A cold front will cross the Great Lakes and Northeast U.S. through Monday with gusty winds and areas of rain showers. A strong atmospheric river is expected to move into the Pacific Northwest by midweek bringing a threat for moderate to heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and mountain snows for parts of Washington, Oregon, northern California, and the Sierra Nevada. Read More >
Overview
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An intense area of low pressure approached the region through the day on Monday, October 21st, producing increasingly strong east to northeast winds. The winds increased through the day, and were especially strong coming off Lake Superior into the Twin Ports area. Peak wind speeds topped 70 MPH at some of the bridges and waves caused damage along many of the lake shore areas. In addition, the strong winds knocked down trees and power lines down leading to power outages. The Duluth Water Level Observation Station located in the Duluth harbor operated by NOAA/National Ocean Service, may have broken an all-time record at 604.75' topping the previous record of 604.42' recorded in 1985. Other unique impacts included:
Fairly widespread rains of 1 to over 3 inches of rain fell leading to some ponding, localized flooding, and rises on area rivers. |
 Radar loop from October 21st |
Peak Wind Reports:
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| Peak wind gusts around the Twin Ports area | Loop from October 21st showing areas of highest winds move through the area. | Zoomed in version of strongest wind cores from October 21st. (Notice how the strongest winds peak over western Lake Superior during the afternoon hours.) |
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Duluth MN 533 PM CDT Mon Oct 21 2019 ...WIND REPORTS 30 MPH OR HIGHER DURING THE PAST 12 HOURS... Location Speed Time/Date Lat/Lon -------- ----- --------- ------- Blatnik Bridge 74 MPH 0415 PM 10/21 46.75N/92.10W Duluth RWIS 65 MPH 0310 PM 10/21 46.77N/92.11W Duluth Airport 61 MPH 0227 PM 10/21 46.85N/92.20W 12 NE Sand Bay 60 MPH 0300 PM 10/21 47.08N/90.73W Sky Harbor Airport 59 MPH 0256 PM 10/21 46.72N/92.03W Thompson Hill I-35 Mile Post 56 MPH 0210 PM 10/21 46.72N/92.25W Cass Lake US-2 Mile Post 131 53 MPH 0520 PM 10/21 47.37N/94.48W Silver Cliff MN-61 Mile Post 53 MPH 0330 PM 10/21 47.07N/91.59W Duluth, MN 52 MPH 0230 PM 10/21 46.78N/92.09W Bayfield 49 MPH 0315 PM 10/21 46.80N/90.80W Chisholm-Hibbing Airport 49 MPH 0500 PM 10/21 47.38N/92.83W Grand Marais 47 MPH 0356 PM 10/21 47.74N/90.35W 4 NE Duluth 46 MPH 0337 PM 10/21 46.83N/92.04W Cloquet Airport 46 MPH 0416 PM 10/21 46.70N/92.50W Atkinson Bridge I-35 Mile Po 45 MPH 0411 PM 10/21 46.63N/92.53W Ashland Airport 44 MPH 0204 PM 10/21 46.55N/90.92W Winton 43 MPH 0520 PM 10/21 47.98N/91.43W 6 WSW Beaver Bay 43 MPH 0256 PM 10/21 47.20N/91.40W Esko 42 MPH 0130 PM 10/21 46.70N/92.34W Blatnick Bridge South Abutme 42 MPH 0151 PM 10/21 46.73N/92.10W Two Harbors 41 MPH 0121 PM 10/21 47.03N/91.67W Walker Airport 41 MPH 0115 PM 10/21 47.13N/94.65W Anderson Road RWIS 41 MPH 0410 PM 10/21 46.79N/92.16W Grand Marais Airport 40 MPH 0456 PM 10/21 47.83N/90.37W Eveleth-Virginia Airport 40 MPH 0459 PM 10/21 47.42N/92.50W Two Harbors 40 MPH 0255 PM 10/21 47.03N/91.75W 1 W Bayfield 39 MPH 0309 PM 10/21 46.81N/90.85W Hibbing 39 MPH 0507 PM 10/21 47.39N/92.83W Pine River Airport 39 MPH 0355 PM 