(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa State Patrol says there are multiple deaths and at least a dozen injuries in Greenfield, after Tuesday’s direct hit from a powerful tornado. There’s widespread destruction in the Adair County town, with homes leveled, cars tossed and trees stripped bare. Metro Des Moines National Weather Service Meteorologist Brad Small said today (Wednesday), it’s still unclear just how many tornadoes hit the state Tuesday afternoon.
Those weather service teams will focus on three primary areas of the state where the tornadoes did their worst.
That tornado damaged Johnston High School, which is closed at least for today. Back in southwest Iowa, it appears Greenfield was hit by a large tornado, but Small says they don’t know yet how big it may have been.
More storms are in the immediate forecast, but Small says they don’t appear to be threatening.
This latest round of severe weather follows several bouts with tornadoes during April, which saw 43 tornadoes during the month, the fourth-highest number ever recorded in a single month in Iowa.
The following photo’s of Tuesday’s tornado affecting the City of Greenfield (IA), are made available to KJAN courtesy of Melissa Ehrman Johnson.
Today: A chance of sprinkles this morning, otherwise mostly cloudy; Gradually becoming sunny. High near 72. W @ 5-10 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 49.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 78. South wind 10-20 mph.
Thu. Night: Showers and thunderstorms. Low around 58. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Friday: A 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms;Becoming Mostly sunny & breezy. High near 70.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.
Sat. Night: A 40& chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Low around 52.
Sunday: A 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms. High near 71.
Tuesday’s High in Atlantic was 77. Our Low this morning, 51. We received 1.52″ of rain in Atlantic yesterday. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 78 and the Low was 50. The record High for May 22nd was 98 in 1925. The record Low was 28 in 1895 & 1963. Sunrise: 5:54. Sunset: 8:38.
0345 PM Tornado Greenfield 41.31N 94.46W 05/21/2024 Adair IA Emergency Mngr Heavy Damage in Greenfield.
0340 PM Tornado 3 E Fontanelle 41.30N 94.51W 05/21/2024 Adair IA Public Reported by Trained Spotter.
0330 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 6 ESE Bridgewater 41.20N 94.57W 05/21/2024 Adair IA Public Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 3 N Williamson. Damage reported Vehicles flipped, windmills on ground. 1 windmill on fire.
0333 PM Tornado 1 ENE Carbon 41.05N 94.81W 05/21/2024 Adams IA Public Social media report of tornado damage, windmill knocked down and on fire.
0330 PM Tornado 2 WSW Cromwell 41.03N 94.50W 05/21/2024 Adams IA Trained Spotter Confirmed tornado on the ground just SW of Cromwell.
0325 PM Tornado 1 NW Prescott 41.03N 94.63W 05/21/2024 Adams IA Storm Chaser
0318 PM Tornado .5 SW Corning 40.99N 94.75W 05/21/2024 Adams IA Public Tonado near highway 34 at the corner of 240 St and Kentucky. Damage reported.
0317 PM Tornado 3 ESE Corning 40.97N 94.69W 05/21/2024 Adams IA Storm Chaser Confirmed tornado on the ground by storm chaser (former media).
0317 PM Tornado 2 WNW Corning 41.01N 94.78W 05/21/2024 Adams IA Storm Chaser Confirmed tornado on ground by storm chaser.
0317 PM Tornado 3 ESE Corning; confirmed tornado on the ground by storm
chaser (former media).
0316 PM Tornado 5 S Corning 40.92N 94.74W 05/21/2024 Adams IA Trained Spotter Damage from the Tornados spotted in Corning. Down trees.
0315 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 WSW Glidden 42.05N 94.79W 05/21/2024 M77 MPH Carroll IA AWOS
0315 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 S Carroll 42.06N 94.87W 05/21/2024 Carroll IA Law Enforcement Dispatch relayed wind and hail in Carroll with trees and powerlines down.
3:11-p.m. Tornado observed in the Corning area by a trained spotter moving northeast toward the Cromwell & Orient areas.
3:13-p.m Campground hit in Montgomery County, injuries reported.
0310 PM Hail 4 S Cumberland 41.22N 94.86W 05/21/2024 M1.00 Inch Cass IA Trained Spotter
3:00-p.m. Tornado 3 miles N. of Villisca confirmed by video, crossing Hwy 34 just east of Hwy 71
2:48-p.m. Funnel cloud 4 miles west of Hepburn in Page County
0237 PM Tornado 2 W Red Oak Tornado on the ground near the Red Oak airport. Reported by the Emergency Manager.
0233 PM Funnel Cloud 5 ESE Emerson; Emergency Manager reported another funnel developing to the southwest of Red Oak.
2:32-p.m. 1.25″ diameter hail 4 miles w. of Red Oak.
0225 PM Funnel Cloud 3 ENE Imogene Trained spotter reported a funnel cloud and rotation in the far northwest corner of Page County.
0216 PM Funnel Cloud 3 SSE Imogene Funnel cloud reported by broadcast media extending halfway to the ground. This was
just south of Imogene.
0212 PM Hail Imogene 1.00 Inch Fremont IA Public
7:19-a.m. Thunderstorm wind damage in Lewis; numerous power poles and branches down throughout town.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office this (Tuesday) morning, said there are several reports of trees and power lines down throughout the County and in many cities. There is also centralized flooding in many areas. This is sure to cause potentially hazardous situations. Give yourself extra travel time if you must travel and be safe!!
KJAN listener Joe Lybarger sent us this picture of tree and power lines down on W 10th between Palm and Hazel, in Atlantic.
Other storm reports include:
Other photos of water over the road in downtown Atlantic just before 8-a.m. today
Today: **Flash Flood Warning for Northern Cass County until 9:30-a.m.; Flood Watch until 7-p.m.**Showers & thunderstorms, some of which could be severe & produce heavy rainfall. High near 80. Winds SE-S @ 15-35 mph.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy w/a showers ending this evening. Low around 48.W/NW winds 20-35 mph decreasing after midnight.
Tomorrow: Sunny, with a high near 73. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 78.
Friday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 75.
Monday’s High in Atlantic was 84. The Low was 63. We received .12″ rain at KJAN, overnight (as of 4:45-a.m. today). Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 78 and the Low was 43. The Record High for May 21st was 97 in 1939. The Record Low was 27 in 1895. Sunrise: 5:55. Sunset: 8:37.
(Clarinda, Iowa) – Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers is cautioning residents about hail damage contractors who have swarmed into the area following Sunday night’s hail storm, that dumped hail the size of ping-pong balls. Chief Brothers said “Numerous contractors have arrived in Clarinda seeking business for roof, siding, window, gutter repair.”
He offered this advice: “If you are “cold call” solicited, ask to see the contractor’s city permit to solicit, their bonding & insurance information, and speak with your property & casualty insurance carrier before entering into an agreement or contract to have any work performed or pay for any services. There is no reason to act in haste.”
Brother says “A good decision is an informed decision. The phrase ‘buyer beware’ is applicable in this situation.”