Deadly Tornado Tears Through Rural Iowa Communities, Leaving Devastation in its Wake

Central Iowa was left reeling after a deadly tornado swept through rural communities, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. Iowa State Patrol confirmed fatalities in Greenfield, a town of 2,000 residents situated 40 miles southwest of Des Moines.

A total of 18 tornado warnings were issued across Iowa, with additional warnings in Wisconsin and Minnesota, marking a perilous tornado season in the region. Sgt. Alex Dinkla reported that at least 12 individuals required hospital treatment as Adair County Memorial Hospital in Greenfield was damaged, necessitating the transfer of victims to other medical facilities.

The severe weather system is predicted to shift towards the southern Plains and the Mississippi Valley today, posing significant risks of large hail, wind damage, and tornadoes in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. Approximately 44 million people across the U.S. will face severe weather threats today, with flood watches affecting 8 million individuals, including the Dallas metro area which might see over 3 inches of rain.

Aerial footage captured in Greenfield depicted entire streets decimated by the tornado’s wrath, with debris strewn amidst shattered trees and cars. In nearby Red Oak, Montgomery County, a resident filmed a tornado swirling as sirens blared and heavy rain fell. The Montgomery County Emergency Management reported multiple confirmed tornadoes damaging at least 28 homes, some completely destroyed.

Wind farms near Prescott, Iowa, witnessed turbines left in ruin following the storm, while strong winds near Nevada caused a truck to overturn on a highway. Governor Kim Reynolds declared a disaster in 15 counties and planned to survey the affected areas today. The National Weather Service announced that three teams would be dispatched to examine the tornado damage.

Elsewhere, in Colorado, large hailstones wreaked havoc, stripping the cladding off buildings and shattering car windows. Omaha, Nebraska, faced raging floodwaters from 4 to 8 inches of rainfall, leaving cars submerged and residents stranded. Mike Troy, a local, found his home effectively marooned on an island, with over 70,000 and 67,000 energy customers still without power in Texas and Wisconsin, respectively.

Patrick Smith, an editor and reporter for NBC News Digital based in London, documented the severe weather events across multiple states, reflecting the widespread impact of the recent storms.