(SBA) Sergeant Bluff, Iowa - A widespread severe weather event, including hail, winds, and at least two tornadoes, occurred across eastern Iowa, northeast Missouri, and far western Illinois between 1 PM and 10 PM on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. The National Weather Service (NWS) Storm Damage Survey teams confirmed at least two tornadoes occurred.
One of the confirmed tornadoes was an EF2 in southeast Iowa near the towns of Houghton, Salem, New London, and Yarmouth that damaged numerous structures on a path slightly over 25 miles. The tornado developed just southwest of Houghton, Iowa in Lee County. Significant damage to homes, trees, and outbuildings was observed. The worst damage occurred at a farmstead north of New London in Henry County, where the roof was removed from a brick house, one of the exterior walls collapsed, and the garage was destroyed. Numerous out buildings were also destroyed at nearby farmsteads. Maximum winds were estimated around 130 mph.
Another tornado was reported northwest of Cedar Rapids near the towns of Quasqueton and Winthrop. Details about this tornado are still being gathered.
In addition to the tornadoes, severe thunderstorms hit Iowa City, Johnson County. More than 1,900 residents were briefly without power after a strong wave of thunderstorms swept through the Iowa City and Coralville area. Intense winds knocked out power lines along North Riverside Drive in Iowa City, temporarily closing the street to traffic between Highway 6 and Park Road.
On the same day, northwest Iowa was also affected by severe weather, with multiple tornadoes touching down in the region. The National Weather Service confirmed that at least five tornadoes touched down in the afternoon in Calhoun and Pocahontas counties. All five twisters came from the same thunderstorm that traveled through that area of northwest Iowa. The strongest of these was an EF-1 tornado that tracked just east of Rockwell City.
In Plymouth County, two tornadoes were reported. One touched down in an open field around 1:46 PM 1 mile NNW of Hinton, IA. Another tornado, rated as EF-1 with estimated peak winds of 100 mph, touched down around 1:58 PM 3 miles SW of Struble, IA. An outbuilding was destroyed, with debris spreading northeast of the damage location. The tornado then produced tree damage before lifting.
In Sioux County, two more tornadoes were reported. A brief tornado touched down around 2:11 PM 2 miles N of Struble, IA. An EF-0 tornado with estimated peak winds of 85 mph touched down around 2:28 PM 2 miles NNW of Sioux Center, IA. Damage was limited to a collapsed barn and some trees at the farmstead.
Despite the widespread damage, no injuries were reported with these storms. The National Weather Service continues to assess the damage and will provide updates as more information becomes available.
