Storm Impacting the Northwest U.S.; Fire Weather Conditions in Southern California; Severe Weather in the South

A Pacific storm is bringing areas of low elevation rain, moderate to heavy mountain snow, and high winds to the Northwest. Strong Santa Ana winds and very dry conditions are producing elevated to critical fire weather conditions in southern California. Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms are possible through early Wednesday morning across parts of northeast Texas into western Tennessee. Read More >

Overview

Several rounds of thunderstorms moved through the region during the week of September 18 - 21, 2018. These thunderstorms brought heavy rain to the region, with widespread accumulations between 4 to 7 inches, and localized amounts greater than 10 inches.

In addition to the heavy rain, a quick moving line of thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening hours of September 20th, produced wind damage across portions of northwestern Iowa and southern Minnesota. A brief tornado was also reported in Superior, IA.

Heavy rainfall will slowly drain into area streams and rivers, and is producing moderate to even record flooding in a few rivers across northwest Iowa. Cities like Cherokee, Le Mars, Rock Valley, and Spencer have been hit the hardest by flooding, but high waters are impacted numerous cities across the region.

Storm Total Rainfall - September 18-21, 2018


Radar Overview	Severe Weather Reports	Rainfall Climatology - Sioux Falls

Flooding Photos
Severe Weather
Tornado
Storm Reports
Rainfall

Flooding/Photos

Major to record flooding was observed across the region due to the nearly 4 to 8 inches of rainfall. Here is a closer look at a few of the more active rivers across the area, along with flooding impacts observed in many sites.

Hydrographs


Little Sioux Overview	Floyd River Overview	Record Alton Hydrograph	Linn Grove Hydrograph

Flooding Impact Photos


Spencer, IA Walmart Flooding	Near Spencer (Photo: Mark Stover)	Scotland (Photo: Sonja Marie Baker)	(Photo: Melissa Schmidt)

LIttle Sioux River(Photo: Mike Ehret)	Tripp, SD (Photo: Melissa Schmidt)	Irene, SD (Photo: Angie Devries Dangel)	Beresford, SD

Severe Weather:

Severe Weather Photos

Here's a collection of severe weather and tornado related photos from September 18-21, 2018. A brief touchdown of an EF-1 tornado was confirmed in Superior, Iowa late in the afternoon hours of September 20. An observation site near Superior Ethanol measured a 99 mph wind as the tornado moved through.


Superior Ethanol (Photo: Mike Ehret)	VFW Building (Photo: Mike Ehret)	Tree Damage (Photo: Mike Ehret)	VFW Damage (Photo: Mike Ehret)

Superior Ethanol (Photo: Mike Ehret)	Superior Ethanol (Photo: Mike Ehret)	Superior, IA (Photo: Mike Ehret)	Superior, IA (Photo: Mike Ehret)

Tornadoes:

Tornado - Superior, IA
DICKINSON COUNTY

Date	September 20, 2018
Time (Local)	5:21 to 5:26 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	99 mph
Path Length	3.9 miles
Max Width	25 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0
Summary: A brief tornado touched down west of Superior, IA, then moved through town before dissipating east of the Dickinson/Emmet County line. The most significant damage (EF-1) was observed at the ethanol plant office building on the western edge of town.

Track Map

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

EF0 Weak 65-85 mph	EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph	EF2 Significant 111-135 mph	EF3 Severe 136-165 mph	EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph	EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph

Storm Reports:

Here's an overview of severe weather and flooding reports from September 18-21, 2018. A brief touchdown of an EF-1 tornado was confirmed in Superior, Iowa late in the afternoon hours of September 20. An observation site near Superior Ethanol measured a 99 mph wind as the tornado moved through.

