(Radio Iowa) – Tornado sirens wailed this (Friday) morning in several central and eastern Iowa counties as severe storms rolled across the state. In Hamilton County, southbound traffic is being detoured off of Interstate 35 due to several semis having been knocked over by powerful winds. Hamilton County Sheriff Doug Timmons says there were no serious injuries reported.

One of several semis along I-35, flipped by the strong winds. (Photo by Pat Powers, KQWC)

“About the 139 mile marker, which is the Kamrar exit, is currently closed,” Sheriff Timmons says. “We got multiple semis that are tipped over and we got powerlines across the road. We’re diverting traffic.” Timmons says there’s damage to buildings in the county that was either caused by a small tornado or strong straight-line winds. As yet, no tornadoes are confirmed in today’s storms.

MidAmerican Energy reported some 35-thousand customers statewide were without power at the peak this morning, while Alliant Energy had another 12-thousand customers in the dark.