Thunderstorms, Tornadoes Blow Through County
April showers brought May showers and then high winds too. Over the past week, McDonald County has seen wet and windy weather nearly nonstop.
Thunderstorms and tornadoes kept residents with their eyes to the sky while also navigating flooded byways and subsequent washouts.
Storm shelters throughout the county were opened to residents on Sunday evening as tornado warnings blanketed the area. Many residents report witnessing a funnel cloud above Anderson into Monday afternoon as well.
Multiple roads were closed due to the inflation of local waterways while other roads were left impassable from downed trees, debris and general destruction.
According to the National Weather Service, the Elk River near Tiff City crested at 18 feet on Tuesday afternoon. On May 1, the same location reached a crest of 20.38 feet.
Lanagan saw remarkable flooding, with Indian Creek cresting at 12.43 feet. The record crest for the site was set at 16.66 feet on April 29, 2017.
While the extreme weather caused stress for some, others — like Mason Ryan Gray — saw it as an opportunity for some farmland fun.
Gray grabbed a rubber horse trough and a solid stick and took to the pond on his family’s property in Anderson. What came next seems natural to some and out-of-the-box to others.
Gray launched the trough from the shore and set off on his maiden voyage.
“He’s a country boy, he just loves to float,” said his father, Cory Gray.