JournalStar.com

Morning storm drenches part of state

By the Lincoln Journal Star
Saturday, Jul 05, 2008 - 07:33:56 pm CDT
A quick storm poured buckets on areas west of Lincoln on Saturday morning, causing flash flooding and drenching some places with more than 6 inches of rain.

The heaviest rain was reported about 8 miles south of Friend, said National Weather Service forecaster Van Dewald. That area received just under 7 inches.

Renee Hickman, a dispatcher at the Saline County Sheriff’s Office in Wilber said there weren’t any damage reports because of the downpour, which lasted for about an hour in her area.

 “There are a few county roads that always flood that have water standing over them,” she said.

The storm remained in the region from about 5 to 10 a.m.

Various amounts of hail were also reported, Dewald said, including some golf ball-sized hail that fell near Fairbury.

A dispatcher at the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said no major damage was reported there, either.

There is a slight chance of thunderstorms over the next couple days, Dewald said. The area is likely to see heavy rain again Sunday and/or early next week.

Dry weather is expect to return Tuesday.