Overview
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In the week leading up to the flooding rains of June 19th-20th, parts of northeast Minnesota had received 2-4 inches of rain as numerous storm systems moved across the area. This helped to saturate the soil which primed the Duluth area for runoff in the extreme rain event that followed. On Tuesday, June 19th, 2012, a cold front that had move through the previous day began to return north as a warm front, before becoming stationary just south of Duluth. This front helped provide continuous lift for thunderstorms that developed over east-central Minnesota and tracked northeast into the Duluth area, the North Shore of Lake Superior and into northwestern Wisconsin. The official rainfall total in Duluth on the 19th was 4.14 inches. The thunderstorms finally ended when a strong cold front moved through Wednesday afternoon, June 20th, but not before dumping another 3.11” at the airport. The official Duluth total rainfall for the event was 7.25”. Duluth International Airport broke several rainfall records during this event. Locally high amounts in the 8-10 inch range were reported throughout Duluth neighborhoods and along the North Shore of Lake Superior. A swath of impressive rainfall amounts ranging from 5-10 inches fell over much of the NWS Duluth area of responsibility during the event. Numerous roads were washed out from the deluge of rain from Carlton County through the Duluth metro area and into Douglas and Bayfield counties in Wisconsin. A state of emergency was declared in Duluth, Hermantown, Cloquet, Barnum and Moose Lake in Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin. The steep terrain, and numerous creeks and rivers, played a significant role in the devastating damage and flooding that occurred in the Duluth community. The Fond Du Lac and West Spirit Mountain neighborhoods of Duluth and Thomson Township in Carlton County were evacuated. A raging Kingsbury Creek flooded the Lake Superior Zoo, drowning over a dozen animals. Two seals were swept from their enclosures, but were returned safely after being found on a local street. The polar bear escaped its exhibit, but was safely returned after being tranquilized by a dart. The Chester Creek Dam on the Chester Creek that runs through the heart of Duluth failed during the event. An 8-year-old boy was swept into a culvert while playing in the flood waters in Proctor. He was swept through the culvert for 6 or 7 blocks, but besides some scrapes, was unharmed. Due to the heavy rains and flooding causing water to cover many roadways and even wash out some roads, there were numerous significant road closures across northern Minnesota. See our Story Map for a more in-depth look at this event. |
 Rainfall totals for June 19-20, 2012. |
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| N. 8th Avenue East below Skyline Parkway in Duluth. (Duluth News Tribune photo) |
A vehicle that fell into a sinkhole along Skyline Parkway between N. 8th St. and N. 9th St. in Duluth. (Bob King/Duluth News Tribune photo) |
A vehicle that drove into a washed out section of Midway Road in Hermantown. (Duluth News Tribune photo) |
Event Timeline
Originally compiled by Andrew Kreuger, Duluth News Tribune.
Monday, June 18
AFTERNOON
The National Weather Service in Duluth issues a flash flood watch for Northeastern Minnesota for Tuesday and Wednesday, with a forecast of "2 to 4 inches possible through Wednesday morning, with some spots receiving even higher amounts." News of the flash flood watch is posted online at duluthnewstribune.com that evening, and is included in Tuesday's print edition.
Tuesday, June 19
AFTERNOON
Severe thunderstorms roll across much of the Northland, dropping hail and an initial round of heavy rain in many areas, including 2 inches in Floodwood. Flash flood watch continues. The News Tribune starts its severe weather live blog, which will continue on-and-off, as time allows, for the next 2½ days.
5-6 P.M.
Reports start to roll in from Grand Rapids and the western Iron Range of torrential rain and street flooding as another round of storms slowly sweeps across the area. Spotters report 1.5 inches of rain in 45 minutes in Grand Rapids, with streets under 4 to 6 inches downtown. An urban and small stream flood advisory is issued for Grand Rapids and the western Iron Range at about 5:30 p.m. That's upgraded to a more serious flash flood warning at 6:01 p.m., to be in effect until midnight.
6:28 P.M.
As the intense rainfall moves eastward, at 6:28 p.m. the National Weather Service in Duluth issues a flash flood warning for the Duluth area, eastern Iron Range and Two Harbors until midnight, noting that total rainfall in the area may reach 4 to 7 inches.
7:13 P.M.
Torrential rain starts to fall on the north side of Duluth.
7:21 P.M.
A flash flood warning is issued for central Lake and Cook counties.
