Heavy Rain, Flooding Reported in Parts of Southern Minnesota

Minneapolis (KROC AM News) - Storms and rain developed across southern Minnesota Saturday afternoon and evening, bringing relief from the very warm and humid conditions that began Friday.

But for some areas, it was too much rain. 

The NWS posted this on Facebook around 10:00 PM Saturday:

"The epicenter for heavy rain tonight has been Sibley county. Radar estimates put 3+" in the yellow areas, 5+ in red, while the area between Winthrop and Lafayette is pushing over 7 inches. All of this in the last 4 hours."

There were scattered reports of flash flooding in the south-central part of the state, including the Mankato area which received 5 1/2 to more than 8 1/2 inches of rain. Rainfall reports to the National Weather Service included 7 ½ inches in Gibbon, 6 ½ inches in Kasota and St Peter, and 4 ½ inches in New Ulm. Steele and Waseca counties received  1- 5 inches with 4 inches in Owatonna and 3 inches in Faribault.

Other areas in southeast Minnesota were reporting between half an inch and nearly 2 inches. Just over half an inch fell in the Rochester area. Another half an inch or more could fall through Sunday evening.  It will also remain warm and humid Sunday with heat index readings expected to reach as high as 100 degrees.

There were two reports of a tornado near Gaylord around 6:30 PM Saturday and one reportedly briefly touched down. There were no reports of damage.

Something else developed in southern Minnesota Saturday. The National Weather Service office in La Crosse made this post on Facebook around  10:00 PM :

" A lot of interesting features on radar tonight from storms to insect hatches"

Minnesota has surpassed 50,000 positive COVID-19 cases.