At Least Seven Fatalities Attributed to Tornadic Outbreak in Iowa on Saturday

Posted: March 7, 2022 10:30 am

More Severe Weather on Tap for Monday

At least seven deaths are being blamed on a tornado that blasted its way through the Des Moines, Iowa area on Saturday. The deaths were spread out in two counties after the twister tore through the suburban towns of Winterset and Patterson.

Tornado Rated as EF-3 Storm

The preliminary results of the tornado rating system process put it at an EF-3 storm. This rating leans on the Enhanced Fujita scale measuring wind speeds. An EF-3 storm translates to winds of 136 to 165 mph.

According to the Des Moines Register, the seven reported fatalities make this the deadliest tornado to hit the state since 2008. In addition to the deaths, at least 25 to 30 homes were destroyed by the tornado in Madison County, the area in which six of the deaths occurred. Two of these fatalities were children.

The severe weather was not unexpected. Forecasters had been warning for days that this area of the U.S. was ripe for storms and the potential of twisters. A tornado watch was issued for Nebraska, Missouri, and Iowa early Saturday afternoon. Shortly after, a tornado warning was issued for parts of Iowa.

There was a smattering of additional tornado warnings issued for the state throughout the afternoon as the severe weather picked up in intensity. The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed a tornado near the towns of Corning and Prescott just after 4 pm local time. About 30 minutes later, a multi-vortex twister was seen in Patterson and Winterset, eventually inching closer to the populated area of Des Moines.

Des Moines Under Fire

A tornado warning was issued for Des Moines at about 4:30 pm. Des Moines International Airport halted all air traffic and evacuated passengers and workers to the tornado shelters located under the facility as the storm moved dangerously close.

Before heading toward the Des Moines area, the tornado ripped through the town of Patterson, causing structural damage and bringing down trees throughout the region. The twister had moved to the southern edges of Des Moines by 5 pm, delivering more damage to the nearby town of Winterset.

Because the storm crossed over the busy Interstate 35 in Des Moines, it was captured by multiple traffic cameras demonstrating its strength and velocity.

Other Towns That Sustained Damage

In addition to Winterset and Patterson, the towns of Norwalk and Avon also experienced tornado damage in the form of downed power lines and structure damage. As the storm moved to the northeast, it came across highway 117 in Colfax.

The track of the storm then took it to Newton, Iowa, crossing over Interstate 80.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation by the time the day was over. By early Sunday, there had been 42 preliminary reports of tornadoes. Tornado sirens were still going off in the early morning hours on Sunday as the storms moved through central Indiana.

In addition to the damage in Iowa, downed power lines in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan left over 70,000 customers in the dark.

Severe Weather Chances for Monday

The risk of severe thunderstorms will move farther to the east on Monday, stretching into the Mississippi River Valley and into middle Tennessee and northern Alabama. These storms will bring the threat of isolated tornadoes, strong winds, heavy rains, and flash flooding. The primary areas in the danger zone include the swath of land stretching from Arkansas into Ohio.

Unfortunately, this is the same area that has already been inundated with rain over the last few weeks. Up to four inches of new rainfall may be recorded by the time the system pushes through by Tuesday, exacerbating waterways that are already swollen.

A second storm system is predicted to develop late Monday across the Northeast, bringing heavy rain and severe thunderstorms from the Appalachians and up and down the coastal areas of the mid-Atlantic into New England.

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