Flash Flood in St. Louis County, Minnesota

Heavy rainfall from backbuilding thunderstorms over Duluth led to 2 to 5 inches of rainfall in 2-3 hours. As the water rushed down the hillside to Lake Superior, it scoured out gravel alleys and sent around 1,000 cubic yards of construction debris, including sand, dirt, rock and other materials, onto Superior Street at the base of the hill. Superior Street at First Avenue East was closed for much of the 12th as crews worked to remove the piles of debris using heavy machinery.

Rainfall amounts of 5 to 7 inches were recorded across the Schmidt Creek basin on the 23rd and 24th with the vast majority of the rainfall occurring on the 24th. This amount of water was significantly more than the creek could handle and issues began near the headwaters. A small culvert carrying the creek under Pioneer Junction Road failed starting with a sinkhole in the road before the fast moving waters completely scoured a channel through the road. Further downstream just after passing under Minnesota Highway 61, the rapidly flowing water encountered another too small culvert that carried the creek under the tracks of the North Shore Scenic Railroad. The water proceeded to scour out this culvert as well exposing a bridge that was originally built by the railroad at this location over 100 years prior. An NSSR train had passed over the bridge about an hour before the culvert failed and noted the developing washout. The train was then stranded in Two Harbors until the washout could be repaired a few days later.

Rainfall amounts of 4 to 6 inches were observed on the 23rd and 24th with the vast majority falling during the morning of the 24th. Tischer Creek was overwhelmed by the water across much of its run through Duluth. Water was backed up across a large portion of the Ridgeview Country Club damaging bridges along the course. Water was also flowing through neighborhoods across streets and open areas with water over a foot deep in places. The main affects were observed across the Woodland and Hunter's Park neighborhoods of Duluth.