A hot muggy day with record breaking high temperatures in the lower to middle 90s made fuel for severe thunderstorms as a strong fall cold front sliced into this hot humid airmass. During the afternoon hours an outflow boundary was enough to already enough to spark the areas 1st round of severe storms around 1-3pm, wind damage was reported in Anamosa an Scotch Grove. Later in the afternoon the main show was moving in as the strong cold front sparked thunderstorms over Central Iowa near Des Monies where numerous reports of significant tree damage was reported across the Northwest side of the Des Monies metro. This line of storms turned into a long-range bow echo as it raced down the I-80 corridor towards Cedar Rapids and Iowa City and surrounding towns. 50 to 60MPH, tree damage and power lines down were reported in several communities including both in the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City metros. The worst damage report I've come across so far is out of North Liberty where one home at a garage roof torn off, windows broken and a flag pole snapped and blown over a house into the back yard. On the upside there was beneficial rains reported with widespread rainfall of at least 0.50" reported, and amounts as high as 1-3" over the last 24 hour period.
Video of the storm from Hiawatha,Iowa
At my location there the strongest winds was in two parts of the storm, the 1st initial blow as the roll cloud went over then even strong gusty winds as the heaviest rain moved in. It almost appeared to have a wet microburst look to it as heavy rain was blowing of roofs. Numerous large branches at least 5 inches in diameter broke off trees just down the street from where I live. I estimated the wind gusts at 50 to 60MPH. 0.81" of rain fell at my location.
Damage Reports
Belle Plain, Large tree down blocking road
Newhall, 60MPH wind gust
Vinton, 63MPH wind gust
Shellsburg, 5-6" diameter branch down
Hiawatha, estimated 50-60MPH winds 5" diameter branch down
SW Cedar Rapids, estimated 60MPH winds
Iowa City, Tree down, powerlines down
North Liberty, Garage roof blown off, Windows broke, Flag pole snapped and thrown over house
Anamosa, Section of a tree snapped off and fell onto a car
Scotch Grove, Section of tree snapped
Olin,1.00" hail
Tipton, Cattle shed blown down 8-12" branch broken
2 comments:
Pretty cool, Derek! I'd say that 2nd surge of wind looked pretty intense!
Yes the 2nd surge ( last ) was definitely the worst. That was the biggest gust during the storm. Sheets of wind driven rain were being blown over the buildings.
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