Tornadoes and Hail in Iowa, April 26, 2024

This segment is a continuation of the EF-4 tornado that went through western Douglas and Washington Counties. Upon entering far southwestern Harrison County, the tornado moved across the Missouri River, crossing Highway 30 and the Union Pacific Rail line about one mile east of the Iowa-Nebraska state line. Several trees were snapped and broken, producing EF-0 damage. The tornado then moved across bottomland and agricultural areas, snapping or uprooting several trees and tipping center pivots, producing EF-0 to EF-1 damage. The tornado dissipated approximately 2 miles southwest of Modale, Iowa at 4:29 pm CDT. Peak estimated winds during this segment of the tornado track were estimated at 90 miles per hour. The peak width of the tornado during its track in Harrison County was estimated to be around 350 yards, with an average width of 100 yards.

A tornado developed in woodlands about 4 NNW of Magnolia, IA. Road maintenance workers noted damage to the trees south of 174th Trail Road on the south side of Steer Creek. The tornado crossed 174th Trail breaking power poles and damaging a farmstead. The tornado moved generally north moving across agricultural fields and skirting the eastern periphery of the Loess Hills State Forest west of Juneau road, damaging a house and trees. The tornado veered to the NNE, crossing 154th Trail Road, where it moved across an impassable area of Loess Hills State Forest west of Kelsey Avenue. It crossed just south of the intersection of Kelsey Avenue and Easton Trail Road, causing damage to a farmstead and power poles. It continued to move NNE, snapping trunks and large branches of trees and destroying barns and outbuildings along 110th Street, as well as along Laredo Avenue north of 112th Trail Road. The tornado began to weaken as it approached the Harrison-Monona county line, producing only very minor damage as it moved into Monona County east of Peach Avenue. The peak estimated winds in this tornado for this segment of its track were 110 miles per hour. The maximum width achieved by the tornado was 766 yards, with an average width during this segment estimated at 450 yards.

A tornado damage path began approximately 1 mile north of Pacific Junction, where the tornado was also reported by a trained spotter. The tornado crossed Highway 34 one mile east of Interstate 29 where it snapped trees. It then moved up and into the bluffs, where a home took a direct hit and lost large portions of the roof. A large camper was flipped on its side and trees were also snapped at this location. The tornado progressed north-northeast through a forested area where many tree trunks were snapped. The end of the damage path appeared to be near Pony Creek Park, just to the east of the Pony Creek Lake dam. Peak winds in this tornado were estimated at 100 miles per hour. The maximum measured width was 80 yards, with an estimated average width of 30 yards for this tornado track.

The ground-level tornado circulation developed near 35th and Broadway in Council Bluffs, producing an intermittent track as it progressed north-northeast through a neighborhood, damaging trees, roofs, and apartment buildings. Peak winds were estimated to be at 110 miles per hour, with a peak width in this segment of the track of 75 yards, and an estimated average width of 50 yards. This tornado continued into Douglas County where it caused EF-2 damage at Eppley Airfield, then moved back into Pottawattamie County shortly after.

The Pottawattamie County Emergency Manager reported golf ball sized hail in Carter Lake.

This tornado was based on an eyewitness observation of two simultaneous tornadoes passing east and west of a farmstead. There was little damage observed with this tornado, with only minor tree damage being reported. The peak estimated winds in this tornado were 70 mph, with a peak width of 200 yards and an average width of 100 yards.

This is a continuation of the Douglas County segment of this EF-3 tornado. This is also the second time the tornado moved through portions of western Pottawattamie County. At the start of this segment, the tornado moved northeast across the Missouri River and crossed Interstate 29 near mile marker 58. It widened to about one-quarter mile, damaging numerous homes and businesses between the interstate and Little Kiln Road. The most intense damage was sustained to a residence along Little Kiln Road due to the collapse of most of the exterior and interior walls except for a few interior rooms. A storm damage survey the following day found this to be EF-3 damage, with peak winds estimated at 152 miles per hour. This damage point was when the tornado was at its strongest. The tornado then continued northeast, moving across Old Lincoln Highway about 1.5 miles south of Crescent. EF-2 damage to several homes occurred due to the major loss of the roof and exterior walls. A vehicle detail shop was also destroyed in this area. The tornado then moved across mainly woodland areas before impacting a home and farm outbuildings near the intersection of Badger and Jefferson Avenues, where EF-2 damage was sustained to the home due to major roof damage. After this, the tornado moved across agricultural and woodland areas between 195th Street and Cougar Avenue, producing EF-1 damage to several manufactured homes and farm outbuildings. Further to the northeast, the tornado produced EF-0 damage to farm outbuildings by removing large portions of their roofs and snapping large tree limbs. This tornado weakened near the intersection of 210th Street and Teakwood Road, producing intermittent damage to tree limbs. It crossed Interstate 880 about 7 miles west of the I-29 and I-880 interchange, or about 7 miles southeast of Missouri Valley. Shortly after crossing Interstate 880, the tornado briefly moved into far southern Harrison County where it dissipated half a mile north of the county line just to the east of Overton Avenue. The peak width of the tornado during this segment of its track was measured at 550 yards, with an average width estimated at 300 yards.

