By Norma Dittman
Murray County News staff writer
Grocery stores saw a large influx of customers on Thursday and Friday as residents of the area prepared for a large winter system to blanket the mid-west. The storm titled Xanto, is termed by many as historic. With storm warnings of high winds and hail on Friday morning turning to a winter storm warning by evening.
For southwest Minnesota, between 10 to 16 inches of snow was predicted, along with wind gusts 45 to 65 miles per hour. Winds kept a steady pace throughout the weekend closing all roads across southwest Minnesota.
Area residents saw four individual hail storms during the Friday hours, with the first one arriving approximately around 8 a.m. Skies that had been lighting with the early morning, turned almost as dark as night. A storm that was in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, at 7:15 a.m. reached the area by 8 a.m. Pea-sized hail covered the streets and sidewalks.
Near Magnolia, along Interstate 90, 60 to 70 electric poles were broken off by the wind on Friday morning, disrupting power to the residents of that area. Damage was also realized near Reading where a shed just west of the community building was demolished. In addition, Harlan and PJ Klein’s cattle shed lost its roof due to the high wind. Reports also include the loss of the roof at Todd and Joan Miller residence, Garvin. The couple lost one head as a result of the collapse due to the heavy snow.
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