10/21 46.72N/94.37W Twig MN-53 Mile Post 21 38 MPH 0511 PM 10/21 46.92N/92.41W Saginaw RAWS 38 MPH 0508 PM 10/21 46.84N/92.46W Cass Lake DNR 37 MPH 0501 PM 10/21 47.38N/94.61W La Pointe 37 MPH 0346 PM 10/21 46.70N/90.80W Fernberg RAWS 37 MPH 0413 PM 10/21 47.95N/91.50W Brainerd Airport 37 MPH 0227 PM 10/21 46.40N/94.13W Hayward Airport 37 MPH 0105 PM 10/21 46.02N/91.45W Mitchell Bridge MN-169 Mile 37 MPH 0440 PM 10/21 47.45N/92.89W Chippewa Port No. 1 37 MPH 0459 PM 10/21 47.01N/94.51W Duluth 2 NNE 36 MPH 0307 PM 10/21 46.81N/92.08W La Pointe Airport 36 MPH 0315 PM 10/21 46.78N/90.77W 1.5 E La Pointe (NWS/FAA) 36 MPH 0315 PM 10/21 46.79N/90.76W Washburn RAWS 35 MPH 0302 PM 10/21 46.59N/91.26W Brainerd RAWS 34 MPH 0406 PM 10/21 46.40N/94.13W Northome RWIS 34 MPH 0505 PM 10/21 47.60N/94.13W Grand Portage 33 MPH 0515 PM 10/21 47.97N/89.69W Duluth 1.8 NE 33 MPH 0446 PM 10/21 46.80N/92.07W International Falls 33 MPH 0419 PM 10/21 48.57N/93.40W Pliny MN-65 Mile Post 98 33 MPH 0440 PM 10/21 46.34N/93.26W 4 SE Breezy Point 32 MPH 0402 PM 10/21 46.54N/94.17W Odanah 32 MPH 0330 PM 10/21 46.60N/90.66W Grand Portage 32 MPH 0444 PM 10/21 47.95N/89.78W Grand Rapids Airport 32 MPH 0430 PM 10/21 47.22N/93.52W McGregor Airport 32 MPH 1239 PM 10/21 46.62N/93.32W Moose Lake Airport 32 MPH 0137 PM 10/21 46.42N/92.80W Solon Springs Airport 32 MPH 0215 PM 10/21 46.30N/91.82W Grand Portage RWIS 32 MPH 0400 PM 10/21 47.98N/89.69W Minong RAWS 32 MPH 0203 PM 10/21 46.14N/91.98W Rice Lake N.W.R. 32 MPH 0252 PM 10/21 46.54N/93.29W Superior Qd No. 4 32 MPH 0342 PM 10/21 47.98N/89.97W Schroeder 31 MPH 1215 PM 10/21 47.47N/91.02W Longville Airport 31 MPH 0452 PM 10/21 46.98N/94.20W Robinson Lake 31 MPH 0250 PM 10/21 47.85N/92.05W Moose Lake RAWS 31 MPH 0308 PM 10/21 46.42N/92.80W Smith Rapids 31 MPH 1047 AM 10/21 45.93N/90.18W Hinckley 30 MPH 1110 AM 10/21 45.97N/93.00W Ely 30 MPH 0204 PM 10/21 47.83N/91.84W Lakeside 30 MPH 0332 PM 10/21 46.64N/91.92W Cook Airport 30 MPH 0516 PM 10/21 47.82N/92.68W Ely Airport 30 MPH 0519 PM 10/21 47.82N/91.82W Margie US-71 Mile Post 379 30 MPH 0401 PM 10/21 48.13N/93.88W Seagull Lake RAWS 30 MPH 0404 PM 10/21 48.12N/90.84W Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying equipment and exposures. We thank all volunteer weather observers for their dedication. Not all data listed are considered official.
Rivers / Flooding
Hydrographs
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| Hydrograph for Mississippi River at Atkins, MN | Hydrograph for Mississippi River at Fort Ripley, MN | Hydrograph for Nemadji River near Superior, WI |
Photos / Animations:
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| Lake shore flooding in Canal Park - Duluth (NWS Photo) |
High waves at Canal Park - Duluth (NWS Photo) |
Wave action at Canal Park - Duluth around Noon on Oct.21 (Duluth Harbor Webcam) |
Animation of Duluth Harbor Canal Park webcam images from Oct.21. (Duluth Harbor Webcam) |
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| Flooding at Midwest Energy coal dock parking area on the St.Louis River. (NWS Photo) |
Rainfall Totals:
