POWESHIEK COUNTY STORM WASN'T A TORNADO

Poweshiek County storm wasn’t a tornado

It wasn’t a tornado.  You’ll remember that several strong storms came through Iowa Tuesday morning (8/20). A tornado was reported near Tracy—one of three in the state.  A homeowner southeast of Grinnell thought his home had been hit by a tornado, too.  A home, two outbuildings and several trees had been damaged.  Poweshiek County Emergency Management and the National Weather Service inspected the damage, as well as radar imagery, and determined the damage was from a microburst.  That’s a localized column of sinking air within a thunderstorm.  The sudden downforce of air can cause severe damage at the surface with winds up to 100 miles an hour—which is equal to an EF-1 tornado.  Two other properties sustained damage, with a grain bin damaged, plus broken windows and downed trees. The Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office says no one was injured.

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