
085 
WGUS73 KDLH 200639
FFSDLH

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
139 AM CDT WED JUN 20 2012

MNC031-075-137-201030-
/O.CON.KDLH.FF.W.0008.000000T0000Z-120620T1030Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
LAKE MN-COOK MN-ST. LOUIS MN-
139 AM CDT WED JUN 20 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEASTERN ST.
LOUIS...COOK AND SOUTHERN LAKE COUNTIES UNTIL 530 AM CDT...

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. LIVES MAY BE LOST IF 
PEOPLE DO NOT HEED THIS WARNING. 

DULUTH POLICE ARE ADVISING AGAINST TRAVEL IN THE ENTIRE CITY OF 
DULUTH. RAINFALL OF MORE THAN 6 INCHES IN SPOTS WAS NOTED FROM THE 
DULUTH AREA AND ALONG HIGHWAY 61 OF THE NORTH SHORE. VARIOUS MEDIA 
OUTLETS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE REPORTING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE IN THE 
CITY OF DULUTH...WITH ROADS STARTING TO COLLAPSE ALONG THE HILLSIDE 
OF DULUTH. THIS APPEARS TO BE A FLOOD REMINISCENT OF THE FLOOD OF 
1972 AND ONE THAT SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. THERE HAVE BEEN 
REPORTS IN THE DULUTH NEWS TRIBUNE ONLINE LIVE BLOG OF PEOPLE BEING 
RESCUED FROM THEIR BASEMENT APARTMENTS...FALLING INTO SINKHOLES OF 
COLLAPSED ROADS AND RIVERS AND STREAMS OVERTAKING ROADWAYS. 

WE CANNOT STRESS WHAT A MAJOR THREAT THIS IS FOR THE CITY OF DULUTH 
AND ALONG THE NORTH SHORE. AGING INFRASTRUCTURE WILL ALSO PLAY A 
PART IN THE FLOOD THREAT...ESPECIALLY ON THE HILLSIDE. HIGHWAY 61 
REMAINS CLOSED IN SPOTS. JUST BECAUSE YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO TRAVEL TO 
A DESTINATION NOW...DOES NOT MEAN YOU WILL MAKE IT IN ONE TO TWO 
HOURS. THIS IS HOW FAST THIS SITUATION MAY DETERIORATE AS MORE 
RAINFALL MOVES IN FROM THE WEST. THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERAL 
MORE INCHES OF RAIN THIS MORNING AND THE UTILITY SYSTEM AND THE 
SATURATED GROUND CANNOT TAKE MUCH MORE RAIN.

AT 125 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT
MAJOR FLASH FLOODING WAS OCCURRING ALONG MOST OF THE NORTH SHORE OF 
LAKE SUPERIOR...FROM DULUTH TO GRAND MARAIS AND GRAND PORTAGE.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLASH FLOODING 
INCLUDE...DULUTH...GRAND MARAIS...ADOLPH...ALGER...ARNOLD...BEAVER 
BAY...CASTLE DANGER...CHESTER PARK DULUTH...EAGLE 
MOUNTAIN...FINLAND...FRENCH RIVER...GRAND 
PORTAGE...HERMANTOWN...HOVLAND...ILLGEN CITY...KNIFE 
RIVER...LAKEWOOD TWP...LARSMONT...LESTER PARK DULUTH...LITTLE 
MARAIS...LUTSEN...MUNGER...MURPHY CITY...PALMERS...RICE LAKE 
TWP...SCHROEDER...SILVER BAY...TACONITE HARBOR...TOFTE AND TWO 
HARBORS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLOODING IS OBSERVED...ACT QUICKLY. DO NOT
ENTER THE WATER. TURN AROUND AND MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND. DO NOT
STAY IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS IMMINENT. IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHERE
YOU ARE RELATIVE TO STREAMS...RIVERS...OR CREEKS WHICH CAN BECOME
KILLERS IN HEAVY RAINS. CAMPERS AND HIKERS SHOULD AVOID STREAMS OR
CREEKS.

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FLOOD WATERS. ONLY A FEW INCHES OF
RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER CAN QUICKLY CARRY AWAY YOUR VEHICLE.

REPORT FLOODING TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SO THAT THEY
MAY TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO CLOSE FLOODED ROADWAYS. THEY WILL
RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DULUTH MN.

&&

LAT...LON 4783 8994 4773 9042 4760 9076 4702 9163
      4673 9218 4680 9239 4798 9087 4811 9039
      4812 9018 4808 9000 4800 8989 4804 8977
      4801 8949 4801 8948

$$

PACKINGHAM