A confirmed tornadic thunderstorm tracked through central Iowa Monday evening, prompting a Tornado Warning for Story, Hardin and Hamilton counties as it moved southeast at 30 mph, part of a broader outbreak that put nearly 50 Iowa counties under a Tornado Watch until 10 PM.
Confirmed Tornado Threat Near Roland: Story, Hardin and Hamilton Counties
The NWS Des Moines office issued a Tornado Warning at 5:18 PM CDT Monday, valid until 5:45 PM, for northern Story, southwestern Hardin and southeastern Hamilton counties. Radar indicated rotation with a severe thunderstorm located over Roland, about 11 miles north of Nevada, moving southeast at 30 mph. Forecasters warned of a tornado and hail up to two inches in diameter.
The warning covered mainly rural areas, including Zearing, McCallsburg and Garden City, as well as Interstate 35 between mile markers 119 and 127. The NWS cautioned that flying debris would be dangerous to anyone caught without shelter, that mobile homes could be damaged or destroyed, and that damage to roofs, windows, vehicles and trees was likely.
Tornado Watch 500 Covered Nearly 50 Iowa Counties
Hours earlier, the NWS Storm Prediction Center issued Tornado Watch 500 at 3:05 PM CDT, valid until 10 PM, spanning roughly 50 counties across nearly the entire eastern half of Iowa — from Polk, Story and Boone in the center of the state to Dubuque, Linn and Johnson in the east, and south through Marion, Mahaska and Washington counties.
The NWS Quad Cities office subsequently extended the watch to add five more counties — Cedar, Muscatine, Henry, Jefferson and Louisa — covering cities including Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Iowa City, Muscatine, Fairfield and Mount Pleasant.
What Residents Should Do
During an active Tornado Warning, the NWS advises residents to take cover immediately — move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and stay away from windows. Anyone outdoors, in a mobile home or in a vehicle should move to the closest substantial shelter and protect themselves from flying debris. A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop and residents in the watch area should stay alert to changing weather and have a way to receive warnings. Monitor the latest alerts at weather.gov/dmx and weather.gov/dvn.