7:27 P.M.
The Weather Service issues a forecast update reporting that a "high-end and life-threatening flash flood event appears to be developing across a large part of northern Minnesota."
ABOUT 7:45 P.M.
Report of water running over Arrowhead Road between Haines and Rice Lake roads.
8 P.M.
Water reported over the Highway 61 Expressway and Scenic Highway 61 near Larsmont.
8:20 P.M.
Street flooding reported in Lakeside, followed minutes later by reports of water flooding down Sixth Avenue East in Duluth's Hillside, and over lanes of U.S. Highway 53 near Minnesota Highway 194.
8:27 P.M.
Flooding reported on Interstate 35 in the downtown Duluth tunnels, with at least one car stalled.
8:32 P.M.
Flooding reported on Third Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues East in Duluth, in the vicinity of what would become a massive wall collapse near Whole Foods Coop.
9-10 P.M.
The initial surge of heavy rain ends in Duluth, but radar shows many more storms lining up to the west. As the scope and severity of the flooding comes into focus, News Tribune journalists scramble to get flood photos and information; the front page is reworked to accommodate the news.
9:23 P.M.
Spotter reports 6 inches of water over Minnesota Highway 61 at Little Marais.
9:45 P.M.
Floodwood Police advise no travel in that community.
ABOUT 10 P.M.
10:48 P.M
Travelers reported stranded at Betty's Pies north of Two Harbors, unable to go either direction on Highway 61 because of flooding.
10:49 P.M.
Manhole spouting "like a water fountain" near Greysolon Plaza in downtown Duluth.
11:19 P.M.
Live blog reader reports 2 feet of water coming down Second Street in Proctor.
11:24 P.M.
Live blog reader, home after traveling from Split Rock Lighthouse to Two Harbors, reports Highway 61 "literally breaking apart, pieces of asphalt all over." Another reader reports flooding on Highway 53 at Canyon.
11:34 P.M.
Weather Service issues a new flash flood warning for Duluth and the North Shore until 5:30 a.m. Wednesday.
11:40 P.M.
Water reported to be knee-deep along Mall Drive near Wells Fargo in Duluth.
11:48 P.M.
Water reported to be reaching the bottom of parked cars near Fitger's in Duluth; at about the same time a text message goes out from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, reporting the school will be closed Wednesday because of flooding.
11:53 P.M.
Reader reports most streets south of Belknap Street in Superior are flooded, extending down into the Billings Park area.
Wednesday, June 20
12:01 A.M.
12:07 A.M.
Longer-duration flood warning issued for areas including Cloquet, Moose Lake, Carlton, Floodwood, Aitkin, Grand Rapids, Hibbing and Ely until noon.
12:13 A.M.
Street flooding reported on Superior Street in Lincoln Park business district; gravel reported to be washing down 40th Avenue West from higher elevations along Haines Road in Duluth.
12:18 A.M.
Flood warning issued for Superior and the South Shore of Lake Superior until noon. Several county roads reported closed in northern Douglas County.
12:24 A.M.
Upper elevations of Glenwood Street reported to be "littered with chunks of asphalt."
12:35 A.M.
12:41 A.M.
Water reported to be shooting from manholes along Boundary Avenue in Proctor.
12:47 A.M.
12:52 A.M.
1:11 A.M.
Report of flooding at both entrances to Morgan Park.
1:17 A.M.
Report of someone trapped in car partially submerged in sinkhole on Seventh Avenue East at First Street.
1:39 A.M.
The National Weather Service in Duluth reports: "This appears to be a flood reminiscent of the flood of 1972 and one that should not be taken lightly. ... We cannot stress what a major threat this is for the city of Duluth and along the North Shore."
1:47 A.M.
Live blog reader comment: "First time in 25 years in my house that we have had water in the basement, in Duluth Heights."
2 A.M.
A drive through Duluth reveals countless streets covered in running water, manholes spouting water and gravel and other debris strewn about. Lightning flashes in the sky as heavy rain continues to fall.
2:25 A.M.
Reports on police scanner of evacuations under way in and near the Fond du Lac neighborhood of Duluth.
2:27 A.M.
Report of 6.38 inches of rain and counting in Duluth's Lester Park neighborhood.
ABOUT 2:30 A.M.
