Flood — Big Stone, Minnesota

2023-04-15 to 2023-04-24 · near Ortonville, Big Stone, Minnesota

Event narrative

The Minnesota River at Big Stone Lake reached a level of 972.7 or 1.2 feet above flood. An unknown number of cabins and businesses along the lake experienced some degree of flooding or water damage.

Wider weather episode

On April 12th, the Minnesota River at Ortonville surpassed flood stage, reaching a peak crest of 12.03 feet on April 16th. To maintain the flow between Big Stone Lake, the Whetstone River, and the Minnesota River, a backhoe was utilized at the flood barriers to prevent debris and ice from causing disruptions. The rising floodwaters posed a significant threat to numerous lakeside properties along Big Stone Lake, necessitating residents to engage in sandbagging efforts. Additionally, various agricultural, forested, and park lands were submerged due to the extensive flooding.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (45.3000, -96.4500)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1091931. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.