Damage reports coming in after tornadoes touchdown in Iowa

Multiple rounds of storms spread across Iowa on Tuesday, bringing repeated severe weather warnings to the Hawkeye State.

A round of rain passed through central Iowa early on Tuesday morning and by mid-morning one round of severe thunderstorms passed through. Another round of storms, with multiple tornado warnings across the state appeared in the afternoon. By early evening, Iowans in western and central Iowa communities were trying to clean up and assess the damage.

Here are the latest updates (Jump to Severe weather outlook | Radar | Safety tips):

A little over an hour had passed since a tornado hit June and Larry Handsacker’s house off of 650th Avenue near Nevada, and their family was already on the scene, pulling valued possessions from the wreckage.

Which, in June Handsacker’s case, are her dolls.

“All my dolls!” she said, pointing to a nearly intact china cabinet just inches from where the tornado cleaved her home in half. ”And those were just the dolls I bought, not the ones I made.”

She was in the dining room when the tornado passed through her home. She had left her husband in the basement for a moment to grab her phone when insulation came crashing down around her. They had to crawl over the debris to get out.

“I have over 100 porcelain dolls — ceramic pieces I made,” Handsacker said. “We don’t know where they are yet. It’ll be a matter of getting in there.”

Her own grandparents lost their home in the five-tornado spree that touched down in Charles City in 1968, and her grandfather was trapped for three days in his car. 

She said she and her husband know they’re lucky they came away unscathed; they believe that God was looking out for them.

“It pays to teach Sunday school!," she said. "Do you know how horrible those kids behave?”

Gov. Kim Reynolds authorized a disaster emergency proclamation for 15 counties: Adair, Adams, Cass, Clay, Hardin, Harrison, Jasper, Kossuth, Marshall, Montgomery, Page, Palo Alto, Pottawattamie, Tama and Warren.  

With the proclamation, the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and temporary housing expenses.

The Disaster Case Advocacy Program addresses serious needs related to disaster-related hardship, injury, or adverse conditions. There are no income eligibility requirements for this program; it closes 180 days from the date of the governor's proclamation.

There’s no school at Johnston High School on Wednesday after Tuesday afternoon’s storms caused “extensive” damage to the building, the Johnston Community School District announced on social media. 

The senior awards ceremony that had been scheduled for Tuesday night was postponed due to the damage and staff were told not to come to the building on Wednesday for their safety. 

District spokesperson Lynn Meadows told the Des Moines Register that the whole of the building has been affected, with glass shattered throughout the high school, damage to the roof, a shed that’s been ripped apart and an overhead door that’s been torn off. 

Meadows said Tuesday evening there’s not yet been a decision made about classes at the high school for the rest of the week after Wednesday. Thursday was to be the last day of school for seniors. 

She said the graduation ceremony scheduled for next week at the Knapp Center would not be affected. 

Red Oak Mayor Shawnna Silvius, in a Facebook posting, said there were no reported injuries in an apparent tornado touchdown there, after a search and rescue operation.

The city street department's building "is likely a loss" and there were multiple downed powerlines. She said city street and wastewater employees who were present when the tornado touched down "are shook up but all are safe."

A tornado warning was issued for Independence, Vinton and Winthrop in northeast Iowa. The warning says it was issued for a radar-indicated tornado and the threat of quarter-sized hail. The warning expires at 7 p.m.

No tornadoes will officially be confirmed until the National Weather Service is able to send survey crews out into Iowa.

Unofficial reports from trained weather spotters throughout Tuesday included: A cluster of sightings in southwest Iowa in Cromwell, Prescott, Corning, Carbon, Red Oak and Villisca. Greenfield in southwest Iowa also appeared to be particularly hard hit. In central Iowa there were unconfirmed reports in Nevada, rural Story County and southeast of Polk City.

MidAmerican Energy is reporting more than 33,000 power outages across western and central Iowa, including 26,000 in the Des Moines metro area and nearly 3,500 in Fort Dodge.

Nearly 17,000 Alliant Energy customers were without power, many of them in southwest Iowa. The Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives reported over 7,600 customers were without power.

Reports were pouring in from National Weather Service volunteer weather spotters around Iowa. Among the reports:

• A 71 mph wind gust southeast of Newton.
• A roof blown off and trees down just east of Johnston.
• Snapped utility poles in Windsor Heights.
• Trees down on homes and power lines in Mason City.
• A tree on a house in Carlisle.
• Damaged grain bins and trees in Hanlontown in Worth County.
• 1.5-inch hail in east of Melrose In Monroe County.
• Cropland and basement flooding in Altoona.

