Mother Nature asserted herself in a big way on Thursday with heavy rain that totaled more than 13 inches in the Long Lake, S.D., area.

Charlie Hoffman, who ranches about five miles west of Long Lake, said the torrential storm hammered the area for several hours, beginning at about noon.

 "It just came down in sheets,” said Hoffman. “This was the most incredible weather event that I have ever seen."
 The rain was accompanied by winds gusting between 30 and 40 miles per hour.