Albert Lea received about 1 inch of much-needed rain on Wednesday, and areas in Freeborn County to the south got even more. The southern portion of Freeborn County is considered to be suffering drought conditions, and the farmers there needed the rain most.

Though a thunderstorm rolled through, it was more severe to the east. Freeborn County never was in a severe thunderstorm warning. The National Weather Service did issue one at 12:38 p.m. for Mower County that lasted until 1:30 p.m. The Lyle and Myrtle areas were hit hard, early reports indicate.