Flooding
Hydrographs
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The Little Fork River experienced historic flooding, including inundating the city of Cook with feet of water flooding numerous buildings and structures, closing dozens of roads, and prompting an evacuation of parts of the city. | Up to 7.5 inches of rainfall occurred at the headwaters of the Cloquet River in central Lake County and in southeastern St. Louis County in the evening of Tuesday, June 18. | Flash flood prone rivers along the North Shore responded with rapid river rises of 10 to 15 feet in water levels as 3 to 6 inches of rain fell along the coastal land areas and the terrain ridge of the North Shore late Tuesday evening on June 18. | Flash flood prone rivers along the South Shore on the Bayfield Peninsula responded with rapid river rises as 3 to 5 inches of rainfall drained from the higher terrain of northern Bayfield County into these channeled basins. |
Impacts
Photos & Video
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St Louis Rescue Squad volunteers navigating the flooded town of Cook, MN on Friday, June 21, 2024 post-heavy rainfall with flooding inundating much of the town structures and roadways. (National Weather Service) |
City of Cook with flood waters on Wednesday, June 19 in the city limits resulting in closed roads and inundated structures. (National Weather Service) |
City of Cook with flood waters on Wednesday, June 19 in the city limits resulting in closed roads and inundated structures. (National Weather Service) |
City of Cook with flood waters on Wednesday, June 19 in the city limits resulting in closed roads and inundated structures. (National Weather Service) |
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City of Cook with flood waters on Wednesday, June 19 in the city limits resulting in closed roads and inundated structures. (National Weather Service) |
Railroad tracks washed out, shown on Wednesday June 19, after heavy rainfall the previous day resulted in flash flooding. (Courtesy of KBJR) |
Two vehicles were trapped in the flood waters on Highway 169 near Hibbing, MN during the mid-morning hours of Wednesday, June 19. (Courtesy of St. Louis County via Twitter) |
Flooding in the city of Hibbing, MN (Courtesy of Joe Ellen) |
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Weiss Creek flooded over and washed out parts of MN State Highway 1 in the Arrowhead as of Wednesday, June 19. (National Weather Service) |
A bridge was washed out on the Baptism River near Finland from the flash flooding. (Courtesy of Dan Wolfe, KBJR via Twitter) |
A bridge along a trail covered in flood waters on the morning of Wednesday June 19. (National Weather Service) |
The Swing Bridge was inundated with flood waters on Wednesday, June 19 after a night of heavy rainfall and earlier flash flooding on the Baptism River. (Courtesy of @akpix via Twitter) |
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Washed out boat ramp on Big Lake after flash flooding occurred in the Superior National Forest in the evening and overnight of Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Courtesy of Superior National Forest, via Flickr) |
A washed out Forest Service road leading to Big Lake after flash flooding occurred in the Superior National Forest in the evening and overnight of Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Courtesy of Superior National Forest, via Flickr) |
A person portaging around damage left after flash flooding occurred in the Superior National Forest in the evening and overnight of Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Courtesy of Superior National Forest, via Flickr) |
Map of BWCA entry points that were inaccessible and closed roads in the Superior National Forest after flash flooding occurred in the evening and overnight of Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Courtesy of Superior National Forest, via Flickr) |
Radar and Products Issued
Radar
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2:05 PM CT June 18, 2024 radar reflectivity imagery showing storms and in-effect hazards (Tornado Warnings in red, severe thunderstorms in yellow, flash flood warnings in green) from the KDLH WSR-88D radar 0.2 degree slice. | 3:04 PM CT June 18, 2024 radar reflectivity imagery showing storms and in-effect hazards (Tornado Warnings in red, severe thunderstorms in yellow, flash flood warnings in green) from the KDLH WSR-88D radar 0.2 degree slice. | 4:01 PM CT June 18, 2024 radar reflectivity imagery showing storms and in-effect hazards (Severe thunderstorms in yellow, flash flood warnings in green) from the KDLH WSR-88D radar 0.2 degree slice. | 5:05 PM CT June 18, 2024 radar reflectivity imagery showing storms and in-effect hazards (Severe thunderstorms in yellow, flash flood warnings in green, Special Marine Warning in teal) from the KDLH WSR-88D radar 0.2 degree slice. |
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6:04 PM CT June 18, 2024 radar reflectivity imagery showing storms and in-effect hazards (Flash flood warnings in green and Special Marine Warning in teal) from the KDLH WSR-88D radar 0.2 degree slice. | 7:06 PM CT June 18, 2024 radar reflectivity imagery showing storms and in-effect hazards (Severe thunderstorms in yellow, flash flood warnings in green, Special Marine Warning in teal) from the KDLH WSR-88D radar 0.2 degree slice. | 8:02 PM CT June 18, 2024 radar reflectivity imagery showing storms and in-effect hazards (Flash flood warnings in green and Special Marine Warning in teal) from the KDLH WSR-88D radar 0.2 degree slice. | 9:03 PM CT June 18, 2024 radar reflectivity imagery showing storms and in-effect hazards (Flash flood warnings in green) from the KDLH WSR-88D radar 0.2 degree slice. |
