Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2014 17:36:15 EDT
Summary: Flooding continues in both northern and southern Minnesota from 3-8 inches of rain in both areas during the last week.
Contact: James Fallon USGS, Mounds View, MN; MN WSC
Phone: 763-783-3255 cell 612-718-2948
Email: jfallon@usgs.gov
Flooding continues in both northern and southern Minnesota from 3-8 inches of rain in both areas during the last week. The 5-day quantitative precipitation forecast has decreased from yesterday with only 1-3 inches additional precipitation expected.
In northern Minnesota flooding continues in the Rainy River basin along the Canadian Border. To date, four streamgages will exceed peaks of record, including two with long-term records: 05133500 Rainy River at Manitou Rapids (85 years of record; 0.5% Annual Exceedance Probability or AEP) and 05129290 Gold Portage Outlet from Kabetogama Lake (28 years of record; 1% AEP).
In southwest Minnesota, the flooding continues in the Missouri and Iowa River basins. The USGS has few telemetered gages in this part of Minnesota, but at least one crest stage gage had a peak with a provisional AEP of 0.1%. Several crest-stage gages are being measured or checked for measurement needs.
USGS flood activities include field operations, interviews with the media (including http://www.keloland.com/newsdetail.cfm/luverne-still-managing-flooding-along-rock-river/?id=165857)and communicating with emergency agencies. Field staff deployed for flooding currently includes two teams from Mounds View and one from Grand Rapids, MN. Activities include making flood measurements, inspecting gages for damages or for flagging high water marks at gages. Field plans for tomorrow include more discharge measurements. Interagency communication includes the NWS, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NWSChat, Water Survey of Canada, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and Minnesota Homeland Security-Emergency Management. The State Flood Hazard Mitigation Team (Silver Jackets) which includes the USGS, is assessing the need for flood inundation documentation in selected communities.