DES MOINES, Iowa (RI) – Last night’s powerful storm spun off multiple tornadoes in Iowa, while straight line winds exceeded 80 miles an hour. There are dozens of reports of structural and tree damage — and one person is reported killed in eastern Iowa due to the strong winds. Meteorologist Alex Krull, at the National Weather Service in metro Des Moines, says there’s storm damage in virtually all 99 Iowa counties.
The storm packed exceptionally strong winds which reportedly topped out in western Iowa with identical reports from Missouri Valley and Sidney.
One death is reported in eastern Iowa that’s attributed directly to the storm. The Iowa State Patrol says strong winds flipped a tractor-trailer into a ditch in Benton County, killing the driver. The name is being withheld. Krull says it appears that’s the only casualty.
More than 140-thousand homes were without power statewide at the peak of the storm. Utilities say it may be three days before all of the power is restored.