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10:04 PM CT June 18, 2024 radar reflectivity imagery showing storms and in-effect hazards (Flash flood warnings in green) from the KDLH WSR-88D radar 0.2 degree slice. | 11:02 PM CT June 18, 2024 radar reflectivity imagery showing storms from the KDLH WSR-88D radar 0.2 degree slice. | 12:01 AM CT June 19, 2024 radar reflectivity imagery showing storms and in-effect hazards (Severe thunderstorms in yellow, flash flood warnings in green, Special Marine Warning in teal) from the KDLH WSR-88D radar 0.2 degree slice. |
Products Issued
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Timeline of Watch, Warning and Advisory products issued for both severe thunderstorms (Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Warnings and Special Weather Statements) and flooding (flash and areal flooding) on June 18, 2024. |
Storm Reports
Flooding and Flash Flooding Reports for Tuesday, June 18 and
the early morning hours of Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Rain Reports
7 Day Rainfall Accumulation and Percent of Normal24 Hour Rainfall Reports for Tuesday, June 18 and the early morning hours of Wednesday, June 19, 2024 Location Amount Time/Date Provider ...Northeast Minnesota... ...Aitkin County... Hill City 0.9 N 2.27 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS ...Carlton County... Carlton 6.0 SW 2.84 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Cloquet 5.7 SW 2.66 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Cloquet 2.1 ESE 2.64 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Wrenshall 2.46 in 0800 AM 06/19 UCOOP Cloquet 3.4 ENE 2.30 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Moose Lake 0.6 SW 2.05 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS ...Cass County... Pine River 8.4 N 3.00 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Outing 2.9 ENE 2.92 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Longville 4.5 SW 2.56 in 0800 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Cass Lake 2.40 in 0800 AM 06/19 COOP Remer 11.5 WSW 2.28 in 0800 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Remer 8.8 SW 2.07 in 0653 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Federal Dam 3.8 NNW 2.05 in 0600 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Federal Dam 0.3 S 2.05 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Walker Community Center 2.01 in 0700 AM 06/19 COOP ...Cook County... Tofte 4.9 NE 5.44 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Tofte 2.1 NE 5.30 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Lutsen 11.8 N 4.05 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Grand Marais 4.4 W 3.21 in 0630 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Grand Marais 4.4 WSW 2.96 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Grand Marais 0.3 SW 2.90 in 0548 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Seagull Lake RAWS 2.77 in 0904 AM 06/19 RAWS Grand Marais 3.8 NNE 2.75 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Grand Marais 2.0 E 2.70 in 0630 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Grand Marais 22.2 NNW 2.53 in 0800 AM 06/19 COCORAHS 3 E Sea Gull Lake 2.51 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS 3.7 NE Sea Gull Lake 2.38 in 0700 AM 06/19 COOP Hovland 2.8 WNW 2.38 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Grand Marais 11.6 ENE 2.37 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Grand Marais 30.5 NW 2.34 in 0800 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Grand Marais 17.6 NNE 2.10 in 0900 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Hovland 0.1 NE 2.02 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS ...Crow Wing County... Cross Lake Dam 4.38 in 0815 AM 06/19 COOP Pequot Lakes 1.6 NNE 4.20 in 0843 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Pequot Lakes 3.2 N 2.56 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Breezy Point 1.2 NE 2.47 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Breezy Point 0.9 WNW 2.34 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Aitkin 8.4 NW 2.31 in 0500 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Breezy Point 1.0 SW 2.26 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Breezy Point 0.9 W 2.23 in 0705 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Pequot Lakes 1.5 NW 2.20 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS ...Itasca County... Marble 0.6 SSW 7.30 in 0640 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Keewatin 0.2 SSE 4.54 in 0800 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Side Lake 2.3 W 4.06 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Cohasset 7.4 S 3.87 in 0800 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Bovey 3.5 S 3.85 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Sugar Lake 3.62 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Grand Rapids 6.2 SSW 3.61 in 0600 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Grand Rapids 1.5 SSE 3.58 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Deer River 3.7 W 3.55 in 0800 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Marcell 0.7 NNW 3.49 in 0830 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Grand Rapids 2.3 SW 3.41 in 0800 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Grand Rapids 0.7 SSE 3.34 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Coleraine 0.7 S 3.16 