Tornado damage was reported in rural parts of Story County, Melissa Spencer, the county's emergency management coordinator told the Ames Tribune.

Damage was reported near Cambridge and on the south side of Nevada, Spencer said."We need people to stay away from the damaged areas," she said. "We’re getting a lot of people that are coming to look and see what happened."

Former state Rep. Clel Baudler said the fast-moving tornado hit shortly after he arrived back home late Tuesday afternoon from a trip to Texas, caused extensive damage and injuries in Greenfield, and caused authorities to limit traffic in and out of the Adair County town of more than 2,000.

“Ambulances are running north and south like crazy,” said Baudler, who left the Legislature in 2018. “It’s all rescue and recovery right now.”

More details: Extensive damage in Greenfield, hit by tornado during string of dangerous storms in Iowa

Baudler, a retired state trooper who lives on Highway 25 about a half mile north of Greenfield, said his mile-long farm wasn’t damaged but there was debris from the tornado in a neighbor’s yard. He was still without power at about 5:20 p.m.

He said the tornado ran “cattywampus” through town, exiting on the northeast side. He said he’d heard it damaged the Adair County Hospital at 609 SE Kent St. and the Greenfield Rehabilitation and Health Care Center at 615 SE Kent.

A woman who answered the phone at the health care center confirmed it was hit, but said officials couldn’t talk as it was an emergency.

A MercyOne spokesperson previously confirmed to the Register that the hospital was damaged. The spokesperson told the Register shortly before 6 p.m. that the hospital had been evacuated. Further details were not immediately available.

The Adair County Sheriff also did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

Des Moines International Airport spokesperson Kayla Kovarna said the airport halted flights as soon as a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the area, and passengers and staff were escorted to storm-safe parts of the terminal.

She said Transportation Security Administration screening stations were in the process of reopening around 5:45 p.m. and that flights would resume shortly. She said some incoming flights were rerouted to other airports during the closure, but she didn't know how many had been affected.

Traffic is backed up for at least a mile on southbound Interstate 35 near Elkhart, Iowa.

A Register reporter observed at least four overturned semitrailers on the side of the interstate. Emergency crews were on scene.

A tornado warning has been issued in Newton, Colfax and Baxter until 5:30 p.m. Threats include a radar indicated tornado and possible pea sized hail.

A tornado warning has been issued for Nevada, Huxley and State Center until 5:30 p.m. Threats include a damaging tornado and possible quarter-sized hail.

A tornado warning was issued for Iowa Falls, Alden and Radcliffe until 5:30 p.m. Threats include a radar indicated tornado and possible quarter sized hail.

A tornado warning has been issued to include Des Moines, Altoona and Norwalk until 5:15 p.m. Threats include a radar-indicated tornado and half dollar sized hail. 

In an update at 4:45 p.m., the NWS said bot warnings in the Des Moines metro included observed tornadoes.

A radar-indicated tornado prompted a tornado warning for parts of the Des Moines metro area until 5 p.m. Quarter-sized hail is also possible.

Journalists with Des Moines TV station WHO are in Greenfield, Iowa, which appears to have been hit by a tornado earlier on Tuesday. Video posted to social media shows several damaged buildings in the town located at the intersection of Iowa Highways 25 and 92.

The Adair County Health System hospital in Greenfield was damaged, a MercyOne spokesperson told the Register.

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued as a line of storms approaches the Des Moines metro area.

The entire metro area is included in the warning that stretches south of the metro and up north to Ames, Gilbert and Nevada. It includes Winterset on the western edge and through to MItchelville on the east side. It is in effect until 5:15 p.m.

Threats include wind up to 60 mph as well as possible quarter-sized hail and tornadoes.

A tornado warning has been issued to include Webster City, Jewell Junction and Stratford until 4:45 p.m.

The NWS warning is for a radar-indicated tornado and the risk of quarter-sized hail.

A stovepipe tornado is one where the width of the tornado is about the same from when it meets the ground all the way up to where it connects to the base of the above thunderstorm, according to AccuWeather. Stormchasers have described some storms in western Iowa Tuesday as stovepipe tornadoes.

