Rough weather rolled over Iowa last night, bringing heavy rain, hail and high winds — along with reports of at least one tornado, perhaps two. Meteorologist Brad Small, at the National Weather Service, says it was a busy night.
Small says most of the severe weather was across southern Iowa, south of Interstate 80, with flash flooding, damaging winds, large hail and “a few tornadoes.” Those twisters are the first reported in Iowa this year, which is unusual, as May and June are usually the worst months for tornadoes.
Small says there’s extensive tornado damage from one tornado in southern Iowa’s Ringgold County near Mount Ayr. One farmstead had several buildings destroyed with damage likely to top one-million dollars. One report this morning says damage at that farm may actually be between three and four-million.
Elsewhere, Guthrie County reports up to four inches of rain while the town of Clearfield had golf ball-sized hail. Wind gusts topped out at 70 miles an hour. A funnel cloud was reported in Palo Alto county but no damage was reported. Small says the forecast isn’t changing much.
There will be a chance for more showers and thunderstorms today and on through the weekend.
By Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City