This is a continuation of the EF-1 tornado that touched down in Harrison County to the north-northwest of Magnolia, IA. The tornado was already weakening as it entered Monona County, only producing low-end EF-0 damage to trees as it crossed the county line. The tornado dissipated less than a quarter mile ENE of the intersection of Peach Avenue and 330th Street.

A tornado damage path began near Aspen Road, just west of 240th Street. The tornado tracked toward the north-northeast, snapping trees and electrical poles as it went. A home was impacted along Chestnut Road with substantial roof damage. Two additional homes were directly impacted when the tornado crossed Highway 92. One of these sustained major roof damage while the other home had most external walls collapse while interior walls remained standing. Numerous trees were snapped and a large shed was completely destroyed at this location while a large steel horse trailer was thrown more than a quarter mile. The tornado continued to Cottonwood Road where it damaged a home and an outbuilding. The most significant damage along the track occurred at Dogwood Road where a home was completely destroyed, and only the basement remained. Tree damage here was substantial as well with numerous snapped trunks. Residents of this home survived by seeking shelter in the basement bathroom, which was one of the few locations in the home not directly impacted by major flying debris. The tornado crossed Elmtree Road and Highway 6, and appears to have been at its widest near Highway 6 where it was approximately 800 yards wide. Another home was damaged near 270th and Hickory Road. The tornado continued northeast, damaging electrical poles, trees, and outbuildings all the way to where it ended near 295th and Juniper Road. The ending location is based on photo evidence of spotters located southeast of the storm. Peak winds in this tornado were estimated at 145 miles per hour. This tornado had a max width of 900 yards with an estimated average width of 500 yards.

A short-lived tornado developed in an agricultural field and moved generally northeast across fields and pastureland, damaging outbuildings of farmsteads near the intersection of 280th and Poplar Roads. The tornado appeared to dissipate in pastureland before reaching State Highway 183. Peak winds were estimated at 85 miles per hour. The tornado reached a maximum width of 100 yards, with an average width estimated at 50 yards.

A tornado developed near the intersection of 260th and 270th Streets. It produced damage to outbuildings at a farmstead near this intersection and tossed some fiberglass boats. The tornado moved across agricultural fields generally northeast paralleling State Highway 183 to the west. It produced damage to trees along Redwood Avenue and snapped a power pole at the intersection of State Highway 37 and Redwood Avenue. The tornado moved just west of the community of Soldier, producing no discernable damage to any homes or businesses on the west side of town. Radar signatures indicate the tornado continued to move northeast across agricultural lands, moving north of 245th Street, damaging trees and outbuildings, before dissipating just east of Spruce Avenue. Peak winds in this tornado were estimated at 98 miles per hour. The maximum width was measured at 250 yards, with the average width estimated at 100 yards.

A tornado developed approximately 3 miles east of McClelland, and developed prior to the dissipation of the EF-3 tornado that tracked near Treynor. This was confirmed by photo and video evidence of storm spotters. This tornado moved toward the north-northeast, damaging mainly trees, outbuildings and barns as it tracked towards Sumac Road and 330th Street. At this point, according to radar and storm damage indicators, the tornado rapidly intensified. An outbuilding was totally destroyed near Sycamore Road, and the tornado caused extensive tree damage east of 330th Road, south of Minden. The tornado intensified further, and widened to approximately 1200 yards as it impacted the town of Minden. Video and spotter reports indicate that there were multiple vortices within the tornado near Minden and points northeast, and there was evidence of narrow zones of the most intense damage which lines up very well with the multiple vortex tornado concept. In fact, there were damage indicators of EF-1 damage and high-end EF-3 damage within only 100 yards of each other. The most intense damage was on the far east side of Minden. Numerous homes were uninhabitable and several homes were completely destroyed. There were also several sizeable metal buildings southeast of Main Street that were completely destroyed. The construction of these metal structures and the homes that were most impacted, in conjunction with the tree damage and damage to cars with few if any cars being lofted and thrown indicated that this was a very strong EF-3 tornado, near the top of the damage range for an EF-3. The damage to the town of Minden was extensive, with three injuries. A fourth person succumbed to their injuries after the event, resulting in the only direct fatality of this tornado outbreak in the OAX area. The tornado continued northeast of Minden where it produced EF-3 damage at two homes along 345th Street. One of the homes was somewhat intact but was removed from its foundation and slid approximately 10 yards to the northeast. The other home had only small interior rooms remaining. It is worth noting that these two homes were 700 yards apart along the north-south street. EF-2 damage occurred along Whippoorwill Road. The tornado crossed Interstate 80 near 355th Street, flipping a semi, and produced damage of a mile wide along York Road just north of Interstate 80. This tornado continued briefly into Harrison County and then into Shelby County. EF-1 damage was noted in Harrison County and EF-3 damage was found in Shelby County 2 miles west of Harlan, Iowa. Peak estimated winds in Pottawattamie County from this tornado were estimated at 160 miles per hour. Maximum width was estimated at 1900 yards, with an average width of 850 yards.

