Tornado in Iowa, May 6, 1993

A line of thunderstorms moved into southwest Iowa during the evening hours. As the line progressed it turned into a large thunderstorm complex. Quite a bit of severe weather was associated with the complex while it was to the southwest of Iowa. As the storms moved into Iowa they weakened and produced mostly heavy rainfall and some small hail (pea to marble-size). One cell moved into Taylor County. Two farmsteads were hit by a tornado in the southwest corner of the county. The tornado touched down in sections 21 and 28 of Polk Township. Trees were twisted with shingles being driven into the trees. Damage on one farmstead totaled approximately $70,000 with two garages taken out and damage done to the farmhouse. The second farm sustained about $35,000 damage with most done to outbuildings. Reports indicated one piece of tin from the two farmsteads that were hit was found two to three miles away. The same storm caused damage to grain bins and silos to the southwest of Taylor County in Missouri. The tornado remained on the ground, at least intermittently, to a point west-northwest of Bedford. At that point it lifted, just before crossing Highway 2. The track would have taken the tornado through the town of Gravity. Fortunately, after it hit the two farmsteads in the southwest part of the county, it tracked across open countryside.