7 inches of rain up north. Flood warnings continue
More than a month's worth of rain fell Tuesday in northern Minnesota
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The flood zone across northern Minnesota from Tuesday’s deluge is massive.
Numerous roads are closed across northern Minnesota, including Highway 1 near Isabella. That’s a critical link between Ely and the North Shore.
More than a month’s worth of rain fell from the Iron Range through Ely, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, to the North Shore. A wide area of 4 inches to more than 7 inches of rain fell in this area Tuesday and Tuesday night.
Here are some updated rainfall reports through early Wednesday afternoon. Keep in mind the monthly rainfall normal for June is between 4 and 5 inches for most of Minnesota.
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Tower — 7.60 inches
Wales — 7.33 inches (north of Two Harbors)
Marble — 7.30 inches (Iron Range)
Silver Bay — 6.02 inches
Lutsen — 5.44 inches
Chisholm — 5.38 inches
Finland — 5.32 inches
Tofte — 5.30 inches
Winton — 4.5 inches
Corss Lake — 4.38 inches
Sawebill Lake area — 4.05 inches
Raging rivers
Tuesday’s torrential rainfall spiked rivers into flood stage along the North Shore.
Check out the gauge at the Baptism River at Beaver Bay, which spiked more than 7 feet Tuesday!
Flood warnings continue into Thursday for much of northern Minnesota.
Lake MN-St. Louis MN-
208 PM CDT Wed Jun 19 2024
...FLOOD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM CDT THURSDAY...
* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues.
* WHERE...In Minnesota, west-central and northern Lake County and much of central to far northeastern St. Louis County.
* WHEN...Until 400 PM CDT Thursday.
* IMPACTS...Flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations is occurring. Numerous roads remain closed due to flooding. Previously passable roads may now be flooded as rivers continue to rise and will crest in the next 12 to 24 hours. *
ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 201 PM CDT Wednesday, Doppler radar, observers and law enforcement indicated heavy rain and flooding due to thunderstorms on Tuesday. Flooding is already occurring in the warned area. Between 3 and 5 inches of rain have fallen. - Additional rainfall is possible in the warned area Thursday through this upcoming weekend, which may aggravate the ongoing flooding problems.
- Some locations that will experience flooding include... Ely, Virginia, Eveleth, Mountain Iron, Hoyt Lakes, Gilbert, Aurora, Babbitt, Biwabik, Cherry, Embarrass, Winton, Birch Lake, White Iron Lake, Bear Head Lake State Park, Robinson, Burntside Lake, Fall Lake, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Near Trout Lake and Basswood Lake. - Rises are expected on area rivers and streams through Thursday. This includes the Kawishiwi and South Kawishiwi rivers.
Heavy rain again Friday and Saturday
We’re catching a break in the heavy rain across Minnesota. But the next waves of heavy rain may arrive Friday and Saturday. Another 1 to 2 inches of rain looks possible.
Right now forecast models show a drying trend starting Sunday that could last well into next week.
Not a moment too soon.