Posted on 05/21/2004 4:51:36 PM PDT by dusty99999
Tornadoes touched down in Grundy County, Humboldt County, and there were additional reports of tornadoes west of Grundy Center, east of Eldora and near Garrison in Benton County.
There are reports of several homes hit near Bradgate, and several people have been injured.
A tornado warning was issued for Humboldt and Kossuth counties. If you are in the tornado warning area, take cover immediately because a tornado was sighted or a developing tornado was reported.
The storm also produced hail 1.5 inches thick, and larger hail could fall as the storm progresses across the state.
A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Pocahontas County, and there are flash flood watches and warnings in effect for most of north-central Iowa.
A tornado watch is in effect until 10 p.m. for much of Iowa. Cities in the watch include Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Fort Dodge, Dubuque, Waterloo and Iowa City.
If you are in the tornado watch area, stay informed of the storm and be prepared to take cover at short notice, as tornadoes can occur with little or no warning.
bttt
IG, please check in.
Two of my children are in Calhoun Co., just south of the mentioned areas.
Time to pray and call them...
No answer...
:-(
Be sure to check the boxes for county & highway overlays.
Lines might be jammed. Bet they're trying to call you at the same time :)
bttt
bttt
Prayers for their safety.
Prayers sent. Storming here in Ohio where I am now too.
Thank you
Thanks.
Thank you.
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/radar/latest/DS.p19r0/si.kdmx.shtml
Bradgate has indeed been pasted badly by this one (according to my folks who live near Humboldt), so that particular small town will probably get smaller. It looks like a wild night yet, and the selfish part of me is hoping the cell stays well above US 20 as it slides to the east ("North of Highway 20" is almost shorthand for foul weather in Iowa).
I selfishly concur, since my kids are 10 miles south of 20...
:-(
Baseball/Softball size hail around today too. At noon and again around 5:30ish. Local volunteer fireman were called out to spot. They saw those tornados. Apparently there were 3 of them. It was on the ground then around Rolfe. Girlfriend-in-law's dad is police chief and she said she heard over the radio that one of the sherriffs deps got too close and the tornado took off the lights on his car!! Whoops!
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Several tornadoes were reported in northern Iowa Friday and at least one town suffered incredible damage. A tornado cut a path from Rolfe to Bradgate in northwestern Iowa Friday evening, with heavy damages and some injuries reported.
A Bradgate resident said that 80 to 90 percent of the homes in the town of 200 had been damaged. Humboldt County sheriff's officers have reportedly sealed off roads into and out of Bradgate. Only emegency crews and those with chainsaws are being allowed to enter. Pocahontas County Sheriff Bob Lampe told KCCI that the path of damage was about 2 miles wide and 8 miles long.
"Damage is devastating in the Bradgate area; maybe 75 percent of the town is gone," Lampe said.,P. Tornadoes also touched down in Grundy County, Humboldt County, and there were additional reports of tornadoes west of Grundy Center, east of Eldora and near Garrison in Benton County. The storm had winds of more than 100 mph and produced hail 1.5 inches thick.
I was able to make a back roads tour through these areas a couple of years ago. Beautiful country and small towns, and some of the nicest folks you will ever meet.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.