Thunderstorms dump inches of rain locally

Weekend thundershowers dropped heavy rain across Hamilton County giving the area one more break in a pattern of dry weather this spring. A check of rainfall reports across the county showed increases since last week's numbers of anywhere from 1-1/4 inches to nearly two inches of rain had fallen in storms that began Saturday evening and continued on Sunday. In neighboring Merrick and Howard counties to the north and west, a Sunday afternoon tornado destroyed homes near St. Libory and Palmer.