It is considered the cousin of a cone tornado, which is similar in size but tapers as it extends downward to the ground.

A flood warning has been issued for Fourmile Creek on the east side of Des Moines, according to the NWS.

The crest forecast is 13.9 feet, assuming Des Moines gets 0.75 inches of additional rain. At 13 feet the water threatens the dog park on Hubbell Avenue At 14 feet, widespread flooding occurs, NWS said, affecting lowland areas like the community center on Easton Boulevard.

As storms head east, they have begun to enter the Des Moines metro area.

A tornado warning centered around Greenfield is in effect until 4:15 p.m.

The warning includes Stuart and stretches to Redfield in southwest Dallas County until 4:15 p.m.

Another warning includes Creston and stretches up toward Earlham and Winterset on the edges of the Des Moines metro. That warning goes until 4:30 p.m.

Additional tornado warnings continue to be issued in southwest Iowa.

A warning for Corning, Orient and Prescott is in effect until 4 p.m. KCCI meteorologist Zane Satre was near Prescott with a live feed of a tornado on the ground.

Video captured by a storm chaser showed a tornado around 3 p.m. near Carbon, Iowa.

A warning is also in effect for Guthrie Center, Panora and Exire until 4 p.m.

The National Weather Service is continuing a warning for Fontanelle, Orient and Bridgewater until 3:45 p.m. The alert described it as a "life-threatening situation" with a damaging tornado reported.

Meteorologists and storm chasers in western Iowa have reported a tornado on the ground in Red Oak. An emergency manager in the area said it was located near the Red Oak airport around 2:27 p.m.

The area is under a tornado warning until 3 p.m.

A tornado warning is also in effect for areas around Essex, Hepburn, Stanton and Villisca until 3:30 p.m.

The NWS issued a new tornado warning at 2:57 p.m. for Fontanele, Orient and Bridgewater for a radar-indicated tornado and quarter-size hail possible. It expires at 3:45 p.m.

Tornado watches issued for all of Iowa ahead of next round of severe weather

All of Iowa is under a tornado watch for Tuesday afternoon.

A tornado watch issued around 1:15 p.m. covers all of central and eastern Iowa and extends into portions of western Iowa. It will be in effect until 9 p.m. Tuesday.

The main threats are several strong tornadoes, scattered softball-size hail and wind gusts up to 90 mph, according to a post announcing the watch from the National Weather Service.

The National Weather Service in Omaha has issued several tornado warnings for eastern Nebraska and western Iowa for radar-indicated tornadoes as the storms develop in that area.

An earlier watch covers the remaining western Iowa counties until 5 p.m. Forecasters warned of winds up to 70 mph in those areas.

The National Weather Service shared a graphic on social media showing the approximate timing for storms later today. In a comment on a Facebook post , the NWS said this afternoon's storms are "expected to be very dangerous"

Thunderstorms will likely start in west Iowa around 2 p.m., making their way to Des Moines and central Iowa around 4 p.m. At 7 p.m., the severe weather will be entering eastern Iowa.

A watch is issued when conditions are favorable for severe weather to develop. They often cover large areas.

Warnings are issued when severe weather is actually happening and Iowans need to take action.

Read more: What's the difference between a severe weather watch and a warning?

Crews are working quickly to restore power to Iowans across the state. At one point, MidAmerican showed more than 7,000 people without power in Iowa as a result of Tuesday’s storms.

As of 12:10 p.m., the number of customers without power in the Des Moines metro area was around 2,100. The Council Bluffs area was down to about 100 customers, after having more than 1,000 outages this morning.

Alliant Energy was down to about 60 customers in the state without power.

A severe thunderstorm moving through central Iowa produced large hail.

Two reports submitted to the National Weather Service around 11:20 a.m. listed 2 inch diameter hail near Pella.

Waukee experienced hail ranging from the size of a nickel to as big as a quarter, at 9:07 a.m. according to a trained weather sportter. Wind gusts up to 55 mph were also reported.

A warning issued for Pottawattamie County, home to Council Bluffs, until 7:30 a.m. warned of baseball size hail.

Hail that large is sometimes called "gorilla" hail for its large size and destructive power.

Several Des Moines metro school districts plan to dismiss classes early on Tuesday due to the threat of more severe storms this afternoon.

