(La Porte County, IN) - A massive amount of rain in a very short period of time came down in La Porte yesterday alongside hail and strong winds, making an early afternoon storm look like a monsoon.

 

Emergency responders were called on several reports of fallen trees and power lines out in the county, with one report indicating a tree fell on a car at 500 West and 150 North.

 

La Porte County Highway Department Superintendent Al Stevens said damage to the car must have been minor because the vehicle and driver had already left when crews arrived.

 

“It was coming down in buckets,” he said.

 

Stevens said he was on Pine Lake Avenue on the city’s north side when, suddenly, the skies opened up.

 

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen that much rain come down at once,” he said.

 

Nate Martin, an operator in training at the La Porte Water Department, said more than a half an inch of a rain fell in a roughly 15 minute time period. He was at a water department substation on Indiana 39 when sprinkles turned into sheets of rain, and once-calm winds kicked up.

 

“Very monsoon-like.  Insane winds and insane amounts of water out of nowhere,” Martin said.