Here at the KJAN Studios in Atlantic, the official reporting station for the National Weather Service, we’ve received 3.32-inches of rain since 1-a.m. The heaviest rain and intense lightning occurred between 2-2:45-am.

A Flood warning remains in effect for NW Cass County until 8:30-a.m., and for eastern Pottawattamie and Shelby Counties until 5-a.m.

Tree down on westbound 7th Street, just east of Maple

A severe thunderstorm producing winds of up to 51-miles per hour pushed through Atlantic between 2:10 and 2:40-a.m. today (Monday). The storm dumped .6″ of rain here at the KJAN studios. Atlantic Police reported a large tree limb down near 7th and Maple Streets at 2:10-a.m. 

Another, approximately 4-inch diameter tree, limb was observed having fallen down between 4th and 5th Streets, just east of Olive Street. Scattered, smaller limbs and twigs littered City Streets early this morning. Law enforcement reported to the Weather Service at 2:30-a.m., several large tree branches were down, a heavy patio table with umbrella was toppled and blown several feet from its emplacement, and other pieces of yard furniture, garbage cans and yard décor were strewn about. There were also scattered, brief power outages within the city.

The National Weather Service says  a peak wind gust of 51-miles per hour was recorded on the Automated Weather Observation Systems (AWOS) at the airport, at 2:15-a.m. Also,  law enforcement reported  2-to 4-inch diameter tree limbs were down in the Guthrie County Community of Yale, after the storms blew through there at around 2:45-a.m.

At least three Iowa cities hit high temps of 99 degrees on Thursday — in Atlantic (at the airport. Here at the KJAN studios, the official weather reporting station, we topped at 93-degrees), in Perry, and in Knoxville. Forecasters say today (Friday) promises to be even hotter….in fact, they say this could be the hottest day of the year, so far. Jacob Beitlich, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, says most of Iowa will be in the mid to upper-90s today with a few 100s possible.

“With the humidity and the warm temperatures, we could see heat index readings of 105 to 110 degrees with a few isolated higher readings in eastern Iowa,” Beitlich says. “That’s just going to lead to uncomfortable conditions, potentially dangerous if you don’t take the necessary precautions of taking breaks, finding some A/C if you have to work outside and drinking plenty of fluids.”

Eddyville had an unofficial heat index on Thursday of 137 degrees. A Heat Advisory is posted for all of eastern and central Iowa through 7 P-M. Beitlich says a slight cool-off is coming. A cold front is expected later today and overnight, taking away some of the heat and humidity, bringing much of the state closer to the average July temps in the mid to upper 80s.

(Pat Powers/Ric Hanson – Radio IA)

24-Hour rainfall reports (7am-Sunday thru 7am today- Monday)…

2.57″ rain in Glenwood

2.68″ near Blanchard, in Page Co.

2.05″ in Massena

.65″ in Harlan (w/wind gusts to around 75mph)

.61″ in Atlantic (at the KJAN Studios)

Storms that formed in Nebraska Sunday late Sunday afternoon barreled through western Iowa Sunday evening, producing heavy downpours of rain, reports of large hail and winds sometimes in excess of 60-miles per hour, along with some property damage.

The Winds started picking up in southwest Iowa, at around 4:40-p.m., where they gusted up to 55-miles per hour near the Creston Airport, causing small trees to bend almost parallel to the ground. About 10 minutes later hail the size of quarters was observed by law enforcement in the same area.

Heavy rains also washed over the area, with law enforcement reporting at 5:25-p.m., water was flowing over the road at several locations near the intersection of 140^th Street and Highway 25, in Union County. By 6-p.m., authorities in Cass County were receiving reports from the public of nickel-to quarter-sized hail falling about three-miles southwest of Bridgewater.

Additional flooded roads were reported by law enforcement about 10-miles north of Prescott, in Adair County, just after 7-p.m. Sunday. About 20-minutes later, one-foot of water was observed flowing over the intersection of Union and 150^th Streets, about six-miles northeast of Prescott, in Adams County. Authorities in Carroll and Crawford Counties reported several trees were down due to storms that rolled through the area between 8:30- and 8:45-p.m.

Meanwhile, at around 8:50-p.m. law enforcement in Audubon County observed one-inch diameter hail falling just south of Audubon, and at 9:40, a large tree fell one a vehicle in Stuart due to winds officials estimated were up to 60-miles per hour. At around 9:30-p.m., winds estimated at up to 55-miles per hour were reported to have occurred 10-miles north of Greenfield.

Winds of up to 70-miles per hour blew a semi tractor-trailer over on Highway 30, near Carroll, at around 9:45-p.m., and there were reports of quarter-sized hail reoccurring about 10-minutes later back in Union County with scattered reports of similarly-sized hail occurring elsewhere.

Officials with the National Weather Service in Valley, NE, say an EF-1 Tornado was the cause of damage Monday night, in western Iowa’s Monona County. The twister struck between 8:45- and 8:53-p.m., about 4-miles south of Turin.