Reports on police scanner that Minnesota Power plans to increase water flow from its hydroelectric dams on the St. Louis River. Dams are reported to not be at risk of failure -- but water levels may rise more in areas downstream, including Fond du Lac.
2:40 A.M.
Report on police scanner of a seal swimming on Grand Avenue near the Lake Superior Zoo.
2:55 A.M.
Water reported to be rising to level of windows on Grandma's Restaurant on Maple Grove Road in Duluth.
3:19 A.M.
3:36 A.M.
Water reported to be several feet deep on South Street below London Road; spilling over onto Interstate 35.
3:49 A.M.
Roads reported to be flooded as deep as car windows near Superior High School.
3:50 A.M.
Live blog reader comment: "The creek at Columbus Avenue and Arrowhead is raging over its banks and homes along the creek are flooded. Unreal!"
3:52 A.M.
Initial reports of a polar bear missing from its enclosure at the Lake Superior Zoo. Police and fire officials assisting zoo staff in tracking down animals unaccounted for on zoo grounds.
4-5 A.M.
Reports of flooding in Duluth start to make way to media outlets in Twin Cities and at the national level.
4:07 A.M.
Reader comment: "Mission Creek is very high in Esko and is within 40 feet of my house, normally 250 feet away."
4:51 A.M.
Reports of roads caving in near Barker's Island in Superior.
5 A.M.
Duluth Police advise emergency travel only in the city.
5:08 A.M.
Water rescue situation reported on Wahl Road in Lakewood Township.
5:18 A.M.
Duluth city officials announce City Hall will be closed Wednesday.
5:21 A.M.
Flash flood warning for Duluth and North Shore extended until 4:30 p.m.
ABOUT 5:30 A.M.
Carlton County Sheriff's Office recommends no travel in county; evacuations recommended in Thomson area; Highway 210 closed in Jay Cooke State Park.
5:38 A.M.
Storm total of 6.91 inches of rain and counting near Floodwood.
5:58 A.M.
Superior Police report flooding on Tower Avenue near 46th Street, 28th Street near Superior High School and Hill Avenue between North 21st Street and Belknap Street, among other areas.
ABOUT 6 A.M.
Duluth police officers at the Lake Superior Zoo report all animals, including the polar bear, are accounted for.
6:30 A.M.
White Pine River reported to be flowing 2 to 3 feet deep over Highway 33 north of Cloquet.
6:30-7:30 A.M.
Evacuees from the Fond du Lac neighborhood -- residents and campers -- wait aboard a Duluth Transit Authority bus parked on Highway 23 in view of floodwaters covering the road. After a brief break, heavy rain begins again. When the last evacuee arrives, the bus heads to an evacuation center at Duluth's First United Methodist (coppertop) Church.
7:15 A.M.
Estimated 3 feet of water over Maple Grove Road east of Midway Road in Hermantown.
7:26 A.M.
Irving Park in West Duluth reported to be completely under water.
7:30 A.M.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management activates the state emergency operations center to respond to the flooding in Northeastern Minnesota.
7:32 A.M.
Wisconsin Highway 105 closed between Village of Superior and Oliver.
7:34 A.M.
Parts of Martin Road west of Rice Lake Road, north of Duluth, reported to be flooded.
8 A.M.
8:15 A.M.
8:27 A.M.
Lake Superior Zoo reports that "all zoo animals have been secured. Sadly the zoo experienced the loss of several animals, among them many of the barnyard residents. Due to flooding, the zoo's polar bear Berlin was able to exit her exhibit. She was darted by the zoo's vet and is safe in quarantine. At no time did any dangerous animal leave the perimeter fence."
8:45 A.M.
Residents of West Duluth gather to look at homes flooded by Keene Creek along 59th Avenue West, which is closed because of the flood.
9:13 A.M.
The Western Lake Superior Sanitary District reports that the heavy rain caused sewer overflows.
9:15 A.M.
9:30 A.M.
A crowd has gathered along West Third Street at Lincoln Park in Duluth, where the raging Miller Creek has covered the lower part of the park. Below Third Street, it has flooded homes and cars.
9:41 A.M.
10 A.M.
Trucks -- and a few brave cars -- ford overflow from Tischer Creek as they make their way up Vermilion Road and St. Marie Street to Wallace Avenue in Duluth. Crowds gather to watch the scene there, and also a couple blocks away where a kayaker paddles across St. Marie west of Woodland.
10:26 A.M.
