(Spirit Lake)– This past weekend’s high wind and torrential rains made outdoor activities extremely difficult, if not impossible. But so far, officials say property damage in the Iowa Great Lakes was minimal.
Winds gusting in excess of 50-miles-per-hour buffeted the region Saturday, along with strong thunderstorms that dumped more than three inches of rain. Pea-size hail was reported in scattered areas around the lakes, including Okoboji.
For the weekend, a grand total of 3.54 inches of rain fell at the KUOO studios on the west side of Spirit Lake.
Dean Dodds, Superintendent of Spirit Lake’s Water Department, tells KUOO news the heavy rains overwhelmed the city’s sewer system, resulting in back-ups. He says sump-pumps illegally discharging into the sanitary sewer system is the likely culprit. It’s been an ongoing issue with the city for years. Dodds once again urges homeowners to make sure sump pumps are draining into the curb.
Large ponds can be seen in area fields, bringing any spring planting to a halt once again.
It’s also resulted in significant increases in river and lake levels, but so far no major flooding has been reported locally.
The National Weather Service says drier conditions are expected Tuesday night into Thursday, with a slight chance of thunderstorms Friday.
