR MN 3 NW               1.28 IN   0832 AM 06/08   RAWS                   
BEMIDJI AP MN                1.26 IN   0835 AM 06/08   AWOS                   
BAUDETTE MN 3 S              1.25 IN   0806 AM 06/08   RAWS                   
5 N LEONARD                  1.24 IN   0856 AM 06/08   NDAWN                
BEMIDJI MN 2 WNW             1.24 IN   0806 AM 06/08   RAWS                   
SOLWAY MN 2.1 S              1.24 IN   0800 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
MENTOR MN 2 SW               1.23 IN   0848 AM 06/08   CWOP                   
MOORHEAD MN 1.0 NE           1.22 IN   0700 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
RED LAKE MN                  1.22 IN   0609 PM 06/07   AWS                    
GLYNDON MN 2 N               1.21 IN   0715 AM 06/08   HADS                   
CLEMENSTON MN                1.19 IN   0530 AM 06/08   HADS                   
5 N ADAMS                    1.18 IN   0855 AM 06/08   NDAWN                
RED LAKE MN                  1.18 IN   0809 AM 06/08   RAWS                   
LEEDS ND 4 SE                1.18 IN   0500 PM 06/07   HADS                   
HIGHLANDING MN               1.17 IN   0500 PM 06/07   HADS                   
TURTLE RIVER MN 3.6 E        1.16 IN   0700 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
VERN MN 2 W                  1.16 IN   0530 AM 06/08   HADS                   
GOODRIDGE MN 7.4 SW          1.15 IN   0600 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
VERN MN 2 W                  1.15 IN   0530 AM 06/08   HADS                   
GREENBUSH MN                 1.14 IN   0700 AM 06/08   COOP                   
4 W FINGAL                   1.13 IN   0856 AM 06/08   NDAWN                
BEMIDJI MN 8 N               1.13 IN   0849 AM 06/08   CWOP                   
HOLT MN 15 E                 1.13 IN   0820 AM 06/08   RAWS                   
BEMIDJI MN 8 N               1.13 IN   0818 AM 06/08   CWOP                   
BLACKDUCK MN                 1.13 IN   0759 AM 06/08   RAWS                   
MENTOR MN 2.5 SSW            1.13 IN   0645 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
WARROAD MN                   1.11 IN   0800 AM 06/08   HADS                   
FERTILE MN 3 WSW             1.10 IN   0730 AM 06/08   HADS                   
COMSTOCK MN 0.1 E            1.10 IN   0600 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
KELLIHER MN 1 W              1.10 IN   0507 PM 06/07   RAWS                   
BEMIDJI MN 7.8 ENE           1.07 IN   0700 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
BEMIDJI MN 4.8 NNE           1.07 IN   0700 AM 06/08   COCORAHS               
SAUM MN 3 SW                 1.01 IN   0445 PM 06/07   HADS   
OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING  
EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURES. WE THANK ALL VOLUNTEER WEATHER OBSERVERS   
FOR THEIR DEDICATION. NOT ALL DATA LISTED ARE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL.

Modified June 8, 2020