The National Weather Service issues a new flash flood warning for Duluth, Superior and Cloquet until 10:30 p.m.
10:30 A.M.
Interstate 35 reported closed near Carlton.
10:30-11:30 A.M.
Severe thunderstorm warnings issued for Twin Ports as another round of storms sweeps across the area.
10:45 A.M.
As torrential rain starts yet again, U.S. highway 53, Maple Grove Road and Mall Drive are flooded near the Miller Hill Mall. The parking lots of the Target and Savers stores are underwater, and several feet of water are flooding the Grandma's restaurant. Amid the pouring rain, three men wade out to a flooded car in the Savers parking lot in an attempt to tow it away. A high-clearance 4x4 truck spins circles in the water nearby.
11:17 A.M.
News Tribune staffers report that the Ninth Street bridge over Chester Creek is closed to be inspected for damage; Chester Parkway closed because of washouts; major damage in Chester Bowl.
11:30 A.M.
11:34 A.M.
City of Superior declares a state of emergency.
11:36 A.M.
City of Hermantown declares a state of emergency.
NOON
Heavy traffic, including vehicles detoured off I-35, moves slowly along First Street at Seventh Avenue East, dodging water, rocks and gravel still washing down from the massive washout three blocks uphill at Whole Foods Coop.
12:23 P.M.
County roads being used as a detour for Highway 61 between Duluth and Two Harbors are reported to be deteriorating.
12:30 P.M.
12:40 P.M.
Piers and docks reported to under water, some floating away at Little Grand Lake.
1 P.M.
Passersby stop to watch floodwaters eating away at the bed of railroad tracks near Spirit Mountain in Duluth. The damage causes a disruption to train traffic between Iron Range mines and Duluth.
1:50 P.M.
City of Duluth sends out a flooding update, reporting that:
2 P.M.
Weather spotter reports 9.93 inches of rain near Two Harbors.
2:15 P.M.
Reports that parts of the city of Carlton near the Thomson Reservoir are being evacuated; a few hours later 1 to 2 feet of standing water is reported in the center of town.
2:40 P.M.
The Knife River bridge on Scenic Highway 61 is drawing lots of onlookers as it's strewn with trees and debris from the river, which is well out of its banks.
3:29 P.M.
News Tribune reports that Duluth city officials say damage is in the millions of dollars, and the city will seek federal disaster aid.
3:34 P.M.
State of emergency declared in Wrenshall.
4:42 P.M.
Spotter reported storm total of 10.10 inches of rain northeast of Duluth.
4:45 P.M.
The St. Louis River at Scanlon, reaches its highest level on record: 16.62 feet, more than a half-foot above the previous record set in 1950. The River Inn in Scanlon is damaged by the high water.
4:50 P.M.
Interstate 35 is reported to be open again within the city of Duluth, but remains closed south of Carlton.
6:14 P.M.
The city of Superior reports that the rising Nemadji River has overtopped Woodlawn Drive, and is threatening traffic on highways 2 and 53.
6:23 P.M.
Officials in Floodwood evacuate several homes near the rising St. Louis and Floodwood rivers.
EVENING
Thursday, June 21
EARLY MORNING
Rising waters of Moosehead Lake start to encroach on homes in Moose Lake; water continues to rise throughout the day. Floodwaters from the St. Louis River continue to affect homes in Floodwood and Brookston.
5:15 A.M.
Car remains in sinkhole on Skyline Parkway at ninth Avenue East. After more than a day of clouds and rain, a beautiful sunrise dawns over Lake Superior.
6 A.M.
Interstate 35 remains closed in both directions between Carlton and Mahtowa, and Highway 23 remains closed at Fond du Lac. With so many county and town roads also flooded, finding alternate routes between Duluth and the Twin Cities is difficult if not impossible without traveling long distances.
7 A.M.
Miller Hill Mall reports it will be closed for a second day because of a power outage; a handful of businesses reopen late in the day after electricity is restored.
7:48 A.M.
Large traffic backups reported in Superior as highways 2 and 53 remain open, but are reduced to a single lane in each direction because of flooding from the Nemadji River.
8 A.M.
Residents of Rice Lake and Lakewood townships stop by the gaping hole on Jean Duluth Road, looking down at the massive, mangled remains of the Lester River culvert.
8:19 A.M.
Little Cloquet River rising, now at base of bridge at Pequaywan Lake Road; washouts reported on Fox Farm Road northeast of Duluth.