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS 5 S La Prairie 3.11 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Warba 2.2 NNW 3.10 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Grand Rapids 7.4 S 3.04 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Grand Rapids 5.2 SSE 2.82 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Grand Rapids 12 N 2.75 in 0630 AM 06/19 COOP Grand Rapids 10.5 SE 2.71 in 0530 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Bovey 13.4 N 2.63 in 0630 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Grand Rapids 6.1 N 2.60 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Swan River 3 W 2.60 in 0800 AM 06/19 UCOOP Grand Rapids 6.1 SSE 2.54 in 0847 AM 06/19 COCORAHS 3.8 S Swan River 2.44 in 0845 AM 06/19 HADS Cohasset 7.6 NNW 2.31 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Grand Rapids 5.0 N 2.20 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS ...Lake County... Two Harbors 19.8 N 7.33 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Silver Bay 6.02 in 0700 AM 06/19 UCOOP Isabella RAWS 5.50 in 0904 AM 06/19 RAWS Wolf Ridge 5.32 in 0700 AM 06/19 COOP Tettegouche State Park 5.02 in 0830 AM 06/19 UCOOP Silver Bay 0.4 W 4.85 in 0653 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Isabella 12.3 WNW 4.71 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS 1 NNE Winton 4.50 in 0530 AM 06/19 Trained Spotter Silver Bay 0.3 WSW 4.34 in 0800 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Ely 8.1 SE 3.70 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Ely 5.8 ENE 3.02 in 0800 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Ely 25 E 2.94 in 0655 AM 06/19 COOP Two Harbors 8.0 NE 2.91 in 0800 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Winton 2.3 ENE 2.83 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Two Harbors 12.3 NE 2.74 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Two Harbors 9.7 NNE 2.63 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Two Harbors 10.8 NE 2.63 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Two Harbors 3.6 WNW 2.56 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Two Harbors 4.4 NW 2.42 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS 7 NNW Two Harbors 2.40 in 0700 AM 06/19 CO-OP Observer Two Harbors 2.1 NW 2.34 in 0709 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Two Harbors 2.0 ENE 2.30 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS ...St. Louis County... Tower 8.3 NW 7.60 in 0845 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Hoyt Lakes 3.1 SSW 6.17 in 0805 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Chisholm 3.6 NW 5.38 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Hoyt Lakes 3.0 SSW 5.20 in 0600 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Brimson 2 S 5.18 in 0700 AM 06/19 COOP Cloquet River nr Brimson 5.18 in 0845 AM 06/19 HADS Cook 8NE 5.10 in 0500 AM 06/19 COOP Biwabik 2.2 NE 4.96 in 0600 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Chisholm 0.5 NW 4.91 in 0630 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Chisholm 0.7 NW 4.72 in 0630 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Superior Qd No. 2 4.65 in 0839 AM 06/19 RAWS Chisholm 0.4 WSW 4.63 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Babbitt 4.4 N 4.62 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS 3.8 S Tower 4.60 in 0730 AM 06/19 COOP Aurora 0.6 WSW 4.40 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Ely 6.3 NNW 4.37 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Side Lake 2.0 SW 4.36 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Embarrass 4.33 in 0600 AM 06/19 COOP Ely 6.0 NNW 4.33 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Biwabik 2.9 NNE 4.29 in 0800 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Celina 2 E 4.22 in 0900 AM 06/19 COOP Cook 6.0 N 4.20 in 0800 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Aurora 7.4 S 4.18 in 0728 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Embarrass 2.3 NNE 4.15 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Hibbing 11.6 SSW 3.78 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Side Lake 3.4 NW 3.74 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Mountain Iron 2.0 ESE 3.57 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Orr 3 E 3.42 in 0600 AM 06/19 COOP Eveleth 5.2 S 3.30 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Virginia 2.2 NW 3.30 in 0800 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Ely 6.4 SSW 3.29 in 0800 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Buhl 0.8 SSW 3.12 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Hibbing 2.1 NNE 3.11 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS 1.3 S Buyck 3.05 in 0845 AM 06/19 HADS 4 S Winton 3.03 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Ely 1.8 SSW 2.93 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Cotton 5.7 ESE 2.93 in 0800 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Duluth 2.0 NNE 2.84 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Duluth 1.9 NNE 2.84 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Duluth 2.0 NNE 2.75 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Aurora 16.8 S 2.75 in 0800 AM 06/19 COCORAHS 11 NE Island Lake 2.73 in 0700 AM 06/19 Trained Spotter Duluth 1.7 NNE 2.65 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Duluth 3.0 NE 2.63 in 0615 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Duluth 4.6 NE 2.62 in 0740 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Duluth 3.3 NNE 2.60 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Canyon 4.6 NNE 2.58 