Mega-rain event, August 10-11, 2016

Precipitation Map from August 10-11, 2016
Precipitation Map from August 10-11, 2016
Courtesy: Minnesota State Climatology Office

 

Another extreme rainfall event pounded parts of central and southeastern Minnesota.

A stationary front was draped across central Minnesota on August 10, 2016. Thunderstorms developed and gained steam just south of this boundary in eastern South Dakota and west central Minnesota. During the afternoon and evening hours they spread to the east, producing rainfall rates of two three inches per hour. The storms reached the eastern Twin Cities by dusk. The storms continued through the night producing a vivid lightning show across the affected areas. The storms weakened and exited Minnesota by mid-morning of August 11.

The storms produced a large area of two to three inches of rain, from Lac Qui Parle County eastward through Kandiyohi County, to the Twin Cities, and southeastward to Wabasha County. Within this large swath, two smaller areas received six inches of rain or more: one centered around the Willmar-Olivia area, and one in Wabasha County near the Mississippi River.

The highest precipitation total reported anywhere was 10.05 inches at a Kandiyohi Soil and Water Conservation District rain gauge site just east of Willmar. There were many reports of basement flooding in Willmar, and one basement caved in. The arena and track at the Kandiyohi County Fairgrounds flooded, postponing the demolition derby on the 11th. Residents in Willmar were being asked to limit water use due to the impact on the city's wastewater treatment plant. Rainfall totals of seven inches or greater were common between Willmar, Bird Island, and Olivia (Renville County).

The highest total found in Wabasha County was 7.75 inches in Theilman, with the most damage reported just across the border in Wisconsin in Buffalo County.

The two 6-inch rainfall areas combined to cover just over 1,000 square miles, making 2016 a rare year with two  "mega" rain events in Minnesota. A larger event (covering more area) hit northern and central Minnesota on July 11-12, 2016.

National Weather Service storm summaries


Below is a list of storm and precipitation reports gathered by the National Weather Service

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
Last modified: August 10, 2022
For more information contact: [email protected]

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