Officials with the National Service in Des Moines are warning Iowans to be prepared “For all modes of severe weather” across the state today. In their mid-morning web briefing, the Weather Service said tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds have occurred and can be expected to continue. The best threat for severe weather will be across the southern two-thirds of the state, with “Multiple waves” of severe weather possible.

3″ diameter hail in Harlan this morning. (Shelby County EMA photo)

In addition, heavy rainfall with areas of localized flooding is possible from mid-day through tonight. There is a 10-percent or greater chance of tornadoes today across western and central Iowa. The tornadoes may rate from EF-2 or higher on the Fujita scale, meaning winds could be well in excess of 115-miles per hour. An EF-2 tornado can cause considerable damage, with roofs torn off frame houses; mobile homes demolished; boxcars overturned; large trees snapped or uprooted; light-object missiles generated; cars lifted off ground.

The greatest damaging wind threat will be over central and eastern Iowa. Most of central and western Iowa will also be impacted by large, damaging hail today. Stay tuned to KJAN for continued weather coverage.

The Atlantic Police Department reports one arrest and one accident took place last Friday. Officials say 35-year old Jennifer Lower, of Atlantic, was arrested for 5th Degree theft. Lower was booked into the Cass County Jail.

And, no injuries were reported following an accident at around 10:25-a.m., Friday. The accident took place in the Wal-Mart parking lot. Officials say Melissa Sarsfield, of Atlantic, was attempting to leave the parking lot traveling north in an aisle to drive toward an exit lane. With her windows were fogged over, Sarsfield was unable to see a parking light pole’s cement barrier. Her vehicle hit the barrier, causing $7,000 damage to the car and $50 damage to the pole/barrier.  No citations were issued.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Denver-bound jetliner has landed in Sioux City after its pilot noticed a power warning light flashing in the cockpit. Southwest Airlines Flight 3809 landed without incident at 2:40 p.m. Sunday after leaving the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport about 90 minutes earlier. The Boeing 737 model carried 143 passengers and five crew members.

Southwest spokeswoman Michelle Agnew says the pilot took the cautious route even though the situation wasn’t dire. Agnew says the system that was involved powered such features as coffee pots and cabin lights and that backup power sources were available.

Sioux City airport operations manager John Backer says the passengers waited in the terminal for about three hours until a replacement plane arrived and they could board and resume their journeys.

w/ Ric Hanson

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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Several tornadoes have been reported as heavy rain and hail fell on many parts of Iowa. At least six tornadoes were reported by spotters Sunday afternoon and evening, along with funnel clouds. Reports of deaths or serious injuries have not surfaced. Wind gusts of 60 mph were recorded in Madison County, and wind ripped off the roof of one building and damaged trees and a home on a farmstead near Otho in Webster County.

Baseball-size hail was reported near Magnolia in Harrison County. Firefighters in Morley evacuated residents because of flash flooding, and several motorists were stranded by street flooding in Cedar Rapids and Waterloo. Gauges say the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids rose more than 2 feet in a little more than three hours.

No injuries were reported following an accident Sunday evening on Interstate 29 in Fremont County. Sheriff’s officials say 19-year old Samuel Reinhardt, of Omaha, was traveling north on I-29 near mile marker 16 at around 5:45-p.m., when a front tire blew out on his 1998 Honda Civic. The car left the road to the left and hit the mile marker sign before entering a culvert. The vehicle was declared a total loss.

Sheriff’s officials in Fremont County report three people have been arrested in connection with a May 28th burglary at the Admiral Inn, in Farragut. Acting on a tip, deputies conducted two simultaneous search warrants at 905 Tecumseh Street and 1111Essex Street, both in Farragut. 17-year old Cody Lynn Powell, and 15-year old Seth Michael Lewis, both of Farragut, were arrested on felony charges of burglary in the 3rd degree and Theft in the 2nd degree, and aggravated misdemeanor charges of Criminal Mischief in the 3rd degree. 43-year old Brian Dennis Kelley, of Farragut, faces felony charges that include Aiding and Abetting Burglary in the 3rd degree, Aiding and Abetting Theft in the 2nd degree, and Conspiracy. Kelley also faces an aggravated misdemeanor charge of Aiding and Abetting Criminal Mischief in the 3rd degree.

Authorities say Powell and Lewis were being held in the Juvenile Detention Center in Council Bluffs. Kelley was being held in the Fremont County Jail on $17,000 cash bond.

The National Weather Service in Des Moines says will be the potential for more severe weather today, including tornadoes, strong thunderstorm winds and large hail. There will also be the potential for locally heavy rainfall. Today may also bring a widespread significant wind event to the area in the late morning or afternoon. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for the entire KJAN listening area until Noon today. And, a Flash Flood Watch is in effect until 2-p.m. for the Monona, Harrison, Shelby and Pottawattamie Counties. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect until 6-p.m. for the rest of the KJAN listening area.

Be prepared for dangerous storms that approach your area…stay alert to changing conditions and monitor your NOAA weather radio for forecast updates and possible watches and warnings. Review your severe weather safety procedures and move promptly to a place of safety if a warning is issued for your area.

Storms that developed Sunday afternoon in eastern Nebraska crossed into western Iowa’s Harrison County before spreading east through Shelby and Audubon Counties late into the evening, and then into central Iowa. The storms affecting our area dropped hail ranging in size from quarters in most locations, to baseball-sized hail near Magnolia.

There were also reports of funnel clouds in and around the Harlan and Elk Horn areas late Sunday evening, and one possible touchdown of a tornado in a rural area northwest of Harlan, but there were no immediate reports of damage.

Authorities in Fremont County are asking for your help in solving numerous burglaries that occurred in the Hamburg area early Sunday morning. The Fremont County Sheriffs’ Office says it received nearly a dozen reports of vehicles being broken into. Officials say it appears in each case, those vehicles were not locked.

The Sheriff’s Office reminds citizens to lock their vehicles and not leave valuable items in plain view inside. If you see any suspicious activity, report it to law enforcement. Persons with information about the incidents in Hamburg are asked to call the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, or Crime Stoppers at 712-374-2424.

Two Oregon residents were injured during a single-vehicle accident Saturday evening on Interstate 29 in Fremont County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2006 Acura driven by 30-year old Tuffy Kin Leung, of Portland, OR, was traveling south in the left lane of I-29 at around 6:55-p.m., when Leung became fatigued and closed his eyes.

After his car crossed the right lane and entered the right ditch, Leung tried to correct the vehicles’ course but lost control. The car rolled over and came to rest on its top, partially blocking the right lane of I-29. Leung, and his passenger, 29-year old Lisa Kim Chan, also from Portland, were able to get out of the vehicle on their own. They were transported by Hamburg and Percival Rescue to Grape Community Hospital in Hamburg.