MID-MORNING
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, Duluth Mayor Don Ness and other local and state officials tour damage at several locations in the city. Dayton pledges quick help from the state for the "terrible devastation." Damage estimates exceed $100 million region-wide -- and that's just for public roads and facilities, not private property.
In large parts of Duluth, the focus for city officials and residents alike turns to assessing the damage and starting the long cleanup process.
In the Fond du Lac neighborhood and towns south and west of Duluth, the battle against rising waters continues.
Event Overview
On June 18th, the National Weather Service in Duluth issued a flash flood watch for northeast Minnesota, including Duluth, in effect for June 19th and 20th; with a forecast of 2 to 4 inches with locally higher amounts. Tuesday evening, June 19th, a warm front slowly lifted north over Minnesota and became a focus for ongoing thunderstorms over the western Lake Superior Region. By 700 pm, June 19th, the National Weather Service in Duluth updated the forecast and stated, “A high end and life threatening flash flood event appears to be developing across a large part of northern Minnesota.” By 100 am, Tuesday night, the Duluth Airport had received 4.14 inches of rain and extensive flooding in the Duluth area was reported. This rain fell over a period of roughly 6 hours. The intense rain and thunderstorms persisted through the night and into Wednesday, June 20th. The thunderstorms finally ended when a strong cold front crossed through the region Wednesday afternoon.
The final 2-day rainfall total at the Duluth Airport was 7.25 inches. Locally higher amounts in the 8-10 inch range were reported throughout Duluth neighborhoods. The Duluth Airport set several new records during the June 19-20th, 2012 period. Below is a listing of these new records.
The 24 hour rainfall at the Duluth Airport of 6.90 inches far exceeded the 50, and 100 year flood values which are roughly 4.75 and 5.25 inches respectively. For perspective, the 30-year climatological normal precipitation for the month of June in Duluth is 4.23 inches. It is worthy of noting that 1.88 inches of rain, nearly half of the monthly normal, was measured at the Duluth Airport during the week preceding this event, proving to have saturated the grounds.
The above image is the Duluth dual-pol radar estimated rainfall accumulation from midnight on June 19th, through the afternoon of June 20th.
In addition to the extensive flash flooding, the intense rainfall also resulted in significant river flooding. A new historical river crest of 16.62 feet was set at Scanlon on the Saint Louis River. The old record was 15.80 feet set on May 9th, in 1950. Flood Stage at this location is 10.5 ft. Below is a hydrograph of the river stage at Scanlon during the flooding event. The blue line dictates the observed river stage during the time period of June 19th through June 22nd 2012. The dotted purple line is the forecasted river stage issued by the North Central River Forecasting Center the morning of June 22nd. This hydrograph shows the dramatic rise in the river stage from the night of June 19th through June 20th, and then cresting on the 21st.
Photo of River Inn Bar near Scanlon River Gage on Saint Louis River. June 22nd, 2012. Photo by Amanda Graning.
Comparable rainfall events in Duluth’s history would be the thunderstorms of September 5th-6th, 1876 that brought 6.48 inches of rainfall; July 20th-22nd, 1909 that brought 7.83 inches and possibly the most well-known, the flood of August 15th-21st, 1972 that brought 7.91 inches of rain to Duluth. The image below is a rainfall map from August 20th, 1972; one day of a prolonged rain event. The contours range from 2.5 inches in light blue, to 4 inches in red. This flash flood was unique in that the heavy rains were spread over a 6-day day period. The Duluth weather service office, located at the Duluth Airport, reported a storm total of 7.91 inches.
Photo of First Avenue West in Duluth August 1972.
Only a month after the August 1972 flood in Duluth, another round of rain brought a swath of 4 to 5.5 inches of rain to the Duluth community between the hours of 4:00 am and 2:00 pm. The Duluth airport recorded a rainfall amount of 3.42 inches during this eight hour period. There were two fatalities with this storm and nearly 100 graves were washed up. The image below is a rainfall map from the flash flood of September 20th, 1972. The contours range from 4 inches in light blue to 5.5 inches in red.
For additional information on the 1972 flood event, please see our page covering the event.
