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New record for single-day tornadoes in Iowa: 42

News, Weather

December 22nd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – It’s fun to beat weather records in the Fall and Winter, as far as temperatures are concerned, but not so much when it comes to severe weather…especially when you think of tornadoes. Officials with the National Weather Service, Wednesday, said Iowa unofficially set a new record for the number of tornadoes in a single day, during the outbreak of severe storms on Dec. 15th. There were 12 more tornadoes confirmed, bringing the total number of to 23 for the Des Moines Office, and 42 for Iowa, including some adjustments to previously reported tornado tracks. The old record was 35 tornadoes in a single day. That occurred August 21st, 2014.
Some of the latest confirmed tornadoes on Dec. 15th include (location/EF rating & other data):
  • Carroll County: EF-U (unknown strength) from 4:45-p.m. to 4:51-p.m.; 9.7-mile long; Starting 2 miles N/NE of Willey, ending 3 miles E. of Lidderdale. Path width to be determined (TBD)
  • Guthrie County: EF-1 (Winds 90-100 mph); 9.7 miles, stating 10 mile W. of Guthrie Center at 5:13-p.m. & ending 3 miles S/SW of Bayard at 5:16-p.m.
  • Guthrie County: EF-2 (Winds 115-120 mph); Starting 8 miles N/NW of Adair at 5:17-p.m & ending 6 miles NW of Bagley at 5:31-p.m. (23.8 miles).
  • Greene County: EF-2 (Winds 115-120 mph); Starting 5:26-p.m. 5 miles N/NE of Bayard & ending 3 miles S/SW of Jefferson at 5:34-p.m. (7.1 miles).
  • Greene County: EF-2 (115-120); 5.9-miles; Starting 5:32-p.m. 4 miles E/SE of Scranton & ending 5:35-p.m. 2 miles N/NW of Jefferson.
  • See the rest of the incidents in Greene, Calhoun, Webster, & other counties, HERE.

The events of Dec. 15 have been categorized as a derecho, which is the first recorded derecho in December in United States history. At least five people died across Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota. One of which was in eastern Iowa where a semitrailer rolled after being struck by high winds. Iowa State Patrol confirmed the driver was killed during the incident.

Reports confirm more than 400,000 homes were without power between Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa and Kansas. Officials are still surveying the damage. Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for residents in 43 counties. Locally, that includes: Audubon, Cass, Guthrie, Harrison, Madison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Sac, Shelby, Union, and Worth counties.