Flood — West Polk, Minnesota

2001-04-07 to 2001-04-26 · West Polk, Minnesota

Wider weather episode

The winter brought 45.3 inches of snow to the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks area, which is slightly above the average of 40 inches. Snow water contents across Polk county ranged from 1.5 to 2.5 inches. The snow over Polk county had melted by the 1st of April, and the snowmelt began to affect the rivers. Then, a heavy rain event occurred on the 7th, and brought 1 to 2 inches of rain to the Red River basin. The Red Lake River rose quickly after this rain event. In Crookston, an ice jam developed in Hewitt Park on the night of the 9th, rocketing the Red Lake River to 26.38 feet. At its peak rate of rise, the Red Lake River jumped nearly 8 feet in 6 hours. 60 National Guard troops were activated in Crookston and they helped evacuate several homes. The entire city waited for a possible evacuation order as they watched the river rise. U.S. Highway 2 had to be diverted, as the rising river closed the underpass in town. When the ice jam broke, the river quickly fell. As this water and other runoff made its way into the Red River, the level at East Grand Forks peaked on April 12th at 44.80 feet. This 44.80 foot level was not in the top ten stage heights. Another rain event further south on the 11th and 12th, and a winter storm on the 22nd and 23rd helped hold up the level on the Red River at East Grand Forks through most of the month. East Grand Forks erected their new "invisible" flood wall for the first time. This closed Demers avenue in East Grand Forks. The point bridge was also closed between Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, due to high water from the Red River. Sunshine Terrace and its 48 occupants were temporarily evacuated, as the building now sits on the wrong side of the dike.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5238746. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.