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Duluth 3.6 NE 2.55 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Duluth 2.2 WNW 2.49 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Duluth 12.9 NE 2.48 in 0800 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Duluth 13.1 NNE 2.47 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Duluth 17.6 NNW 2.45 in 0600 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Ely 2.45 in 0743 AM 06/19 Public Cotton 2.45 in 0800 AM 06/19 COOP Duluth 6.0 NE 2.41 in 0550 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Duluth 4.8 NNE 2.40 in 0635 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Duluth 7.4 N 2.33 in 0600 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Duluth 6.9 NNE 2.33 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Duluth 4.3 NE 2.32 in 0600 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Duluth 2.7 NE 2.32 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Duluth 2.31 in 0600 AM 06/19 COCORAHS 5 NNW Knife River 2.30 in 0800 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Knife River 1.8 N 2.29 in 0520 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Duluth 5.6 NE 2.28 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Duluth 17.6 NNW 2.27 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Duluth 2.3 NNE 2.22 in 0800 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Ely 2.2 S 2.20 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Duluth 6.3 NE 2.20 in 0900 AM 06/19 COCORAHS NWS Duluth 2.12 in 0700 AM 06/19 COOP Duluth 9.6 SW 2.09 in 0600 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Duluth 15.4 NNW 2.08 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Duluth 1.0 SE 2.04 in 0900 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Duluth 5.3 NNE 2.03 in 0800 AM 06/19 COCORAHS ...Wisconsin... ...Bayfield County... 3 SSW Cornucopia 4.25 in 0445 AM 06/19 Trained Spotter Bayfield 2.6 WSW 3.16 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Bayfield 1.2 N 3.12 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS 4 SSE Herbster 3.10 in 0600 AM 06/19 Trained Spotter Herbster 2.8 NE 2.95 in 0605 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Bayfield Fish Hatchery 2.82 in 0800 AM 06/19 COOP 1 E Port Wing 2.78 in 0600 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Bayfield 1.7 SW 2.47 in 0700 AM 06/19 COCORAHS Washburn 3.7 NW 2.21 in 0720 AM 06/19 COCORAHS
Environment
Synoptic summary.
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Figure 1: Surface analysis from June 18, 2024 at 4 PM CT shows a stationary front draped from north to south over Minnesota, with much of the Northland under deep and moist southerly flow in the low-levels of the atmosphere. | Figure 2: 10 PM CT surface analysis shows that stationary front moving eastward to the MN/WI border and into the Arrowhead as a cold front drops southeastward from Manitoba. | Figure 3: 3 AM, June 19, CT surface analysis shows that stationary front moving out of the Northland and into north-central Wisconsin as the cold front now in northwest Ontario drops into north-central Minnesota. |
Near-storm environment summary.
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Figure 4: Deep low-level atmospheric southerly flow transported a very moist airmass into the Northland during the daylight hours of June 18, 2024. Seen here on the SPC RAP Mesoanalysis image showing 850 mb moisture transportation and precipitable water values for June 18, 2024 at 4 PM CT. | Figure 5: 7 PM SPC RAP Mesoanalysis showing that deep and very moist airmass can be seen best in eastern Minnesota with precipitable water values of 1.9 to 2.0 inches, with a drier airmass following the cold front to the northwest dropping into northwest Minnesota. | Figure 6: 10 PM SPC RAP Mesoanalysis showing the most moist layer over northwest Wisconsin by late evening hours of Tuesday, June 18 when flash flooding was reported on the Bayfield Peninsula. The much drier airmass now pushes into north-central Minnesota. |
Additional environmental data.
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Figure 7: Observed upper-air sounding from International Falls, Minnesota at 9 AM CT on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 showing moisture building into the mid-levels of the atmosphere out ahead of the deep southerly flow that sets up in the later daylight hours on Tuesday. | Figure 8: 7 PM June 18 observed upper-air sounding from International Falls, MN showing the saturated atmosphere at nearly every layer except a dry slot around 700 mb up to about 550 mb. | Figure 9: 1 PM CT June 18 observed upper-air sounding from Chanhassen, MN showing that very deep and moist (observed precipitable water value of 1.91 inches) that eventually worked into the Northland over the next few hours. Of note is also the high DCAPE (1250 J/kg) values supporting damaging wind gusts that occurred within the Arrowhead and Superior National Forest and the Mixed Layer CAPE values around 2000 J/kg and effective inflow SRH of 388 aiding in priming an environment which resulted in 5 Tornado Warnings also being issued for this day. |
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Figure 10: The Weather Prediction Center in College Park, MD issued a Mesoscale Precipitation Discussion talking about flash flood conditions in the evening of June 18, 2024. | Figure 11: The National Water Center in issued an Area Hydrologic Discussion talking about rapid onset flooding expected from heavy rainfall in the evening of June 18, 2024. |
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