Heavy rainfall totals Thursday across southern Minnesota

You can’t draw it up much better to ease drought this spring in Minnesota.

On the map below, take a look at Thursday’s drought conditions update for Minnesota. See the lingering abnormally dry to drought zone in southern Minnesota?

That’s where some of the heaviest rain fell Thursday night. Check out the storm arcing through southern Minnesota Thursday evening:

Between 1 and 3 inches of rain fell across many locations in the south. A soaking 2.94 inches was recorded at Hollandale in Freeborn County north of Albert Lea.

Here is a list of the highest totals from the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network.

Rainfall was lighter in most of the Twin Cities with many area picking up less than one-half inch of rain.

There was some scattered storm damage in parts of southern Minnesota. The National Weather Service reports:

• [Delayed Report] 2 NW Faribault [Rice Co, MN] Trained Spotter reports Tstm Wnd Dmg at 17 Apr, 5:48 PM CDT -- Delayed report of a snapped 12 to 15 inch tree branch on the southern side of the Faribault Golf & Country Club. Time estimated from radar.

• 4 S Easton [Faribault Co, MN] Trained Spotter reports Tstm Wnd Dmg at 17 Apr, 5:30 PM CDT -- Power poles now have a lean and pull towards the ground. Part of the roof of a barn was damaged and blown into a grove of trees on the property. Time of damage estimated from radar.

Many locations around Minnesota reported small hail Thursday but overall there was little damage from Thursday’s storms.