05:15 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	SPENCER, IA	Tstm Wnd Gst	58 MPH
06:31 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	5 SW JOLLEY, IA	Tstm Wnd Gst	65 MPH
05:26 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	3 E GILLETT GROVE, IA	Tstm Wnd Gst	60 MPH
07:34 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	4 NNE BOYS TOWN, NE	Tstm Wnd Gst	63 MPH
05:21 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	BLAIR, NE	Tstm Wnd Gst	65 MPH
06:08 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	LOGAN, IA	Tstm Wnd Gst	65 MPH
05:10 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	2 ESE TEKAMAH, NE	Tstm Wnd Gst	67 MPH
06:05 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	4 W BEAVER CROSSING, NE	Tstm Wnd Gst	65 MPH
07:15 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	AUSTIN, MN	Tstm Wnd Gst	38 MPH
06:15 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	2 W ALGONA, IA	Tstm Wnd Gst	63 MPH
05:52 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	2 E EMMETSBURG, IA	Tstm Wnd Gst	60 MPH
05:32 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	2 WNW GRUVER, IA	Tstm Wnd Gst	75 MPH
06:10 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	2 ESE SKYLINE, MN	Tstm Wnd Gst	67 MPH
06:17 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	4 NNW EAGLE LAKE, MN	Tstm Wnd Gst	70 MPH
06:57 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	5 W WEST CONCORD, MN	Tstm Wnd Gst	48 MPH
06:59 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	3 NNW WEST CONCORD, MN	Tstm Wnd Gst	60 MPH
07:17 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	2 W DODGE CENTER, MN	Tstm Wnd Gst	39 MPH
07:07 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	DODGE CENTER, MN	Tstm Wnd Gst	40 MPH
06:36 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	2 W OWATONNA, MN	Tstm Wnd Gst	52 MPH
06:35 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	3 WSW WASECA, MN	Tstm Wnd Gst	61 MPH
05:21 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	MILFORD, IA	Tstm Wnd Dmg
04:56 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	HARTLEY, IA	Tstm Wnd Dmg
05:30 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	1 E ESTHERVILLE, IA	Tstm Wnd Dmg
05:30 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	1 NE ESTHERVILLE, IA	Tstm Wnd Dmg
05:20 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	TERRIL, IA	Tstm Wnd Dmg
05:15 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	IDA GROVE, IA	Tstm Wnd Dmg
05:15 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	WEBB, IA	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:50 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	2 SE NORTHFIELD, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:52 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	4 ENE NORTHFIELD, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:52 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	3 NNW DENNISON, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:54 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	2 N DENNISON, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:52 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	4 W DENNISON, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:51 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	6 WNW RANDOLPH, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:50 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	FARMINGTON, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
07:00 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	HAMPTON, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
07:02 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	CANNON FALLS, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
07:05 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	CANNON FALLS, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:59 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	RANDOLPH, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:50 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	BRITT, IA	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:15 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	ALGONA, IA	Tstm Wnd Dmg
05:50 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	EMMETSBURG, IA	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:40 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	ROCKWELL CITY, IA	Tstm Wnd Dmg
05:38 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	CEYLON, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
05:49 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	CEYLON, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:05 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	FAIRMONT, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:14 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	4 SSE WINNEBAGO, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
05:50 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	GRANADA, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
05:44 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	WELCOME, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:30 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	1 E WATERVILLE, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
07:40 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	FARIBAULT, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:43 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	1 N FARIBAULT, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:45 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	3 NW FARIBAULT, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:39 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	MEDFORD, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:35 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	MORRISTOWN, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:30 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	WATERVILLE, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:05 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	2 SW SKYLINE, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:15 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	3 WSW SMITHS MILL, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
05:30 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	ESTHERVILLE, IA	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:15 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	2 E MADISON LAKE, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:58 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	2 W WEST CONCORD, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:55 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	1 NNW OWATONNA, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:50 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	1 SE OWATONNA, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:44 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	1 NE OWATONNA, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:26 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	1 NE SMITHS MILL, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:30 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	3 NNW ALDEN, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:26 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	5 S WASECA, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:28 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	EASTON, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:23 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	ELYSIAN, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
05:52 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	2 N SCHALLER, IA	Tstm Wnd Dmg
05:22 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	1 E MILFORD, IA	Tstm Wnd Dmg
06:15 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	1 NNE MADISON LAKE, MN	Tstm Wnd Dmg
05:22 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	1 W SUPERIOR, IA	Tornado
06:54 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	3 E NORTHFIELD, MN	Tornado
06:57 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	4 S RANDOLPH, MN	Tornado
05:52 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	GRANADA, MN	Tornado
06:42 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	3 NNE MEDFORD, MN	Tornado
06:43 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	1 NW FARIBAULT, MN	Tornado
06:20 pm CDT - 9/20/2018	2 S ELYSIAN, MN	Tornado
08:44 pm CDT - 9/19/2018	3 W GILLETT GROVE, IA	Hail	1.75 INCH

Rain Reports

Here is a closer look at rainfall reports across the Tri-State area during the September 18-21, 2018 time frame. In many locations, this heavy rainfall approached a top 5 accumulations for both a 24 hour period and 2 day rainfall period. This rainfall has also pushed many locations towards the top of the list for year to date and yearly rainfall accumulations.

Storm Total Accumulations September 18-21, 2018