HENRY COUNTY, Iowa — After a nearly three-week break from severe weather, Mother Nature released a new round of severe thunderstorms on the Quad Cities Tuesday. The storms prompted a tornado watch and eventually a string of tornado warnings, including in the Iowa Quad Cities metro area.
What caused the storms?
A strong spring low-pressure system moved into parts of Nebraska and northwest Iowa Tuesday afternoon bringing with it warm temperatures and increased moisture. A weaker line of showers and thunderstorms moved into the Quad Cities late Tuesday morning.
However, that wasn't enough to dampen the potential for stronger activity later in the afternoon. By shortly after noon, a tornado watch was issued for the entire Quad Cities region through 8 pm.
TIMELAPSE: Storms roll through Quad Cities
Were there any tornadoes?
The National Weather Service Quad Cities confirmed a tornado did touch down in southeastern Iowa.
NWS Quad Cities says it was an EF2 tornado that reached wind speeds of 130 mph. According to NWS Quad Cities, it developed just southwest of Houghton, Iowa in Lee County before dissipating in Des Moines County. It traveled around 42 miles* with a maximum width of about 600 yards.
Storm Track 8 Meteorologists Morgan Strackbein and Evan Bunkers managed to witness the tornado near Mediapolis.
No injuries were reported. The NWS Quad Cities noted significant damage to homes, trees and outbuildings in Lee, Henry and Des Moines counties. The worst of the damage was seen at a farmstead near New London in Henry County, Iowa. A roof was ripped off a brick house and one of the exterior walls collapsed, as well as the garage destroyed.
*A previous version of this story said the tornado traveled 26 miles, per NWS Quad Cities preliminary report. The organization has since released an update saying it traveling 42 miles and the story has been changed to reflect that.
Other parts of the region still experienced heavy rain, hail and high winds. Community Bible Fellowship Church in Aledo, Illinois had its roof torn off during Tuesday night's storms. News 8 viewers sent in numerous photos documenting what they saw in their hometowns.