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Duluth MN 444 AM CDT Tue Oct 22 2019 ...24 HOURS RAINFALL AMOUNTS... Location Amount Time/Date Lat/Lon 5 N Hackensack Chippewa RAWS 3.05 in 0359 AM 10/22 47.01N/94.51W Sandstone 6 W USCRN Site 2.53 in 0100 AM 10/22 46.11N/92.99W 8 N Remer Chippewa RAWS 2.37 in 0315 AM 10/22 47.18N/93.96W Rice Lake N.W.R. 2.26 in 0352 AM 10/22 46.54N/93.29W 0.5 E Floodwood 2.11 in 0300 AM 10/22 46.93N/92.90W Cloquet River nr Burnett 2.06 in 0330 AM 10/22 46.90N/92.52W Hinckley 2.03 in 0420 AM 10/22 45.97N/93.00W 3.8 S Swan River 1.98 in 0300 AM 10/22 47.03N/93.19W Saginaw RAWS 1.97 in 0408 AM 10/22 46.84N/92.46W 12 W Grand Portage RAWS 1.97 in 0242 AM 10/22 47.98N/89.97W 1.8 E Cohasset 1.92 in 0245 AM 10/22 47.25N/93.59W 2.4 S Meadowlands 1.92 in 0300 AM 10/22 47.04N/92.74W Beaver R nr Beaver Bay 1.89 in 0200 AM 10/22 47.27N/91.31W St. Croix RAWS 1.88 in 0315 AM 10/22 45.97N/92.62W 2.3 SE Ball Club 1.87 in 0400 AM 10/22 47.30N/93.90W Hill City 1.86 in 0407 AM 10/22 46.96N/93.60W Bruno 1.86 in 0430 AM 10/22 46.28N/92.66W Siren 1.81 in 0415 AM 10/22 45.82N/92.37W 1.5 S Pleasant Valley 1.80 in 0345 AM 10/22 46.52N/92.39W Saginaw 1.78 in 0426 AM 10/22 46.85N/92.47W Isabella 1.77 in 0404 AM 10/22 47.62N/91.38W Grand Rapids Airport 1.77 in 0425 AM 10/22 47.22N/93.52W Lind 1.76 in 0406 AM 10/22 45.74N/92.80W Moose Lake RAWS 1.74 in 0408 AM 10/22 46.42N/92.80W Cass Lake DNR 1.73 in 0401 AM 10/22 47.38N/94.61W Grand Portage 1.73 in 0416 AM 10/22 47.97N/89.69W Cutfoot RAWS 1.67 in 0404 AM 10/22 47.54N/94.05W Breezy Point 1.67 in 0427 AM 10/22 46.58N/94.24W Esko 1.66 in 0415 AM 10/22 46.70N/92.34W 4.6 N Taconite 1.65 in 0300 AM 10/22 47.39N/93.38W Danbury 1.61 in 0425 AM 10/22 45.95N/92.31W Grand Portage 1.60 in 0244 AM 10/22 47.95N/89.78W 5 SE Duxbury 1.59 in 0430 AM 10/22 46.06N/92.46W Brainerd RAWS 1.58 in 0406 AM 10/22 46.40N/94.13W Federal Dam 3 WNW 1.58 in 0345 AM 10/22 47.25N/94.22W 0.7 N Aitkin 1.56 in 0300 AM 10/22 46.54N/93.71W Deer River 1.55 in 0415 AM 10/22 47.40N/93.62W Brainerd Airport 1.53 in 0420 AM 10/22 46.40N/94.13W 5.9 N Brevik 1.52 in 0300 AM 10/22 47.17N/94.29W Walker Airport 1.51 in 0415 AM 10/22 47.13N/94.65W 1.6 SE Mission 1.50 in 0230 AM 10/22 46.57N/94.03W Minong RAWS 1.50 in 0403 AM 10/22 46.14N/91.98W Libby 1.48 in 0300 AM 10/22 46.79N/93.32W Brule River nr Hovland 1.47 in 0200 AM 10/22 47.82N/90.05W Boy River nr Boy River 1.46 in 0300 AM 10/22 47.08N/94.10W Schroeder 1.44 in 0425 AM 10/22 47.47N/91.02W Hayward Airport 1.43 in 0353 AM 10/22 46.02N/91.45W 3.4 SE Little Swan 1.43 in 0300 AM 10/22 47.25N/92.81W Effie 1.42 in 0407 AM 10/22 47.78N/93.65W NWS Duluth 1.36 in 0100 AM 10/22 46.84N/92.21W Nashwauk 11.5 N 1.35 in 0400 AM 10/22 47.55N/93.19W Littlefork 1.31 in 0245 AM 10/22 48.40N/93.55W Hayward RAWS 1.30 in 0403 AM 10/22 46.00N/91.50W 10 NE Merrifield 1.29 in 0429 AM 10/22 46.59N/94.10W Duluth Airport 1.28 in 0425 AM 10/22 46.85N/92.20W 1.5 SW Willow River 1.23 in 0300 AM 10/22 46.31N/92.86W 0.6 E Scanlon 1.23 in 0300 AM 10/22 46.70N/92.42W 0.5 NW Palmers 1.22 in 0330 AM 10/22 46.93N/91.86W Skibo RAWS 1.19 in 0422 AM 10/22 47.49N/91.99W Duluth 1.8 NE 1.17 in 0415 AM 10/22 46.80N/92.07W Big Fork at Big Falls 1.16 in 0315 AM 10/22 48.20N/93.81W Two Harbors 1.16 in 0423 AM 10/22 47.03N/91.67W Northome 1.15 in 0416 AM 10/22 47.88N/94.25W Hibbing 1.15 in 0407 AM 10/22 47.39N/92.83W 2 N French River 1.13 in 0429 AM 10/22 46.94N/91.90W Lakeside 1.09 in 0415 AM 10/22 46.64N/91.92W 3.2 SE Lennox 1.09 in 0300 AM 10/22 46.20N/94.32W South Range 1.08 in 0429 AM 10/22 46.55N/91.95W Chisholm-Hibbing Airport 1.08 in 0422 AM 10/22 47.38N/92.83W Lutsen 1.05 in 0215 AM 10/22 47.64N/90.71W 4.4 SE Babbitt 1.02 in 0345 AM 10/22 47.67N/91.86W 3.1 NE Jenkins 1.02 in 0300 AM 10/22 46.69N/94.30W International Falls 1.01 in 0355 AM 10/22 48.57N/93.40W Colvin Creek nr Hoyt Lakes 1.00 in 0315 AM 10/22 47.53N/92.00W
