Flood in Steele County, Minnesota

Numerous roads were closed due to excessive rainfall that fell on September 22nd and 23th. The major areal flooding didn't recede until late Saturday when most of the small streams and creeks had crested and only mainstem rivers remained flooded. Residents in Owatonna, Minnesota, were fighting to save their homes along the flooded Maple Creek. 70 homes were evacuated in Owatonna due to the rising flood waters. Friday morning was the first time that I-35 was closed due to flood waters south of Owatonna. It re-opened during the afternoon as waters started to recede.

A strong storm system, in combination with deep moisture from the remnants of a tropical system, produced a large area of flooding rainfall with amounts as high as 8 and 11 inches in an 18 hour period.

The main area of precipitation occurred across far southern Minnesota, and portions of west central Wisconsin, between 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 22nd, to 9:00 a.m., Thursday, September 23rd.

Some of the smaller rivers in southeast Minnesota had historical crests which caused extensive damage around Northfield, Cannon Falls, Zumbrota and Pine Island. One bridge section on the North Fork River along Highway 52 between Cannon Falls, and Pine Island collapsed. The bridge in Cannon Falls was inundated by the flood waters of the Cannon River.

In addition to the smaller tributaries, the larger Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers had flooding from Redwood Falls, to the Twin Cities, then southeast to Red Wing, Minnesota for about two to three weeks, as the runoff was extensive.

Some of the most notable rainfall measurements are as follows:

It was a record 2-day rain event in Amboy, MN (10.68), Waseca, MN (7.65), and Springfield, MN (5.47). Thursday was also the wettest day on record in Waseca, MN (5.16).