DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A powerful thunderstorm system has knocked out power to thousands of people in western Iowa. MidAmerican Energy reports that nearly 3,300 customers were without power as of 6:45 a.m. Monday. More than 2,350 of those customers are in the Council Bluffs area. Officials report that falling trees and limbs damaged buildings and vehicles beneath, but no injuries have been reported. Heavy rain and some hail also were reported. Here in Atlantic, we received pea-sized hail and heavy rain at around 3:40-a.m.
Officials with the Omaha Public Power District says more than 5,800 customers were without power as of 5 a.m. Monday. Officials say some trees were toppled and branches ripped from tree trunks across the metropolitan area. Some of the fallen branches damaged buildings or vehicles below. No injuries have been reported. Heavy rain and some hail marked storms that traced through north-central and eastern Nebraska. Minor street flooding was reported where runoff overwhelmed storm sewers.