A cold front will cross the Great Lakes and Northeast U.S. through today with gusty winds and areas of rain showers. A strong atmospheric river is then expected to move into the Northwest by midweek bringing a threat for moderate to heavy rainfall and flooding, gusty winds, and mountain snows for parts of Washington, Oregon, northern California, and the Sierra Nevada. Read More >
Overview
On the afternoon of August 10, 2016, an area of scattered thunderstorms organized into a large complex of thunderstorms that produced heavy rainfall across much of Minnesota and Wisconsin. The rainfall rates exceeded 2 inches/hour in many locations across the area and the storms lingered into the morning of August 11, 2016.
Photos & Video:
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| Flooding in Kandiyohi, MN (Gretchen Brown) |
Flooding in Olivia, MN (Ivory Hecker) |
Heavy Rainfall and Poor Visibility in Prior Lake, MN (Scott County Sheriff) |
Mudslide near Wabasha, MN (MnDOT) |
Radar:
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| Radar Loop | Rainfall Map | Dual Pol Radar: Storm Total | Legacy Radar: Storm Total |
Rain Reports
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 1044 AM CDT Thu Aug 11 2016 ...Rainfall Reports from Past 24 Hours... Rainfall reports of 2.5" or greater are listed below. Thank you to the volunteer Coop and CoCoRaHS observers who provided many of these reports. Location Amount Provider ...Minnesota... ...Anoka County... Blaine 2 NNW 3.10 in COCORAHS Coon Rapids 2 ESE 3.02 in CWOP Ramsey 1 E 2.92 in COCORAHS Circle Pines 1 E 2.76 in CWOP Ham Lake 1 WNW 2.70 in COCORAHS Anoka 1 SE 2.70 in COCORAHS Fridley(Rice Crk)-Unvrsty Av 2.70 in UCOOP Wyoming 6 WSW 2.63 in RAWS Ham Lake 2 E 2.61 in COCORAHS East Bethel 1 NNW 2.60 in COCORAHS Andover 1n 2.59 in COOP Coon Rapids 1 ENE 2.54 in COCORAHS St. Francis 1 S 2.53 in CWOP ...Blue Earth County... Mapleton 4.50 in Mapleton 3.5 N 3.30 in COCORAHS Mankato AP 2.86 in AWOS Rapidan (Le Sueur R) 2.71 in GOES ...Brown County... New Ulm 3.54 in COCORAHS Searles 5 SE 2.76 in CWOP ...Carver County... Mayer (Crow R S Fk) 4.91 in UCOOP 3 ESE Norwood/Young America 4.54 in Crow Rvr South Fork 3.88 in UCOOP Watertown 3.76 in COCORAHS Victoria 1 WSW 3.70 in COCORAHS Chanhassen 2 SW 3.63 in UCOOP Waconia 1.1 SW 3.58 in COCORAHS Waconia 3.57 in UCOOP Chaska 2NW 3.50 in COOP Victoria 3.49 in UCOOP Carver 1W 3.47 in COCORAHS Chanhassen 1 W 3.46 in COCORAHS Victoria 2 ENE 3.43 in COCORAHS Victoria 1 WSW 3.38 in CWOP Chanhassen 3.37 in COCORAHS Chanhassen (NWS) 3.35 in COOP Chaska 1 ESE 3.29 in COCORAHS Chaska 3.15 in COCORAHS Jordan (Minnesota R) 3.11 in GOES Carver 3 S 3.10 in RAWS ...Chippewa County... Watson 1 NE 4.93 in COOP Laq Qui Parle Dam (Minn R) 4.60 in GOES Montevideo 4.29 in COCORAHS Montevideo 1 S 3.86 in CWOP ...Dakota County... 3 SSW Burnsville 3.69 in COCORAHS Burnsville 2 SSW 3.54 in COCORAHS Burnsville 3 ENE 3.42 in COCORAHS Eagan 2 SE 3.24 in CWOP Eagan 2 SE 3.24 in CWOP Eagan 2 WSW 3.16 in COCORAHS Burnsville 1 SE 3.12 in COCORAHS Hastings 1 SSW 2.95 in COCORAHS 2 SSE Eagan 2.87 in COCORAHS Hastings (L/D 2) 2.80 in COOP Inver Grove Height 1 WSW 2.67 in COCORAHS Lakeville 2WSW 2.62 in COCORAHS Apple Valley 3 SSE 2.54 in COCORAHS Rosemount 3 SW 2.50 in COCORAHS ...Douglas County... 