Duluth and Rochester set rainfall records amid wet Friday in Minnesota
Communities across Minnesota saw impressive rainfall totals on Friday as wet weather crawled across the state.
The National Weather Service says 1.53 inches of precipitation had accumulated by 7:54 p.m. Friday — marking the highest single-day total since March 29, 2025, and the longest stretch of continuous rain since March 14–15, 2026.
In Duluth, a record-breaking 2.41 inches of rain fell, shattering the previous July 31 record of 1.55 inches set in 1879, according to the federal agency.
Federal officials said 2.27 inches of accumulation was recorded at the Rochester International Airport on Friday, shattering an 88-year-old July 31 record of 1.68 inches set in 1938.
The Le Sueur area saw more than 7 inches of rain, soaking farm fields and sidelining heavy equipment.
"We picked this morning and the picker was sinking in so far it was pushing," said Bradley Sasse, a farmer from the area who also runs a corn stand at the corner of Bridge Street and North Second Street. "Tomorrow we've got 14 kids that help us sort and told them to bring their mud boots because we might be picking by hand tomorrow."
The heavy rain triggered flash flood warnings and even a mud slide in St. Peter. Part of Highway 169 had to close as crews cleaned up the mess.
Raymond, in central Minnesota, received 6.5 inches, while Brownton received more than 5 inches as of Friday morning.
In southern Minnesota, Pennock has gotten around 4 inches, as of Friday morning, while 3.8 inches have fallen in Owatonna.
But further north on the Otter Tail River, businesses that rely on the rain didn't get any relief from the drought.
Roger Klemm, who owns K and K Tubing, already closed up shop for the season. He says some spots in the river are down to just a few inches, forcing him and other tubing businesses to make some tough decisions.
"Without Mother Nature getting the rain, we can't play in it. So we sit there and we say now we wait," Klemm said.
Saturday will be a #Top10WxDay with plenty of sunshine and highs leaping back to the 80s.