The tornado’s path was an average of 300-yards wide, and 7.1-miles long. When it initially touched down, it produced sporadic tree damage near the intersection of County Road E-60 to L-14, in Monona County. The twister moved northeast and hit a farmstead, downed power lines and destroyed a grain bin.

It continued northeast through the Loess Hills, producing varying degrees of tree damage, before crossing County Road E-54 and 277^th Street, where it destroyed more trees and a few outbuildings. The twister continued its trek northeast across 258^th Street, where it hit another farmstead, tearing-off part of the roof off of a house, destroyed some outbuildings and several more trees.

Before it dissipated, the tornado crossed another road and knocked down power lines. No injuries were reported. Officials say the EF-1 twister produced peak winds of up to 90-miles per hour. An EF-1 tornado typically has wind speeds ranging from 86- to 110-mph.

24-hour rainfall totals (7am Mon-7am Tue) 6/21/11

Atlantic – .65″

Audubon – 2.8″ total (1.8″ yesterday, 1.0 the day before)

Hamlin – 1.00″

Harlan – .91″

Massena – .57

If you live in the KJAN listening area, have a rain gauge, and would like to tell us how much rain and/or hail you received, please e-mail kjannews@metc.net. Thanks!

More heavy storms crossed Iowa overnight, bringing at least three reports of tornadoes along with heavy rain, hail and high winds. Meteorologist Craig Cogil, at the National Weather Service, says there are scattered reports of damage across the state. 

Cogil says most of the reports were for wind damage but there were also some reports of large hail. The highest winds were clocked in Woodbury County at 70 miles an hour. Tornadoes were reported in Plymouth County near Kingsley, in Polk County near Valeria and in Hardin County near Eldora. Damage is still being assessed. No injuries are reported.

In Western Iowa, thunderstorm wind damage was reported to have occurred: near Logan and Missouri Valley, at around 8:30-p.m ; near Mapleton and Little Sioux at around 8:45-p.m., and then again at around 9:15-p.m.; and, near Carroll at just about 10:15-p.m.

Winds gusting up to 60-miles per hour were reported near Red Oak at around 9:25-p.m., and in Cumberland, at around 9:50-p.m.

(Radio Iowa & NWS)

Here is a summary of storm reports from around the area from the storms which passed through late Sunday night thru early this (Monday) morning (as compiled by the Nat’l. Weather Service)…(updated 8:52-a.m.)

Monday

6:55-a.m – 3.15″ rain reported by Ray Book, in Harlan (an official NWS observer). 1.12″ fell from 7am-Sat. thru 7-am Sun., & 2.03″ from 7am-Sun thru 6:50-a.m. today, in addition to some hail.

6:00-a.m. – rainfall in Atlantic from 4-am to 6-a.m.=  .14″

3:27-a.m. Power outage in Atlantic thru 4:28-a.m. Tree fell on power line during strong winds. Large part of town south of Highway 6/7th Street was without power. Numerous 6-inch diameter tree branches down. A 40-to 50-foot tree fell on top of a house. (See pictures on kjan.com. Click “news” under the Community Hub, and scroll down).

3:08-a.m.- half-dollar sized hail (1.5″-diameter) south of Logan, in Harrison Co.

1:54-a.m. – Penny sized hail (.75″-dia.) 3 miles west of Pacific Junction, in Mills County.

Sunday

11:52-a.m. – Kellerton, Ringgold County: Thunderstorm wind damage. Four mature trees downed along with numerous 4-to 6- inch diameter limbs. Two separate power lines downed by falling trees. An abandoned mobile home moved off of its foundation. (Time estimated by radar).

11:23-p.m. – Nickel-sized hail (.88″-dia.) in Shenandoah, Page Co.

11:15-p.m – Golfball-sized hail (1.75″-dia.) in Sidney, Fremont Co.

10:50-p.m. – Pea-to-dime-sized hail (1/2″-dia.) & heavy rain in Sidney.

10:35-p.m. – quarter-zied hail (1″-dia.) northeast of Arispe, in Union Co.

10:33-p.m. – 1.5″ hail in Arispe, in Union Co.

10:03-p.m. – .88″-dia. hail north of Clarinda, in Page Co.

10:00-p.m. – 1″-dia. hail 4 miles south of Clarinda.

Plenty of rumors are floating about the looming flooding in Council Bluffs and the city is taking steps to separate truth from fiction. Art Hill, a spokesman for Council Bluffs, says they’re launching a 24-seven flooding hotline so people can get answers to any questions right away.

“We are establishing an information line,” Hill says. “It’ll always be staffed by a person to relate information they’ve been hearing and whether or not it’s correct.” He says the city is also updating its website constantly with the latest flood data. Hill urges Council Bluffs residents and business owners to register on the city’s Code Red notification system.

“If, geographically, your home or business is in a location that might be impacted in some way, you’ll get either a phone call or a text telling you about it,” he says. Hill says officials want to make sure all residents with special needs get help in case there is an evacuation due to flooding — or some other emergency.

“Whether it’s because of limited mobility or age, they (should) register with the city and in the event of an evacuation, we’d have the information.” The information line is (712) 328-4672 and the website is: www.councilbluffs-ia.gov

(Matt Kelley/Radio Iowa)