Area finally receives soaking rain; record low temperature set July 6

By Reed Anfinson

Friday evening’s thunderstorms that rolled through western Minnesota brought heavy rains to a wide swath of parched farmland.

Benson received 1.22 inches of rain, the second most precipitation it has received in a single day in 2023. The area saw 1.3 inches of rain April 19.

The rainfall brought the month’s total to 1.35 inches. July average’s 3.69 inches of rain.

While very helpful to area crops, they could use an inch or more of rain every week as they enter a critical period for development. With the May to June period being the driest on record for the Benson area, both topsoil and subsoil moisture are depleted.

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