April 16: Damage reports from severe weather in eastern Iowa
Strong to severe storms produce damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes in Iowa on Tuesday afternoon. The early morning rain and clouds held instability back in much of eastern Iowa, where more quick tornadoes likely occurred.
In Iowa City, officials are asking drivers to avoid River Street and Riverside Drive due to downed powerlines between Highway 6 and Park Road.
Fortunately there's been no widespread damage reported in Eastern Iowa, but there were some isolated pockets of damage caused by either powerful winds or a brief tornado.
In far southeast Iowa, a strong long-track tornado occurred with multiple confirmed tornadoes near the Iowa/Missouri/Illinois border where the instability was higher.
There were reports of damage in eastern Iowa as well, some that may have been caused by brief tornadoes.
Other storm reports and damage:
- Cedar County: Minor damages in the town of Stanwood - Outbuildings destroyed, vehicle damages. 72 mph gust reported.
- Cedar County: Semi jackknifed on I-80 near West Branch
- Johnson County: Powerlines downed, tree damage in Iowa City near the University of Iowa
- Winneshiek County: Damage on Highway 52 near Postville, farm buildings damaged and destroyed
- Linn County: Funnel cloud reports in Alburnett & Central City
- Linn County: 65 mph wind gust in Cedar Rapids
- Jones County: Semi jackknifed in median on Highway 151 southbound near Linn/Jones line
- Buchanan County: Highway 20 blocked due to overturned semi
- Clayton County: Report of ditches near Cox Creek becoming inundated with water.
- Dubuque County: 8 inch diameter red cedar tree snapped with 60 mph gust
- Power outages reported in portions of eastern Iowa