Rare fall floods set records

Posted at 8:20 AM on September 27, 2010 by Paul Huttner
Filed under: Flooding, Minnesota River

The term "spring flood" is getting a rival this September.

For the first time on record, some southern Minnesota rivers will set top 5 floods of record during fall this week. Last week's torrential rains capped off a wet September with rainfall totals anywhere from 5.5" (metro) to over 12" (south central Minnesota).

Four of the current top 5 record floods on the Minnesota River occurred in spring. The other occurred in June. This will be the first time a top 5 flood has occurred in September. You can track current and forecast river levels here.

The Cottonwood River at New Ulm came within a foot of the all time flood of record last weekend.

Check out some of the expected flood crests on the Minnesota River this week.

Mankato: Cresting today at 28.1' (4th highest flood on record)

Historical Crests
(1) 30.11 ft on 06/21/1993
(2) 29.09 ft on 04/10/1965
(3) 28.20 ft on 04/26/1881
(4) 27.61 ft on 04/10/1997
(5) 27.07 ft on 04/12/1969

Jordan: Crest Wednesday at 32.7' (5th highest)

Historical Crests
(1) 35.07 ft on 04/11/1965
(2) 33.52 ft on 06/24/1993
(3) 33.11 ft on 04/18/2001
(4) 32.85 ft on 04/14/1969
(5) 32.24 ft on 04/12/1997

Savage: Cresting Thursday at 718.8' (5th highest)

Historical Crests
(1) 721.80 ft on 04/15/1965
(2) 719.70 ft on 04/15/1969
(3) 719.29 ft on 06/25/1993
(4) 718.10 ft on 04/19/2001
(5) 717.86 ft on 04/13/1997

St. Paul: Crest Saturday at 17.9' (Not in top 5)

Historical Crests
(1) 26.40 ft on 04/16/1965
(2) 25.00 ft on 04/15/1969
(3) 23.76 ft on 04/18/2001
(4) 23.60 ft on 04/30/2001
(5) 22.90 ft on 04/13/1997

Mild dry weather will help:

The forecast is favorable for flood ravaged communities and rain soaked farm fields over the next two weeks. Minnesota will be on the east side of a ridge of high pressure, which means generally mild and dry weather for the next 10 days to two weeks.

After a wet September, it looks like we'll close the month on a dry note and open October on the mild side.

PH

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