5 E Millerville 3.15 in COCORAHS ...Goodhue County... Wanamingo 4 SSE 4.93 in COCORAHS Zumbrota 4.75 in COOP Red Wing 4 SE 4.73 in COCORAHS Wanamingo (Zumbro R N Fk) 4.58 in GOES Wanamingo 3 SSE 4.55 in COCORAHS Red Wing 3 SE 4.24 in COCORAHS Red Wing 2 S 4.00 in CWOP Kenyon 3.87 in COCORAHS Vasa 5 E 3.65 in COCORAHS Zumbrota 3.60 in CWOP Zumbrota 3.60 in CWOP Nerstrand 4 E 3.46 in COCORAHS Lake City 2 NW 3.28 in CWOP Dennison 6 E 3.17 in COCORAHS Sogn (Little Cannon R) 3.13 in GOES Dennison 3.03 in COCORAHS Red Wing (L/D 3) 2.75 in COOP ...Hennepin County... Bloomington 1 ESE 3.95 in COCORAHS 1 S Bloomington 3.92 in 2 W The Lake Minnetonk 3.82 in COCORAHS Lake Minnetonka 1 WSW 3.70 in COCORAHS Maple Grove 3 WSW 3.48 in COCORAHS Minnetonka 3.37 in CWOP Minneapolis 2.4 NE 3.36 in COCORAHS St. Louis Park 1 E 3.29 in COCORAHS Minneapolis Dwtn (Miss R) 3.25 in COOP Maple Grove 3 SW 3.25 in COCORAHS 2 WNW Falcon Heights 3.25 in COCORAHS Maple Grove 1 SSW 3.23 in COCORAHS 3 ESE Bloomington 3.19 in Richfield 3.17 in Brooklyn Center 1 E 3.14 in COCORAHS Minneapolis 3.12 in COCORAHS Osseo 1 NW 3.12 in COCORAHS Robbinsdale 3.10 in COCORAHS Golden Valley 3.10 in COCORAHS Edina 1 SW 3.09 in COCORAHS Hopkins 1SW 3.08 in COCORAHS Eden Prairie 2 WSW 3.04 in COCORAHS Eden Prairie AP (Flyg Cloud) 3.03 in ASOS Minneapolis 4.4 NNW 3.02 in COCORAHS Saint Louis Park 2 ESE 3.00 in COCORAHS Long Lake 3.00 in COCORAHS Robbinsdale 1 NE 2.98 in COCORAHS Richfield 1 NW 2.98 in COCORAHS Brooklyn Park 1 W 2.97 in CWOP Edina 1 SE 2.95 in COCORAHS Long Lake 4 SW 2.95 in COCORAHS Minneapolis 2 SSE 2.95 in COCORAHS Eden Prairie 2 E 2.94 in COCORAHS Plymouth 2.93 in COCORAHS Lakeville 1 N 2.92 in CWOP Minneapolis (Target Field) 2.92 in COCORAHS Minneapolis 3 SE 2.92 in COCORAHS Lakeville 1 N 2.92 in CWOP Edina 1 SE 2.91 in COCORAHS New Hope 1 NNW 2.91 in COCORAHS Edina 1 N 2.89 in COCORAHS Osseo 2.87 in COCORAHS Minneapolis 3 SE 2.82 in COCORAHS 1 WNW Osseo 2.82 in COCORAHS Richfield 3 ENE 2.82 in COCORAHS Champlin 1 E 2.81 in COCORAHS Richfield 3 ENE 2.80 in COCORAHS Plymouth 2.4 ENE 2.79 in COCORAHS Plymouth 1 ENE 2.77 in CWOP Minneapolis 1 WSW 2.76 in COCORAHS 2 SW Rogers 2.76 in COCORAHS 2 SE Minneapolis 2.75 in COCORAHS St. Louis Park 2.75 in COCORAHS St. Louis Park 1 E 2.74 in CWOP Robbinsdale 1 ENE 2.71 in CWOP Maple Grove 1N 2.71 in COCORAHS Robbinsdale 1 ENE 2.71 in CWOP Richfield 3 NNE 2.70 in CWOP Rogers 3 NE 2.67 in CWOP Robbinsdale 2.64 in CWOP Minneapolis 3.3 S 2.64 in COCORAHS Minneapolis 1 SE 2.64 in COCORAHS Robbinsdale 2.64 in CWOP Columbia Hgts 1 S 2.63 in COCORAHS Minneapolis-St. Paul AP-MSP 2.63 in ASOS Minneapolis (Minnehaha Crk) 2.61 in GOES Dayton 1 NNE 2.55 in COCORAHS ...Isanti County... Braham 1 ENE 2.73 in COCORAHS ...Kanabec County... Mora 3.23 in COOP Mora 1 ENE 3.07 in RAWS ...Kandiyohi County... Willmar 5 N 8.09 in COOP Willmar 7.90 in COCORAHS 3 N Willmar 7.87 in Willmar 1 ESE 7.23 in COCORAHS Pennock 6 NNE 3.54 in COCORAHS New London 6 WSW 3.09 in COCORAHS ...Lac qui Parle County... Madison 5.55 in Madison 4.63 in COOP Montevideo 1 SW 3.75 in COOP Montevideo 2 SW (Minn R) 3.72 in USARMY-COE Madison 5 S (W Brch Lac Qui 3.36 in GOES Dawson 3.05 