Chronology of a Tornado Warning

Last week I talked about what you shouldn’t bring up with strangers: politics.
So this week I’m going to compensate for that by writing about something everyone can talk about: our weather.
The skies looked ominous most of the afternoon, but I didn’t think it would be this bad.
It’s Wednesday, July 19, and it seems like all of Dodge County is in a tornado warning until 6 p.m. this evening.
I rst heard about it when I received an alert on my smart phone.
Our building is getting pounded by heavy, and I mean HEAVY, rain and high winds.
We just had a motorcyclist come into our building. He was headed to Dodge Center, but wisely decided to seek shelter.
We heard on our police scanner that vehicles were getting stuck in ooding water on Mantorville Avenue. The Kasson Fire Department was told to block traffic so more vehicles wouldn’t get trapped.
Most days I would be driving back to Rochester, where I reside, but I was told by my mother not to leave Kasson until at least 5:30 p.m.
I hope everyone at the Dodge County Fair has found shelter in the Agriculture, Crafts and Activities, or Commercial buildings. 
The rain is starting to slow down, and the motorcyclist has ventured back onto the streets to head home. 
Our editor and high school intern just came in from the rain. They were really glad that we hadn’t yet locked our door, which we normally do shortly after 5 p.m.

The editor asked if we had any towels in our building to dry off, but unfortunately none could be found, so he settled for tissues.
I just received a text from my mother, saying that the storm should pass Kasson and Rochester in about 15 minutes; at least the storm’s moving quickly.
The Kasson Fire Department has just blocked off Main Street, and remen are diverting tra c away from the flooding.
I don’t think tra c control is why they wanted to become remen, but I sure do appreciate their help today.
Another text told me that a National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) support group has been canceled in Rochester tonight, and the Rochester Royals announced via Twitter that their baseball game in North eld has been postponed.
It’s now 5:45 p.m., and vehicles are being allowed to travel on Kasson’s Main Street. I now feel safe traveling home to Rochester.
This weather has been extreme, but it seems like that’s the norm this summer.
Most days, we’re suffering from extreme heat and humidity.
I hope you and your family are having an enjoyable summer despite the extreme weather.