In Willmar, torrential rains flood roads and basements

Flooding at Kandiyohi County Fairgrounds
Flooding at Kandiyohi County Fairgrounds in Willmar, Minn., on Aug. 11, 2016. The fair shut down yesterday due to torrential rains which dropped as much as 6" overnight.
Ivory Hecker | MPR News

The city engineer in Willmar, Minn., is calling it close to a 1,000-year rain event — as much as 13 inches fell overnight in central and southern Minnesota.

Engineer Sean Christensen said the storm flooded streets and basements in Willmar.

"You can't talk to anybody that's ever seen this much rain before," he said.

The runoff from the storm was three times what the Willmar waste water treatment plant is designed to handle, he said.

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The city has asked residents to limit their water use to avoid adding to the treatment plant's workload. They also say residents should drain water from their basements into their backyards.

In Olivia, about 20 miles south of Willmar, the situation was similar. The worst part of the storm lasted about six hours, City Administrator Dan Coughlin said.

"We've had reports anywhere from nine and a half to 13 (inches), depending on what part of town and whose rain gauge was measuring it," he added.

Problems are abating, but residents are faced with days or even weeks of cleanup and repair, Coughlin said.

The heavy rain band stretched from Willmar to the Twin Cities and into parts of southeast Minnesota.

More downpours are possible Thursday in southern Minnesota.