in COOP Providence (Lac Qui Parle R) 3.00 in GOES ...Le Sueur County... Le Center 5NNW 3.40 in COCORAHS 1 ESE New Prague 3.20 in COCORAHS New Prague 2.78 in COCORAHS ...McLeod County... Hutchinson (Crow R. S Fk) 6.32 in UCOOP Hutchinson 1 SSE 6.16 in COCORAHS Brownton 5.40 in COOP Hutchinson 5 N 4.98 in COCORAHS 1 NNE Lester Prairie 4.81 in COCORAHS Hutchinson 1 NW 4.80 in COCORAHS Glencoe 3 NW 4.65 in COCORAHS Winsted 4.50 in Silver Lake 1 NNW 4.23 in COCORAHS Glencoe 3WSW 4.13 in COCORAHS Glencoe 4.11 in COCORAHS Lester Prairie 2s 4.03 in COOP Glencoe 3 E (Buffalo Crk) 3.96 in UCOOP Glencoe AP 3.77 in AWOS ...Meeker County... Cosmos 5.48 in COCORAHS Manannah (Crow R N Fk) 3.55 in GOES Dassel 3ESE 3.55 in COCORAHS Manannah (Crow R N Fk) 3.55 in GOES Litchfield 3.26 in COOP Litchfield 3 S 2.88 in RAWS ...Mille Lacs County... Onamia (ranger Station) 3.14 in COOP Onamia 7 SE 2.82 in RAWS Vineland 3 NW 2.70 in COCORAHS ...Morrison County... Pine Center 4 SSE 3.24 in COCORAHS Little Falls 2.74 in COCORAHS ...Nicollet County... St. Peter 6 WSW 3.14 in COCORAHS New Ulm 3 SE 2.80 in COOP St. Peter 6 SW (7 Mile Crk) 2.56 in GOES ...Ramsey County... St Paul 1 ENE 3.77 in COCORAHS 2 SE Falcon Heights 3.73 in COCORAHS St. Paul 3 WNW 3.59 in COCORAHS St. Paul 1N 3.50 in COCORAHS Roseville 2 ESE 3.49 in COCORAHS Roseville 1NW 3.48 in COCORAHS Falcon Heights 3.41 in COCORAHS St. Paul 3.2 WNW 3.40 in COCORAHS Roseville 2 WNW 3.38 in COCORAHS Falcon Heights 3.32 in COCORAHS North St Paul 1 NNW 3.23 in COCORAHS St. Paul Dwtn AP 3.12 in ASOS Falcon Heights 1 SSW 3.03 in COCORAHS North St. Paul 1 WNW 3.02 in COCORAHS 1 E Little Canada 2.99 in COCORAHS Roseville 2 ESE 2.98 in CWOP Roseville 2 ESE 2.98 in CWOP Mendota Heights 2 WNW 2.83 in COCORAHS White Bear Lake (Manitou Is) 2.72 in GOES St. Paul 1 SW 2.60 in CWOP ...Redwood County... Redwood Falls 4.95 in COOP Redwood Falls AP 4.30 in ASOS Vesta 2.89 in COOP ...Renville County... 2 N Olivia 8.78 in Lake Lillian 5SE 7.12 in COCORAHS Delhi 5 NE 6.80 in COCORAHS Olivia 6.54 in Danube 2 WNW 6.05 in COCORAHS Sacred Heart 5.40 in Bird Island 7 SSE 5.12 in COCORAHS 5 SW Hector 4.65 in COCORAHS Morton (Minnesota R) 4.63 in GOES Beaver Falls (Beaver Crk) 4.42 in GOES Granite Falls (Hawk Crk) 3.73 in UCOOP Maynard (Hawk Crk) 3.55 in GOES ...Rice County... Veseli 1 W 3.02 in COCORAHS Faribault 2.89 in COOP ...Scott County... Prior Lake 1wsw 3.86 in COCORAHS Shakopee 1 NW 3.74 in CWOP Shakopee 3.46 in Jordan 1SW 3.45 in COOP Prior Lake 1 ESE 3.31 in COCORAHS Prior Lake 2 WSW 3.15 in CWOP Jordan 2NE 3.08 in COCORAHS Savage 2 WNW 3.00 in CWOP Prior Lake 1 W 2.87 in CWOP Elko 2.70 in COCORAHS New Prague 2.66 in CWOP New Market 4 W 2.61 in COCORAHS Elko 2.55 in COCORAHS ...Sherburne County... Big Lake 3 NW 2.62 in COCORAHS ...Sibley County... Gibbon 6.70 in Arlington (High Island Crk) 4.71 in GOES Green Isle 1 WNW 4.48 in COCORAHS ...Stearns County... Paynesville AP 2.64 in AWOS ...Steele County... Owatonna (Straight R) 4.63 in UCOOP Owatonna 4.38 in COCORAHS ...Swift County... Benson (Shakopee Crk) 3.40 in GOES ...Todd County... Cosmos 1 E (Crow R S Fk) 5.32 in UCOOP ...Waseca County... Waseca 4.58 in Waseca 1 NNE 4.26 in COCORAHS ...Washington County... 