DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — High winds from a fast-moving storm front have knocked trees and limbs onto houses and cars and knocked out power to homes and businesses in several Iowa counties.
Gusts up to 80 mph were reported Thursday and winds nearing 60 mph were reported at Des Moines International Airport. At least two semitrailers were tipped over on Interstate 80 near Walnut and one on Interstate 35 near Bevington. No injuries were reported. At the Atlantic Municipal Airport, Thursday, the automated weather system recorded a wind gust of 61 mph just before 11-a.m. Numerous large trees were uprooted or had their limbs fall on property, including at least two vehicles, the Rolling Hills Bank sign on 7th Street was blown down, and power was out to several areas of town, with the west side having the longest outage while AMU crews worked to repair downed power lines. A fireworks vendor tent in the Atlantic Wal-Mart parking lot, was destroyed by the high winds.
In Anita, a tree fell on a house, but there were no injuries. Two-miles south of Massena, farm sheds were toppled and corn fields nearly flattened. Fontanelle and Greenfield reported damage in the form of fences down, a greenhouse was blown over the the Greenfield Shopko store, heavy rain and hail was reported. Winds gusted up to 70 mph. A home was damaged three-miles south of Greenfield, a machine shed was destroyed, a grain bin severely damaged and multiple trees were down in the same area. Downtown Greenfield also saw damage, with a gas leak – possibly storm related – having caused the evacuation and closing of the courthouse and neighboring businesses. The radio tower at the Adair County Hospital was blown down also. The Wallace Country Life Center near Orient also sustained damage. Officials report all hoop houses have MAJOR damage (most likely can not be repaired), the greenhouse had plastic ripped off but the structure seemed to have minimal damage, a tree was uprooted and numerous other branches were sheared-off. The west side of the house on the property was impaled by a tree branch that went through the wall and into the gift shop. There was roof damage on the barn, and the flag pole has a major bend in it. Winds topping 60 mph were reported in Stuart, Adair, Creston, Walnut and Harlan, to name a few of the communities affected by the storm. Scattered power outages were reported across the listening area.
Indianola officials say some trees posed a danger to cleanup efforts because they were touching downed power lines. Wind damage also was reported in Afton, Creston and Greenfield. A fireworks tent and fireworks were destroyed in Winterset.
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