GRAND MOUND, Iowa — Teams from the U.S. National Weather Service office in the Quad Cities have released their first initial findings from tornadoes that tracked across Jackson and Clinton counties in Iowa Friday evening.
As of Sunday afternoon, the NWS says 12 tornadoes have been confirmed. However, they are still surveying damages with "still many to go."
Four of these tornadoes so far have produced winds above 100 mph, with nearly half a dozen people sustaining injuries from the storm.
The first tornado touched down south of Tipton in Cedar County, Iowa, around 5:18 p.m. It traveled more than 19 miles to the northeast towards Bennett, Iowa, before lifting, producing extensive damage to two homes southwest of town. It also flipped over a semi along Interstate 80. Several concrete block silos sustained damage. Two people were injured. The width of the tornado was 200 yards, with estimated peak wind speeds of 120 mph, making this an EF-2 tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.
The second tornado impacted Grand Mound, Iowa, around 5:50 p.m. with winds of 120 mph, making it another EF-2. It traveled 17 miles to the northeast before lifting north of Charlotte, Iowa. Weather service experts found an extensive damage path with several damaged houses, especially in Charlotte. One house was shifted off its foundation, causing it to collapse. Three people were trapped in the house in Grand Mound with one person being taken to a local hospital for minor injuries.
A third tornado touched down in Jackson County, Iowa, 3 miles northwest of Andrew around 6:09 p.m. It traveled only 0.14 miles and had a narrow path of 15 yards, lifting near Cottonville at 6:10 p.m. A shed roof and walls were destroyed near 184th street with some tree damage also observed.
The fourth tornado rated an EF-1, touched down south of Bellevue, Iowa, in Jackson County around 6:16 p.m. Winds reached 105 mph as the tornado traveled a little more than 5 miles to the northeast, crossing the Mississippi River and lifting northeast of Hanover, Illinois. An RV park and its cabins received some damage, with some of the RVs flipped. Three people were injured.
The number of tornadoes is expected to grow as additional storm surveys will be conducted in the coming days. We'll provide updates when that information becomes available.