• Ankeny Schools: Two hour early out
• Des Moines Public Schools: Two hour early dismissal. There will be no Metro Kids Care or evening activities. Elementary schools are out at 12:40 p.m. while middle and high schools are out at 1:25 p.m.
• Southeast Polk Community School District: Two hour early dismissal resulting in no evening preschool or evening activities. 
• Urbandale Community School District: Early dismissal and no half-day preschool
• Waukee Community School District: Two hour early dismissal and after school activities are canceled. The district is still waiting for state guidance regarding state playoff events.
• West Des Moines Community Schools: Two out early dismissal 

Des Moines has received just over an inch and a half of rain since severe weather entered Iowa early on Monday, with 1.07 inches since midnight.

Some locations in the state are nearing three inches of rain since last night. Here are the highest rainfall totals as of 11 a.m Tuesday:

• Harlan: 2.99 inches
• Audubon: 2.95 inches
• Iowa Falls: 2.63 inches
• Waterloo: 2.57 inches
• Decorah: 2.15 inches
• Ankeny: 2.02 inches

At least two roads in Des Moines are closed after a round of severe storms moved through the metro area.

The Des Moines Police Department received a small number of reports of power lines down and tree damage.

There are temporary lane closures at the 3300 block of Grand Avenue and the 3900 block of Urbandale Avenue. No significant damage or injury have been reported as of now, according to DMPD. 

The severe thunderstorm warning for parts of the Des Moines metro has been extended until 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Dallas County has been dropped from the warning, but it now extends into Jasper County and as far east as Grinnell and as far south as Pella.

Threats include 60 mph winds and quarter-sized hail. The extended warning covers over 349,600 people. 

Much of Dallas and Polk counties are under a severe thunderstorm warning until 9:45 a.m. Tuesday.

Storm sirens began sounding just after 8:40 a.m. in the metro. Cities around Des Moines are at risk of winds up to 70 mph and quarter-sized hail.

The warning covers just north of Ankeny and as far south as Truro. It stretches to Redfield and Winterset in the west and Milo in the east.

Dallas and Polk counties both activate sirens for tornadoes or severe thunderstorms with winds over 70 mph. The warning meets that criteria, unlike a storm on Sunday night that activated the sirens in error.

Sirens do not sound continuously during a warning. They will sound for 3-5 minutes and then pause for 10-15 before repeating. There is not an all-clear sound when a warning expires.

What does the Des Moines, Iowa doppler radar show?

Here's a look at the current National Weather Service radar loop for central Iowa:

Areas around the Des Moines metro are under a severe thunderstorm warning until 9 a.m. Tuesday.

The warning extends from Dallas Center, down to Winterset and as far west as Adel. Possible threats include winds up to 70 mph and quarter-sized hail.

Just over 34,000 people live within the warning area.

The National Weather Service upgraded the risk of severe weather for most of Iowa. A majority of the state it rated "moderate" risk, a level 4 on a scale of 1-5.

More: How much rain did Des Moines get so far? Here are the rainfall totals for Iowa through Monday morning

Multiple rounds of storms are expected to continue through the morning. But, the strongest storms are expected to arrive in central Iowa between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Damaging winds, hail and flash flooding are the primary threats, according to the NWS. Tornadoes — some strong — are also possible.

More: How do tornadoes form? Explaining the severe weather after dozens of recent Iowa tornadoes

Severe thunderstorm watch in effect for Iowa until 1 p.m.

A large portion of central Iowa extending from the southern border to U.S. Highway 20 is under a severe thunderstorm watch until 1 p.m. Tuesday.

The main threats are ping-pong ball-sized hail and wind gusts that could reach 75 mph. Tornadoes are also possible.

During a severe weather warning, it's time to take action and follow your plan.

NWS has tips for what to do at different locations:

• Stay Weather Ready: Continue to follow local news or listen to a NOAA Weather Radio to stay updated about watches and warnings.
• At Your House: Go to your secure location, like the basement or lowest floor level, if you hear a warning. Take your pets with you if time allows.
• At Your Workplace or School: Stay away from windows. Do not go to large open rooms such as cafeterias, gymnasiums or auditoriums.
• Outside: Go inside a sturdy building immediately. Sheds and storage facilities are not safe. Taking shelter under a tree can be deadly.
• In a Vehicle: Being in a vehicle during severe weather is safer than being outside, but, drive to the closest secure shelter if there is sufficient time. Do not stop and park under a bridge or underpass.

Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at vreynarodriguez@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter @VictoriaReynaR.