REGIONAL- The runoff from a series of storms across the Rainy River Basin continues to swell lakes and streams, causing minor flooding to docks, boathouses, and shoreline buildings and roads.
An update from the Duluth National Weather Service office on Tuesday indicated that a flood advisory for areas from Lac la Croix to Rainy Lake would remain in effect through Friday, but could be extended. Lac la Croix crested on Monday, while crests for Crane Lake, Namakan, and Kabetogama were expected later in the week and into the weekend after estimated additional rises of between three and eight inches.
Voyageurs National Park reported that many docks for campsites on Kabetogama, Namakan, Sand Point, and Crane lakes were covered by several inches of water and more were likely to be flooded, although no campsites have been closed.
The release noted that current levels on Namakan and Kabetogama are two-and-a-half to three feet below the historic flooding in 2022 and are in line with the flooding that occurred in 2014.
June’s rainfall amounts ran well ahead of historical averages for the region. The NWS reported 7.57 inches of rain in the eastern end of the basin at Seagull Lake, 2.91 inches above normal. Year-to-date amounts of precipitation in International Falls and Ely are around 30 percent higher than average.
The welcome news in the NWS update came in the rain forecasts, which indicated light to scattered showers through the week, moderate rainfall over the weekend, and normal rainfall amounts for July 14-18 that will hasten the decline of flows from the headwaters area that has up to now been exceeding outflows from the basin. The International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board reported that all logs were pulled from the Squirrel Falls and Kettle Falls dams on June 21, and that gates at the International Falls dam are being adjusted for maximum outflow.
Boaters are cautioned to expect potentially hidden underwater hazards, including submerged docks, and strong currents. Boaters should slow down near shorelines to avoid creating wakes that could damage submerged structures.