SILVER BAY, Minn. — It was a disruptive weather day Tuesday, with two separate storm systems wreaking havoc on parts of Minnesota.
While the most destructive and severe impacts were felt by our neighbors south in Iowa, Minnesotans dealt with heavy downpours, strong winds and lightning strikes that lit up the maps Tuesday evening.
So how much rain did we get? That depends on where you were. KARE 11's John Zeigler said a heavy band of rain fell across Minnesota late afternoon through early evening, dropping well over two inches across most of the state. Locations on the south side of the metro saw totals approaching 3 inches of rain, while communities in the west metro got closer to 2 inches or so.
The largest totals were on the North Shore, with Silver Bay reporting 3.44 inches, and Hinkley 3.34 inches. Heavy bands also dropped plenty of moisture in southeastern Minnesota, with Red Wing recording 2.73 inches and Mankato coming in with around 2.5 inches.
In the Twin Cities, Chanhassen recorded 2.82 inches while a location in Lakeville measured 2.72. Apple Valley reported 2.52 inches and Edina came in at 2.45.
The system pushed through Minnesota and into western Wisconsin, where Balsam Lake received just over 3 inches, Baldwin got 2.75 and Ellsworth, hometown of KARE 11's Boyd Huppert, came in with 2.35 inches.
A fairly wet spring has recharged the system and drastically improved Minnesota's drought status. Even before Tuesday's storms the U.S. Drought Monitor showed most of the state with no moisture deficit, with only the northern stripe and a small area in the southeast reflecting abnormally dry or moderate drought conditions.
The new U.S. Drought Monitor report will be posted on Thursday, May 23.
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