This is the final segment for the EF-3 tornado that impacted Eppley Airfield and portions of western Pottawattamie County. The tornado crossed into far southern Harrison County less than a quarter mile from the York Road and Overton Avenue intersection. For the short time the tornado was in the county, it produced EF-0 damage to trees along a half-mile stretch of Overton Avenue. The tornado dissipated half a mile north of the county line just to the east of Overton Avenue. The peak width of the tornado in this segment of its track was measured at 75 yards with an average width estimated at 30 yards. Maximum estimated winds while this tornado was in Harrison County were 75 miles per hour.

A tornado touched down just southwest of Reading Trail, impacting a home along Reading Trail by removing a porch, snapping tree limbs, and destroying a large camper. The tornado proceeded northeast where some trees were damaged along Redwood Avenue. This tornado was rated EF-1 with peak winds estimated at 100 miles per hour. The tornado achieved a peak width of 30 yards, with an average width estimated at 20 yards.

This is a continuation of the Minden, Iowa EF-3 tornado. This tornado briefly crossed into the far southeast corner of Harrison County. The tornado entered the county on York Road between the county line and Yates Avenue. It was less than a mile before the tornado crossed into Shelby County between York Road and 335th Street. Along York Road, EF-1 damage was noted with several tree trunks snapped and farm outbuildings with exterior walls collapsed. The peak winds in this segment of the tornado track were estimated at 97 miles per hour, with a peak width measured at 1000 yards and an average width also at 1000 yards.

This is a continuation of the Minden, Iowa EF-3 tornado. Prior to this segment, the tornado had tracked through Pottawattamie County and a small portion of extreme southeast Harrison County. After crossing into Shelby County between York Road and 335th Street, tree and powerline damage continued to the northeast, with a home having its roof blown off near County Road M16 and 450th Street. Trees in the area were uprooted or snapped at the base of the trunk. A home was badly damaged, and a barn was destroyed less than one mile southeast of Tennant. The tornado appears to have been widest near 750th Street and Hackberry Road, at approximately 1900 yards in width based on tree and powerline damage. At Highway 44, a home was destroyed along with substantial tree damage. Most walls of the home were standing, but a large automobile was thrown or rolled nearly a quarter mile. The tree and vehicle damage suggested that this location was a stronger section of the tornado, and was subsequently rated EF-3. The tornado tracked approximately 1.5 miles northwest of Harlan and began to turn more towards the north, significantly damaging at least 3 homes near Highway 59 as it crossed. It turned almost due north and traveled several miles along Linden Road, and missed the town of Defiance, Iowa by less than half a mile to the east. A second tornado developed just to the east of this one at this time, tracking along Oak Road and causing separate damage. Near Defiance the tornado also became rain-wrapped according to chaser video, and appears likely to have ended just south of the Crawford-Shelby county line. There is some potential based on radar data that this tornado tracked farther north into Crawford County, but damage surveys did not identify a track continuation. The peak estimated winds in this segment of the tornado track were 140 miles per hour. The maximum width of the tornado was measured at 1900 yards with an average width estimated at 1300 yards.

A CO-OP observer reported quarter sized hail on the southeast side of Clarinda.

This tornado touched down in the V and W Petersen Wildlife Management Area, less than half a mile south of the Shelby-Crawford County border between Road M36 and Quince Road. This tornado quickly moved into Crawford County, but not before snapping several tree trunks on 2500th Street. Here, EF-1 damage was noted, with peak winds estimated at 107 miles per hour. The tornado continued into Crawford County where it completely destroyed a barn 1 mile northwest of Manilla, Iowa, resulting in a final EF-2 rating for the tornado. In Shelby County, the tornado reached a peak width of 100 yards, with an average width estimated at 50 yards.

This tornado touched down less than a mile southeast of Defiance, Iowa just north of the Linden Road and Knotty Pine Road Intersection. Here, a roof was blown off a barn and several tree trunks in the area were snapped. The tornado moved to the northeast, skirting the town of Defiance by less than a mile to the east. A home at the intersection of Linden Road and 2300th Street received minor roof damage and had its car garage completely destroyed. This was the worst damage from this tornado in Shelby County, warranting an EF-1 rating with max wind speeds estimated at 105 miles per hour. Another large barn at the intersection of Street F16 and Mulberry Road had large sections of its roof damaged. At 1753 CST, the tornado crossed into Crawford County half a mile west of 300th Street. At this point in time, EF-1 damage was still being done with several tree trunks being snapped with the passage of the tornado. The peak width achieved by this tornado in Shelby County was 300 yards, with an average width of 200 yards. This tornado continued into Crawford County and produced additional EF-0 and EF-1 damage until it dissipated 6 miles north-northeast of Manilla, Iowa.