NEW ULM - A circling thunderstorm system dumped more than three inches of rain in some parts of central Brown County, the northwest tip of Nicollet County and southeast Renville County Wednesday night and Thursday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

By early Thursday afternoon, more than two inches of rain fell in far eastern Redwood County plus western and southern Brown County, the NWS reported.

New Ulm received 1.87 inches of rain on Thursday.

Sleepy Eye's official rain fall was nearly 2 1.2 inches.

University of Minnesota Extension Service Agriculture Educator for Brown and Nicollet County Wayne Schoper said the rain was good for the 2010 growing season.

"It rebuilds the soil moisture profile," Schoper said. "May was extremely dry, while June and July were fairly dry. We had some rain in August and September, but more rain now will help hold anhydrous ammonia in the soil."

Schoper said the lack of a killing frost is another bonus that extends the sweet corn growing season.

The NWS forecast occasional rain showers, a 70 percent chance of rain today and 40 percent tonight.

A few showers were predicted for Saturday.

Showers were forecast for Monday and Tuesday.

Daytime highs were predicted to be in the 50s and nightly lows around 40 degrees.

(Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).