Hail, heavy rain pound western, central Minnesota

Published 10:09 am Thursday, September 4, 2014

WAVERLY — Thunderstorms have swept across western and central Minnesota, causing street flooding and wiping out an orchard’s apple crop the day before it was to be picked.

The National Weather Service reports 2.7 inches of rain fell at the St. Cloud Regional Airport on Wednesday.

In western Minnesota, the city of Glenwood reported flooded roads with over a foot of water covering some roads.

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Hail the size of half-dollars covered the ground 2-3 inches deep in Waverly, about 35 miles west of Minneapolis. The hail destroyed the apple crop at Untiedt’s 25-acre orchard north of Waverly.

Grower Paul Nelson says the orchard was going to start picking SweeTango apples Thursday. Now, Nelson says, the apples are “basically applesauce.”

The weather service says storms could redevelop in western Minnesota Wednesday evening.