Major flooding in Duluth

A record daily rainfall of 4.14 inches in Duluth on Tuesday triggered flash flooding in the city.  It is believed to be one of the worst flooding events to affect the city 40 years.  Pictures and video from The Weather Channel can be seen here.

A SIGNIFICANT LIFE THREATENING FLOOD EVENT WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE TWIN PORTS...NORTH SHORE OF LAKE SUPERIOR...AND PARTS OF NORTHWEST WISCONSIN. TRAVEL IS NOT RECOMMENDED IN THE TWIN PORTS EARLY THIS MORNING. THUNDERSTORMS WILL FOCUS ACROSS MOST OF THE NORTHLAND TODAY. DUE TO UNUSUALLY HIGH AMOUNTS OF MOISTURE IN THE ATMOSPHERE...RAINFALL RATES AT TIMES WILL APPROACH 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR. FLOODING WILL CONTINUE TO BE EXACERBATED BY ADDITIONAL RAINFALL. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST FLOOD WATCHES AND WARNINGS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DULUTH.

Some locations near Duluth saw almost eight inches of rain in one day!

• Duluth [St. Louis Co, MN] nws employee reports FLOOD at 12:24 AM CDT -- water over the road at highway 53 and maple grove road.
• Duluth [St. Louis Co, MN] broadcast media reports FLOOD at 02:26 AM CDT -- numerous roads are washed out or flooded within duluth. this includes several sinholes and collapsed roads. reports of high water rescues and evacuations in progress across the city.
• Duluth [St. Louis Co, MN] broadcast media reports HEAVY RAIN of M6.38 INCH at 02:27 AM CDT -- lester park

Additional reports in the graphic below:

From the Duluth Police Department:

I-35 IS SHUT DOWN IN BOTH DIRECTIONS AT 40TH AVE W AND IN THE DOWNTOWN TUNNELS AS THE ROAD IS IMPASSABLE DUE TO FLOODING. HIGHWAY 23 IS SHUT DOWN IN FOND DU LAC DUE TO FLOODING. HIGHWAY 61 IS IMPASSABLE ALONG THE NORTH SHORE DUE TO FLOODING. THE FOND DU LAC NEIGHBORHOOD IS BEING EVACUATED AS FLOODING IS EXPECTED DUE TO INCREASED WATER RELEASE FROM THE FOND DU LAC DAM. OFFICIALS REPORTED NUMEROUS SINKHOLES...ROADS WASHED OUT AND MUDSLIDES ACROSS THE CITY OF DULUTH. ONLY EMERGENCY TRAFFIC IS ADVISED.

Definitely an ugly situation up on the North Shore.  Travel to the area is not advised.  I was just up there last weekend for Grandma’s Marathon.  It is amazing what a  difference a couple days makes.  Fortunately, most of the visitors for the race have already left town, minimizing the impact to life.

RS