Several rounds of thunderstorms with very heavy rain rolled across southeast Minnesota during the late afternoon and evening of June 22nd. The heavy rain produced widespread flash flooding across much of Houston County into the eastern sections of Fillmore County. Numerous roads were washed out or covered with water which caused extensive damage, requiring the roads to be closed. The rapid rise of water on Riceford Creek northwest of Spring Grove (Houston County) forced the evacuation of a campground while a family was stranded in Choice (Fillmore County) as the South Fork of the Root River rose out of its banks. A campground near Caledonia (Houston County) that serves adults with disabilities lost a gravel road and two walking bridges and had to close a low portion of the campground for an extended period of time. The states largest fish hatchery near Lanesboro (Fillmore County) was hit hard by the flooding. The ponds of water that separated the fish by species were inundated by flood waters allowing the different species of fish to freely swim together. Some fish were killed while others were left flailing in muddy pools of water. Workers spent numerous hours scooping up and sorting the fish that survived. The Governor of Minnesota declared a state of emergency for Houston, Fillmore and Winona Counties. FEMA declared a federal disaster area for the following counties: Houston and Fillmore.

Heavy Rain in FILLMORE, MINNESOTA
From 22-JUN-13 10:26:00 to 23-JUN-13 10:26:00 (CST-6)
Location: TAWNEY
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Southeast of Lanesboro, 4.2 inches of rain was reported.

Flood in WINONA, MINNESOTA
From 25-JUN-13 03:50:00 to 25-JUN-13 07:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: ST CHARLES
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Runoff from heavy rain pushed the Whitewater River out of its banks in the Whitewater State Park. The river crested less than a half foot over flood stage at 13.95 feet.

Heavy Rain in HOUSTON, MINNESOTA
From 22-JUN-13 02:00:00 to 23-JUN-13 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: WILLINGTON
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Southeast of Spring Grove, 4.5 inches of rain fell during the evening of the 22nd. This brought the total rainfall since June 21st to 11.5 inches.

Heavy Rain in FILLMORE, MINNESOTA
From 22-JUN-13 02:45:00 to 23-JUN-13 02:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: WHALAN
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

East of Whalan, 4.25 inches of rain was reported.

Flash Flood in WINONA, MINNESOTA
From 22-JUN-13 23:14:00 to 23-JUN-13 01:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: WHITMAN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 7.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Heavy rain caused a mud slide southeast of Minneiska. The mud slide took down some trees, one of which went across U.S. Highway 61 and blocked a lane of traffic.

Flash Flood in MOWER, MINNESOTA
From 23-JUN-13 01:14:00 to 23-JUN-13 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: LE ROY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Heavy rain produced flash flooding over the southeast corner of Mower County. Rapidly rising water from the Upper Iowa River covered State Highway 56 near Le Roy.

Heavy Rain in WINONA, MINNESOTA
From 22-JUN-13 05:00:00 to 23-JUN-13 05:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: WINONA MUNI ARPT
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The COOP observer at the Winona Lock and Dam reported 3.05 inches of rain.

Heavy Rain in FILLMORE, MINNESOTA
From 22-JUN-13 06:00:00 to 23-JUN-13 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHOICE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The COOP observer southwest of Choice reported 4.26 inches of rain.

Flood in FILLMORE, MINNESOTA
From 23-JUN-13 02:20:00 to 23-JUN-13 06:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: PRESTON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Runoff from heavy rain pushed the South Branch of the Root River out of its banks in Preston. The river crested around a half foot over flood stage at 937.61 feet.

Flood in FILLMORE, MINNESOTA
From 23-JUN-13 05:50:00 to 23-JUN-13 12:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: LANESBORO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Runoff from heavy rain pushed the South Branch of the Root River out of its banks in Lanesboro. The river crested almost two feet over flood stage at 13.76 feet.

Heavy Rain in FILLMORE, MINNESOTA
From 22-JUN-13 20:00:00 to 23-JUN-13 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: HARMONY
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

In Harmony, 4 inches of rain was reported.

Heavy Rain in HOUSTON, MINNESOTA
From 22-JUN-13 06:00:00 to 23-JUN-13 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: BLACK HAMMER
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

The COOP observer north of Spring Grove reported 5.01 inches of rain.

Hail in OLMSTED, MINNESOTA
From 22-JUN-13 17:15:00 to 22-JUN-13 17:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROCHESTER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Quarter sized hail fell in the southwest part of Rochester.

Flash Flood in HOUSTON, MINNESOTA
From 22-JUN-13 23:13:00 to 23-JUN-13 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOUSTON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 7.10M
Crop damage: 700.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Very heavy rain caused widespread flash flooding across a good portion of Houston County. Roads around the town of Houston became covered with water and impassable. Rapidly rising water along Riceford Creek caused a campground to be evacuated. A mudslide occurred just outside of Spring Grove. Numerous other roads around the county sustained damage, including County Highway 27 which had a complete section washed out. State Highway 16 east of Houston, State Highway 76 between Caledonia and Houston and County Highway 43 along with numerous other county roads were closed along with at least 20 township roads. In the western part of the county, one vehicle was swept off a road and the driver had to be rescued and at least three campers and a 73 foot mobile home were washed down Crystal Creek. In Hokah, the Root River rise high enough to top the levee requiring a local auto dealership to move about 60 cars to save them from the water. The flooding washed away a gravel road and two walking bridges at Camp Winnebago near Caledonia.

Flash Flood in FILLMORE, MINNESOTA
From 23-JUN-13 00:08:00 to 23-JUN-13 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: FILLMORE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 3.50M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Heavy rain produced widespread flash flooding across the eastern half of Fillmore County.  Mahoney Creek north of Lanesboro quickly came out of its banks sending water over State Highway 250. The South Branch of the Root River also rose rapidly causing a campground in Lanesboro to be evacuated and destroyed about a dozen RV's. Rescues were needed east of Whalan as numerous small creeks in the area flooded. Bridges were washed out on County Highway 23 and State Highway 43 near Choice, where a family was also stranded by flood water. The state fish hatchery near Lanesboro was inundated by flood waters which killed several fish and allowed the different species of trout to swim together. Workers spent many hours repairing the tubs used to store the fish in along with scooping up and sorting the fish the survived.