Storm Reports:
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
530 PM CDT MON OCT 21 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0415 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 NNW SUPERIOR 46.75N 92.10W
10/21/2019 M74 MPH LSZ145 WI MESONET
MESONET STATION MN081 BLATNIK BRIDGE.
0310 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 SSE DULUTH 46.77N 92.11W
10/21/2019 M65 MPH ST. LOUIS MN MESONET
MESONET STATION MN082 DULUTH RWIS.
0227 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 NE HERMANTOWN 46.85N 92.20W
10/21/2019 M61 MPH ST. LOUIS MN ASOS
ASOS STATION KDLH DULUTH AIRPORT.
0300 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 13 NE SAND BAY 47.08N 90.73W
10/21/2019 M60 MPH ASHLAND WI MESONET
MESONET STATION DISW3 12 NE SAND BAY.
0256 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 6 SE DULUTH 46.72N 92.03W
10/21/2019 M59 MPH ST. LOUIS MN AWOS
AWOS STATION KDYT SKY HARBOR AIRPORT.
0210 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SSW PROCTOR 46.72N 92.25W
10/21/2019 M56 MPH ST. LOUIS MN MESONET
MESONET STATION MN080 THOMPSON HILL I-35
MILE POST 248.
0330 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 ENE TWO HARBORS 47.07N 91.59W
10/21/2019 M53 MPH LAKE MN MESONET
MESONET STATION MN093 SILVER CLIFF MN-61
MILE POST 30.
0230 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 ESE DULUTH 46.78N 92.09W
10/21/2019 M52 MPH ST. LOUIS MN BUOY
BUOY STATION DULM5 DULUTH, MN.
0440 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 W SCHLEY 47.37N 94.48W
10/21/2019 M50 MPH CASS MN MESONET
MESONET STATION MN061 CASS LAKE US-2 MILE
POST 131.
0315 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 SE BAYFIELD 46.80N 90.80W
10/21/2019 M49 MPH LSZ147 WI MESONET
MESONET STATION DW6252 BAYFIELD.
0500 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 ESE HIBBING 47.38N 92.83W
10/21/2019 M49 MPH ST. LOUIS MN ASOS
ASOS STATION KHIB CHISHOLM-HIBBING AIRPORT.
0356 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 S GRAND MARAIS 47.74N 90.35W
10/21/2019 M47 MPH LSZ141 MN MESONET
MESONET STATION KGNA GRAND MARAIS.
0416 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 WSW CLOQUET 46.70N 92.50W
10/21/2019 M46 MPH CARLTON MN AWOS
AWOS STATION KCOQ CLOQUET AIRPORT.
0337 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 SW LESTER PARK 46.83N 92.04W
10/21/2019 M46 MPH ST. LOUIS MN MESONET
MESONET STATION FW2111 4 NE DULUTH.
0411 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 WNW SCOTTS CORNER 46.63N 92.53W
10/21/2019 M45 MPH CARLTON MN MESONET
MESONET STATION MN097 ATKINSON BRIDGE I-35
MILE POST 231.
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Other Graphics
(Being developed...)
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| 24-hr rainfall | Weather Story Graphic from Oct.21st | Model display of strongest wind gusts on Oct.21st |
Near-storm environment summary.
| Figure 4: Caption | Figure 5: Caption | Figure 6: Caption |
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Media use of NWS Web News Stories is encouraged! Please acknowledge the NWS as the source of any news information accessed from this site. |
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