Flood — Brown, Minnesota

2023-05-12 to 2023-05-14 · near Comfrey, Brown, Minnesota

Event narrative

The Brown County Emergency Manager reported that 'feet' of water was observed in the City of Comfrey, MN (Brown County) due to repeated and prolonged periods of heavy rainfall. Sandbagging efforts were undertaken in order to protect area residential basements from flooding. Approximately ten residents from a senior citizen townhome community were evacuated. Law enforcement reported that CR-17 through Comfrey had to be closed due to flooding. Additionally, the intersection of CR-5 and 110th St three miles west of Comfrey was also flooded.

Wider weather episode

A slow moving system produced thunderstorms and heavy rainfall as result from a Trough of Warm Air Aloft (TROWAL) region of an upper low over South Central Minnesota. Due to the prolonged duration of heavy rainfall across the region, some localities experienced localized urban flooding. Brown County Emergency Management reported feet of water in the city of Comfrey, MN.

Overall, the highest observed rainfall totals occurred in south central Minnesota:

8 miles N of Butterfield (Watonwan): 4.79 inches of rainfall.

1 mile SW of New Ulm (Brown): 4.64 inches of rainfall.

St. Peter (Nicollet): 4.43 inches of rainfall.

1 mile SW of Sleepy Eye (Brown): 4.39 inches of rainfall.

5 miles SE of Searles (Brown): 4.36 inches of rainfall.

8 miles N of St. James (Watonwan): 3.98 inches of rainfall.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (44.1153, -94.9109)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1102224. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.