UPDATED 2:45 p.m. June 19 with additional information and road closures from St. Louis County.
Emergency responders are closely monitoring road conditions Wednesday, June 19, in northeastern Minnesota after heavy rain the day before caused life-threatening flash flooding in the region.
Nearly 8 inches of rain fell Tuesday near Tower, Minnesota, with numerous other locations along the North Shore and across the region seeing in excess of 5 inches.
As of 9 a.m., the Minnesota Department of Transportation reported five closures on state highways, with a sixth added shortly after based on observations by National Weather Service crew surveying flood damage. The agency reported that staff are doing damage inspections to determine if roads are weakened.
"Motorists should use caution where shoulders may be washed out," a news release stated. "Do not drive over water or around barriers closing off flooded roads as roads may have collapsed underneath the water."
Closed state highways include:
- Highway 1 between Sassas Road and Brown Road, 15 miles west of Tower. The road has washed out and a detour is in operation.
- Highway 1 east of Ely (Mile Post 293.7). The road has washed out and a detour is being installed.
- Highway 1 at Weiss Creek, northwest of Isabella.
- Highway 53 south of Independence. One southbound lane is closed
- Highway 61 at Taconite Harbor. One lane is closed and a signal-controlled bypass is in operation.
- Highway 169 between Karjala Road and Koski Road, south of Tower. The road is closed.
Visit 511mn.org for updates on closures.
St. Louis County released an extensive list of 43 road closures Wednesday afternoon, including 32 in the northern portion of the county. Public works employees are assessing damages and have begun making repairs, with a particular focus on reopening access to those unable to reach or leave their homes.
"Most notable is Mud Creek Road northeast of Lake Vermilion, where water levels remain too high to attempt repairs," a news release stated. "The Sheriff's Office has made contingency plans should anyone on this road need emergency assistance.
According to the release, the St. Louis County Board is anticipated to approve a disaster declaration at its meeting next week. This is a necessary step to seek funding assistance from the state and federal governments for damages to public infrastructure. This includes the county, cities, townships, unorganized areas and public utilities.
Rainfall totals
Several communities saw 24-hour rainfall totals exceeding 5 inches of rain, according to official totals from the National Weather Service in Duluth.
- Tower, 8.3 miles northwest, St. Louis County: 7.6 inches
- Two Harbors, 19.8 miles north, Lake County: 7.33
- Marble, Itasca County: 7.30
- Hoyt Lakes 3.1 miles south-southwest, St. Louis County: 6.17
- Silver Bay, Lake County: 6.02
- Isabella, Lake County: 5.5
- Tofte, 4.9 miles northeast, Cook County: 5.44
- Chisholm, 3.6 miles northwest, St. Louis County: 5.38
- Wolf Ridge, Lake County: 5.32
- Tofte, 2.1 miles northeast, Cook County: 5.3
- Hoyt Lakes, 3 miles south-southwest, St. Louis County: 5.2
- Cloquet River near Brimson, St. Louis County: 5.18
- Brimson 2 miles south, St. Louis County: 5.18
- Cook, 8 miles northeast, St. Louis County: 5.1
- Tettegouche State Park, Lake County: 5.02
Source: National Weather Service-Duluth
St. Louis County road closures
Note: A more recent list of road closures is available here. For the most up-to-date information, visit the St. Louis County website.
District 4 (northern St. Louis County)
- Hwy 22 (State Hwy 53 – County Road 912 Ralph Rd)
- County Road 652 Goodell Rd (State Hwy 53 – County State Aid Highway 82 Heino Rd)
- CR 467 Heino Rd (State Hwy 53 – CR 912 Ralph Rd)
- CR 912 Ralph Rd (CR 652 Goodell – CSAH 82 Heino Rd)
- CSAH 24 Crane Lk Rd (Unorganized Township Rd 8121 Kallio Rd – CSAH 23 Buyck)
- CSAH 24 Kallio Rd (UT 8121 South – UT 8121 North)
- CR 512 Sassass Rd (CSAH 87 Leander Rd – Terminus)
- CR 421 Sassass Rd (State Hwy 1 – CSAH 87 Leander Rd)
- CR 912 Ralph Rd (CR 467 Heino Rd – CR 492 E Anton Rd)
- CR 492 E Anton Rd (CR 912 Ralph Rd – State Hwy 53)
- CR 467 Heino Rd (State Hwy 53 – CR 430 Burghardt Rd)
- CR 936 E Hannula Rd (State Hwy 53 – Terminus)
- CR 481 Carpenter Rd (CSAH 82 Heino Rd – CSAH 22)
- CR 923 Leander Rd (CR 912 Ralph Rd – Terminus)
- CSAH 22 (State Hwy 73 – CR 931 Murray Rd)
- CSAH 25 (CSAH 65 – CSAH 22)
- CSAH 107 Lind Rd (UT 8199 Range Line Rd – State Hwy 73)
- CR 931 Murray Rd (CSAH 22 – CR 491 Gustafson Rd at Bridge)
- CR 481 Carpenter Rd (UT 8163 Graham Rd – UT 8157 Goodell Rd)
- UT 8157 Goodell Rd (CR 491 Roini Rd – State Hwy 73)
- CR 492 Anton Rd (west of State Hwy 73 from Fire # 11244 – Terminus)
- UT 8134 West Reik Rd (Ut 8142 – CSAH 139)
- CSAH 114 West Olson Rd (CSAH 5 – State Hwy 73)
- CSAH 139 Range Line Rd (State Hwy 1 – CSAH 114 West Olson Rd)
- CR 720 Lindsey Rd (State Hwy 1 – CSAH 114 West Olson Rd)
- CSAH 116 Echo Trail (UT 8211 North Arm Rd – Moose River Landing)
- UT 8211 North Arm Rd (CSAH 116 Echo Trail – Terminus)
- CR 455 Sundling Rd (CR 676 Fectos Rd – Terminus)
- CR 674 Breezy Pt Rd (CSAH 77 – Terminus)
- CR 949 Bradley Rd (CR 929 Moccasin Pt Rd – Terminus)
- CR 408 Mud Creek Rd (State Hwy 1/169 – Terminus)
- CSAH 138 Giants Ridge Rd (CR 416 Tower/Biwabik Rd – Terminus)
District 5 (Duluth and surrounding townships)
- Fox Farm Rd under water at Sucker River Bridge between Two Harbors Rd and Hwy 44
- App Rd. at Captain Jacobs Creek between Two Harbors Rd and West Knife Rd
District 6 (Central St. Louis County including quad cities)
- Pettit Road closed west of Heritage Trail
- Hwy 44 closed between Brimson Toimi Road to Fairbanks Road
- Brimson Toimi Road between Hwy 16 and Little Creek Road
- South Loon Lake Road closed just south of Hwy 16
- Williams Rd closed west of Smith Road.
- Wilson Road closed at Highway 4
District 7 (Southwestern St. Louis County)
- CR 65 closed 1.35 miles west of Highway 73 due to washed out culvert
- CR 63 just west of Hibbing
- Shaw Road between Hayes and 92
- Green Rock Road by Belchner Road
Source: St. Louis County
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