Photo by Deb Gau
Some much-needed rain finally came to southwest Minnesota on Wednesday evening. Unfortunately it came in the form of a severe storm, a little more than a year after the July 1, 2011, storms that caused widespread damage.
The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Lyon County around 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Between 5 and 7 p.m., emergency responders reported a variety of severe storm conditions moving southeast across the county. Lyon County dispatchers reported conditions including golf ball-sized hail and damaging winds in Minneota, pea-sized hail and winds greater than 60 miles per hour in Marshall and sightings of funnel clouds south of Green Valley. Pea-sized hail was also reported in northern Murray County around 7:05 p.m.
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Rain fell fast in Marshall, postponing grandstand events at the Lyon County Fair and causing water to accumulate in gutters and low areas.
In the midst of heavy rain, law enforcement and emergency responders in Marshall were also busy responding to a two-vehicle crash reported at the intersection of Minnesota Highway 23 and Minnesota Highway 19.
Damage visible around Marshall during the storm included some downed tree limbs, like one near the Marshall golf course.