2 NNW Lake Elmo 3.73 in COCORAHS Stillwater 1NE 3.45 in COCORAHS Stillwater 2 SW 3.40 in COOP Pine Springs 3.37 in COCORAHS Stillwater 3.36 in COCORAHS Afton 1 E 3.35 in COCORAHS Newport 1 E 3.22 in COCORAHS Woodbury 3.16 in COCORAHS Stillwater 1 W 3.00 in CWOP Lakeland 2 WNW 2.95 in COCORAHS Woodbury 3.8 NE 2.87 in COCORAHS Hugo 2 WSW 2.84 in CWOP Woodbury 2 S 2.75 in CWOP Cottage Grove 1 ESE 2.71 in CWOP Lake St. Croix Beach 2.65 in CWOP ...Watonwan County... St. James 3.70 in Madelia (Watonwan R S Fk) 2.85 in GOES La Salle 5 SE (Watonwan R) 2.80 in GOES Madelia 2.62 in CWOP ...Wright County... French Lake 3.91 in CWOP French Lake 3.91 in CWOP Hanover 3 WNW 3.60 in COCORAHS Big Lake 2 SSE 3.27 in CWOP Buffalo 3.05 in COCORAHS Rockford 3.03 in COCORAHS St. Michael 2 ENE 2.76 in COCORAHS Buffalo AP 2.75 in AWOS St. Michael 1 E 2.71 in COCORAHS Maple Lake 2 SSW 2.71 in CWOP Delano (Crow R S FK) 2.65 in HADS Delano 1 ESE 2.61 in COCORAHS Rockford 2.59 in COCORAHS ...Yellow Medicine County... Clarkfield 4 NE 3.15 in COCORAHS Montevideo 4 S 2.94 in COCORAHS Granite Falls (Minnesota R) 2.91 in UCOOP ...Wisconsin... ...Barron County... Dallas 4e 2.63 in COCORAHS Dallas 4 E 2.54 in COCORAHS ...Chippewa County... Eau Claire AP 2.56 in ASOS ...Dunn County... Boyceville 3 NNE 3.29 in COCORAHS ...Eau Claire County... Augusta RS 4.90 in COOP Augusta 1 NW 4.36 in RAWS Augusta 4 NW 3.75 in COCORAHS Eau Claire 1 S 3.33 in CWOP Eau Claire 3 SSW 2.92 in COCORAHS Eau Claire 3 W 2.51 in COCORAHS ...Pepin County... Stockholm 1 S (Miss R) 3.71 in USARMY-COE Stockholm 1 S (Miss R) 3.70 in USARMY-COE 2 NE Stockholm 3.65 in COCORAHS Durand 3.04 in COOP Durand 2.99 in COCORAHS Plum City 5 ENE 2.93 in COCORAHS ...Pierce County... Bay City 3 W 4.15 in COCORAHS Prescott 3.68 in COCORAHS River Falls (Kinnickinic R) 3.30 in UCOOP River Falls 1 S 2.86 in COCORAHS River Falls 1SW 2.63 in COCORAHS Ellsworth 5.9 WNW 2.60 in COCORAHS ...Polk County... Amery 2 S 2.53 in COCORAHS ...St. Croix County... Hudson 1 ESE 3.73 in COCORAHS Baldwin 3.21 in COOP Hammond 2.86 in COCORAHS Hammond 3S 2.82 in COCORAHS Roberts 2.67 in COOP New Richmond AP 2.55 in AWOS 1 SW New Richmond 2.50 in COCORAHS Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying equipment and exposures. Not all data listed are considered official. $$ Margraf NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Environment
The combination of warm front, an unstable air mass, and an exceptionally moist atmosphere set the stage for numerous thunderstorms with high rainfall rates across Minnesota and Wisconsin on August 10-11, 2016.
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Figure 1: Surface pressure (MSLP) and the position of the warm front on the afternoon of August 10, 2016. |
Figure 2: A graph showing the amount of moisture (precipitable water) in the atmosphere on the evening of August 10, 2016 in comparison to climatology at the NWS office in Chanhassen, MN. This graph shows the amount of moisture is near the maximum based on historic data for the local area. |
Figure 3: Visible satellite image showing thunderstorms developing in Minnesota in response to building atmospheric instability during the afternoon of August 10, 2016. |
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