Photos
All photos in this section courtesy of the Duluth News Tribune
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| 59th Ave W and Raleigh St in Duluth on Wednesday, June 20, 2012. | Highway 23 in Fond du Lac on Wednesday, June 20, 2012. | Lincoln Park neighborhood in Duluth on Wednesday, June 20, 2012. | Morgan Park in Duluth on Wednesday, June 20, 2012. |
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| Old North Shore Rd and Homestead Rd near the Highway 61 Expressway. | 7th Ave East and 1st Street Wednesday morning June 20th. | 3rd Ave E and 3rd Street Wednesday morning in downtown Duluth. | 59th Avenue West near Raleigh Street in Duluth. |
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| First Avenue East near Eighth Street in Duluth Wednesday morning. | Maple Grove Road in Duluth Wednesday morning June 20th. | 57th Ave W and Olney St in Duluth on Wednesday, June 20, 2012. | Maple Street in Superior Wednesday morning June 20th. |
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| Olney Street in Duluth on Wednesday, June 20, 2012. | A washout on the CN Railroad tracks near Spirit Mountain. | Floodwaters turned a stairway in Duluth into a waterfall. | An aerial view of the flooding in Moose Lake near the school. |
Selected Other Photos from the Event
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| Feisty the seal on Grand Avenue outside the Lake Superior Zoo. (Ellie Burchar photo) |
Vermillion Street in Duluth the morning of June 20th, 2012. (Daniel James Moseley photo) |
Miller Hill Mall area the morning of June 20th, 2012. (Photographer unknown) |
A landslide caused by the floodwaters along the Duluth hillside. (Chris Kleist photo) |
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| An aerial photo of Thomson showing the overtopped dam and damage along MN 210. (Walther Leu/MnDOT photo) |
The Swinging Bridge in Jay Cooke State Park during the height of the flooding. (Loretta Cartner photo) |
A washout along MN 210 in Jay Cooke State Park. (Derek Montgomery/MPR photo) |
A damaged bridge over the Moosehorn River in Barnum. (Derek Montgomery/MPR photo) |
Radar
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| NWS Event Radar Loop | IEM Event Radar Loop with Watches and Warnings | Dual-Pol vs Legacy Storm Total Accumulation Products. The KDLH radar had been upgraded to dual-pol about a month before the event and this was the first major event following the upgrade. Notice how the dual-pol product is much closer to the gauge reports overlaid on the maps. |
Rain Reports
The above graphic was created by Daryl Herzmann at Iowa State University/Iowa Environmental Mesonet and shows the one minute rainfall rates at Duluth during the event. Note the nearly 9" per hour rainfall rate around 8PM on the evening of the 19th!
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
319 PM CDT FRI JUN 22 2012
RAIN REPORTS LISTED BY AMOUNT
INCHES LOCATION ST COUNTY TIME
------ ----------------------- -- -------------- -------
10.10 4 NE DULUTH MN ST. LOUIS 0442 PM
9.93 TWO HARBORS MN LAKE 0200 PM
9.49 5 NE DULUTH MN ST. LOUIS 0700 AM
THIS MEASUREMENT WAS TAKEN IN THE MORLEY
HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD.
9.00 2 SW DULUTH MN ST. LOUIS 0941 AM
DENFELD NEIGHBORHOOD OF WEST DULUTH
8.87 ALBORN MN ST. LOUIS 0643 AM
8.52 2 WSW DULUTH MN ST. LOUIS 0120 PM
IN THE PIEDMONT HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD OF
DULUTH
7.95 5 NW TWO HARBORS MN LAKE 0430 PM
7.84 1 SE FLOODWOOD MN ST. LOUIS 0223 PM
7.72 ALBORN MN ST. LOUIS 0815 AM
7.58 KETTLE RIVER MN CARLTON 0131 PM
7.41 4 E ISLAND LAKE MN ST. LOUIS 0900 AM
7.31 HERMANTOWN MN ST. LOUIS 0132 PM
1 MILE WEST OF MIDWAY ON 194
6.91 SE FLOODWOOD MN ST. LOUIS 0538 AM
6.38 DULUTH MN ST. LOUIS 0227 AM
LESTER PARK
6.11 3 E WRIGHT MN CARLTON 0600 AM
6.00 9 WSW PORT WING WI DOUGLAS 0830 AM
THIS ESTIMATE WAS TAKEN AT THE MOUTH OF THE
BRULE RIVER.
