Strong system brought very heavy rain totals and caused minor flooding in parts of the area.

Heavy rain September 23rd


A complex and strong weather system impacted the area late this week, bring very heavy widespread rainfall totals to the area. This type of system is more common for June then it is September! The first band of rain first developed in Southern Minnesota and impacted Southern parts of the area, then on Thursday the band moved North and effected the rest of the area. Radar estimates shows all locations picked up at least 1 inch of rain. Some places had significant rainfall, with reports as high as 4 inches! There was a strong warm front associated with this system bring a very sharp temperature contrast to the area. Burnett and Washburn counties had a chilly rainy fall-like rainfall event with highs in the upper 50s to low 60s. While Polk,Barron, St Croix and Dunn counties had a mild day with highs in the low 70s


Standing water at the bottom of our driveway.


Some minor flooding was reported with this system, and the NWS says the area got near record breaking rainfall, this type of September rain has not been seen in many years. Thankfully the rain came at a long enough duration that major flooding did not occur, Mainly field and yard flooding was observed, such as low spots having standing water in yards. Agriculture fields are quite flooded ans saturated as well, causing significant problems for farmers wanting to get out in the fields.


Fairly unusual field flooding Sept 23rd

This system at my location started as moderate rain late Wednesday then there was a lull. Thursday was the wettest day with steady moderate rain much of the afternoon with very heavy bursts. My yard experienced minor flooding even though water generally flows easily away from our hill, water still puddled in our yard, and the ground is so saturated and water logged, it is hard to talk on without sinking in a puddle of water, I don't remember the ground this saturated before. Fields in my area have flooding, with large standing water puddles in them, making for significant impacts on local farmers. In the picture above water rushed across two fields near my house, I've never seen this much water here in the summer/fall, only after a spring thaw with lots of winter snow there will be water here. This system was very mild and tropical like at my location with the temperature and dew point in the 70s, even with steady rain, the warm front lifted to just North of me in the afternoon, and it was noted by warmer temperatures and very gusty winds for a short time gusting to 30MPH. It was interesting that the warm front bring my mild air stalled just about over highway 48 and at the same time the temperature was 70 at my location it was 57.F in Siren about an hours drive north! The storm total was 2.50" in my yard, Which goes down in my record books as the highest rainfall amount I've recorded for a storm system, but it does not break the highest daily rainfall.

Storm total rainfall reports. More will be added as they come in

Hammond Heavy Rain 2.83"

Clayton-my sta. Heavy Rain 2.50"

Haugen Heavy Rain 3.10"

Trade Lake Heavy Rain 2.40"

Siren Heavy Rain 2.51"

4 miles N Grantsburg Heavy Rain 4.10"

Danbury Heavy Rain 3.10"

Sarona Heavy Rain 2.51"

Menomonie Heavy Rain 3.50"