Damaging Winds in Iowa, June 29, 1998

Supercell thunderstorms developed over Central Iowa and rapidly intensified into a long squall line which raced southeast over Eastern Iowa into Central Illinois. Numerous funnel clouds were sited along the leading edge of the storm and a few non-supercell tornadoes were masked within a large area of damaging winds. Straightline winds from 60 to over 120 mph produced the most serious damage with these storms and 8 counties in Eastern Iowa were declaired disaster areas. School-net stations measured winds at 69 mph in Cedar Rapids and 123 mph at Washington. Across the county warning area sustained winds of 70 to 80 mph ripped down trees, power lines, and windmills, and knocked over farm buildings, grain bins and silos. One barn in Benton County housing a cargo van and thousands of dollars worth of antiques was blown on it's side. At another property 40 pine trees standing 30 feet high were snapped off. Widespread crop damage was also reported as the winds snapped off brittle corn stalks. Three large Co-operative grain bins in Belle Plaine (Benton County) and two more at Lost Nation and Clarence (Clinton County) were destroyed, and at Wapello (Louisa County) a half million bushel grain bin was crumpled. Serious damage was also received at 5 other Co-op grain bin sites. Churches in Hills, and Marengo had their steeples ripped off. Near Marengo substantial damage occurred to a large two story home after winds blew the roof off and then the entire outside wall gave way. A horse barn collapsed on 7 adult horses and 5 colts. The four horses that died were valued $18,000. In Iowa and Keokuk counties nine persons were treated for weather related injuries. Near Homestead a barn collapsed killing an undetermined number of cattle and at Amana the entire third floor was blown off the Amana Woolen Mill. One rural electric company reported only 5 of 21 substations were left on line after the storm. In Ladora the National Guard helped restore water by supplying generator power. The city of Keota was left without water service for several weeks after strong winds peeled the top off the city's water tower and left the city without pumps to operate the tower. Also, in and around Keota 20 power lines were destroyed and 8 miles of new poles from Sigourney to Keswick were snapped like matchsticks by the winds. In Washington County storm damages added up to $21 million after strong thunderstorm winds raced across the county downing trees, power lines, and causing widespread damage. Damage to rural buildings and structures topped $15 million. Fifteen homes were destroyed, 50 homes sustained major damage and minor damage occurred to 200 others. Ten businesses received major damage and another 50 reported minor damage. About 30,000 acres of corn were destroyed in the main path of the storm with widespread agricultural damage reported across the remainder of the county. The lost corn crop was valued at $5.5 million by U.S. Dept. of Agriculture representatives. Also destroyed were 70 barns, grain bins, and other ag buildings. One utility company replaced over 450 poles and restored over 100 miles of wire downed by the storm. In rural Johnson county 30 barns were destroyed, crops were devastatied, and more than 330 wooden sign posts were snapped by the wind. Across the county 50 homes (most of them mobile homes) were destroyed, another 60 suffered major damage and 170 sustained minor damage. Approximately 100 families sent the night in emergency shelters. In Iowa City winds and rain caused substantial damage at the University of Iowa Campus. An indoor football practice facility was flattened, trees, some more than a century old, were destroyed, and a medical facility was flooded. Two of 3 university radio towers were knocked to the ground. Initial damage estimates for the U of I topped $1.5 million. High schools in Williamsburg and Lone Tree reported $5,000 to $8,000 in damages to baseball and softball fields while $30,000 in damage was done to school facilities at Oxford. The city of Oxford also had their fire station destroyed, and their city hall and post office damaged. Strong winds derailed a train crossing a railroad bridge at Iowa City leaving nine cars dangling over the Iowa River. Long term power outages were common with over 70,000 homes in the Iowa City area without power overnight.Campgrounds and parks were closed across Linn, Johnson, and Benton Counties due to wind and water damage. The F.W. Kent Park near Tiffin was closed due to storm damage after thousands of trees in the 1010-acre park were blown down. Trees were blown onto the tennis and horseshoe courts at North Park in Lone Tree. Recreational facilities were also affected by the storm and at least 15 sporting events were cancelled. In Iowa City two men sought refuge in a walk-in freezer at a bowling alley after the roof was ripped off and the I-beams collapsed. The falling beams and heavy rain caused substantial damage to the bowling lanes. Across Muscatine County Kimberly Park, Wapsi Park and the Oakridge Cemetery all lost several large trees. Some damage was also noted to headstones at the cemetery. About 30 percent of the trees were destroyed at Weed Park in Muscatine, and of those remaining 80 percent were damaged. Many of the trees were 200 year old oaks. A motel suffered hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage when a portion of the roof was torn away and rain inundated the convention center, kitchen, and restaurant areas. Preliminary figures had 65 homes suffering $150,000 in damage while seven business sustained $900,000 in losses. The roof at Muscatine High School received $75,000 worth of damage and rain pooled on the gym floor with a unspecified amount of damage noted. At Muscatine General Hospital several people were treated for cuts and other minor weather related injuries. In the Conesville and Nichols areas some farms lost 90 percent or more of their corn crop. Barns, homes, grain bins, automobiles, trees and powerlines were damaged or destroyed across the county. One hundred eighty homes in Louisa County were either damaged or destroyed. At least 11 of these were mobile homes which were destroyed. Major trees were down in all sections of the county and the entire county was without power overnight. Numerous buildings throughout the county were damaged to differing degrees. Crop and agricultural damage was extreme especially around Letts. Also at Letts, over 9 tons of food spoiled due to long term power outages. At the Louisa County Fairgrounds the poultry barn was destroyed. A woman was killed near Columbus Junction when she left her car to run for cover and was hit by a falling tree. Another woman was injured by stepping on broken glass.In Henry County most of the damage consisted of downed trees and a few weather related accidents. A woman in Winfield was injured when the wind broke a window she was attempting to close, and north of Olds the driver of a semi was injured after his truck was blown into a ditch. Across Lee County and in the city of Keokuk fierce winds downed additional trees and lines. Three trees caught fire and several homes had minor damage. Some urban and small stream flooding was also reported in Keokuk. A correctional officer, admitted to Fort Madison Hospital for observation, appeared to be uninjured after lightning struck the observation tower he occupied at the Iowa State Penitentiary. In Des Moines County strong winds flattened thousands of acres of corn, damaged and destroyed buildings, tore down trees and lines, and left 10,500 electric customers without power.