5.95 14 SSW BRIMSON MN ST. LOUIS 1200 PM
5.75 9 ENE BOULDER LAKE MN ST. LOUIS 0816 AM
5.75 WINTER WI SAWYER 0547 PM
5.30 6 S GRAND RAPIDS MN ITASCA 0908 PM
5.15 CASTLE DANGER MN LAKE 1200 PM
5.05 PROCTOR MN ST. LOUIS 0319 AM
5.03 5 S PEQUOT LAKES MN CROW WING 0741 AM
5.00 14 SSW BRIMSON MN ST. LOUIS 0548 AM
4.82 5 NW TWO HARBORS MN LAKE 1043 PM
4.78 GRAND RAPIDS MN ITASCA 0800 AM
4.70 7 SE GRAND RAPIDS MN ITASCA 0132 PM
4.68 BRAINERD MN CROW WING 0800 AM
4.68 3 E FLOODWOOD MN ST. LOUIS 0925 PM
4.66 ISLAND LAKE MN ST. LOUIS 0837 PM
4.53 MAPLE WI DOUGLAS 0644 AM
4.50 MCKINLEY MN ST. LOUIS 0442 PM
4.36 DULUTH MN ST. LOUIS 0848 AM
4.09 SWAN RIVER MN ITASCA 0712 AM
3.85 COHASSET MN ITASCA 0800 AM
3.53 10 S SUPERIOR WI DOUGLAS 1200 PM
3.44 12 N ISLE MN AITKIN 0800 AM
3.35 N BRAINERD MN CROW WING 0710 AM
3.27 FEDERAL DAM MN CASS 0800 AM
3.23 10 S SUPERIOR WI DOUGLAS 0848 AM
3.20 CORNUCOPIA WI BAYFIELD 0552 AM
3.00 IRON JUNCTION MN ST. LOUIS 1026 PM
2.87 OULU WI BAYFIELD 0700 AM
2.69 3 N BRAINERD MN CROW WING 0800 AM
2.63 HIBBING MN ST. LOUIS 0745 AM
2.29 CHISHOLM MN ST. LOUIS 0745 AM
2.27 SILVER BAY MN LAKE 1045 PM
1.30 14 SSW IRON RIVER WI BAYFIELD 0800 AM
1.10 BIGFORK MN ITASCA 0745 AM
1.00 3 SW BRUNO MN PINE 1130 AM
0.82 5 N VIRGINIA MN ST. LOUIS 0854 PM
0.80 10 E ORR MN ST. LOUIS 0744 AM
$$
Environment
An upper-level jet of around 120 knots was located from the Northern Plains into Ontario just north of the International Border the evening of the 19 th . A broad trough was evident over the Intermountain West with a 500mb ridge to to the southeast over the Ohio Valley. Closer to the surface, strong southern warm air and moisture advection was occurring with a warm front draped just to the south of the Twin Ports and Lake Superior. A strongly capped environment was in place to the south of this warm front with a shallow and dense maritime airmass to the north of the front near Lake Superior. A strong axis of frontogenesis in the 925-850mb layer was analyzed along an Aberdeen, South Dakota, to just south of Duluth line. As the warm, moist air from the south was rising over the warm front, it was then forced strongly upwards upon hitting the dense maritime airmass in conjunction with the right-entrance region of the upper-level jet. These factors led to the continued development of new storms along that axis of frontogenesis.
Additionally, the warm front near the Twin Ports and along the South Shore of Lake Superior became stationary through much of the event, not moving out until a strong cold front arrived during the day on the 20th. This stationary boundary kept the ingredients in place for continued training storms over the region.
A top-down look at the atmosphere at 7PM June 19, 2012 (00z June 20, 2012).
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| 300mb | 500mb | Surface to 8km Shear |
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| 850mb | Surface |
Surface frontal boundary evolution from 1PM (18z) June 19, 2012, to 1PM (18z) June 20, 2012.
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| 1PM (18z) June 19, 2012 | 7PM (00z) June 19, 2012 |
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| 6AM (12z) June 20, 2012 | 1PM (18z) June 20, 2012 |
This system was unusually moist with a strong Gulf of Mexico connection. Max precipitable water (PW) values for this event approached 2" at International Falls (INL) based on sounding data, putting the event above the 99th percentile of climatology near the climatological max for the 1948-2011 period.
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| Precipitable Water Analysis at 7PM (00z) June 19, 2012 | International Falls Precipitable Water Climatology 1948-2011 |
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