NWS confirms tornado touched down in Urbandale; power outages could last until Tuesday

A round of severe weather, including a potentially large tornado pushed through the Des Moines metro area during rush hour on Monday.

Severe weather threats continue as storms move eastward across Iowa. A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect until 11 p.m. as conditions exist for storms to develop wind gusts up to 85 mph and could produce large hail.

Power could be out until Tuesday evening for some Des Moines metro residents

More than 10,000 homes will stay dark Monday night in the Des Moines metro area. MidAmerican Energy Company has the most significant damage in areas around Windsor Heights, Urbandale and the west side of Des Moines, said Geoff Greenwood, a spokesperson for the company. More than 4,500 households in those cities are without power along with 4,500 in Des Moines.

MidAmerican expects to have power restored to most customers by 7 a.m. Tuesday, but some customers could remain without power until 7 p.m. Tuesday, Greenwood said.

NWS confirms tornado touched down in Urbandale

According to the National Weather Service, at least one tornado was confirmed to have touched down in the Urbandale area Monday evening. Specifics on Monday’s severe weather, including the extent of the damage, will be available following storm surveys on Tuesday.

Fallen tree crushes front of Urbandale home

There were numerous trees down in the neighborhood along 72nd Street north of Hickman in Urbandale following severe storms Monday evening.

On Oak Brook Drive, most of a tree had fallen and crushed the front of Bill Engelbrecht’s home of about 12 years. Engelbrecht said it all happened fast, but he hadn’t even heard the tree fall.

He had just returned from getting groceries when the storm hit, although the pint of birthday cake-flavored ice cream he was enjoying came from his neighbors across the street.

Des Moines residents sip wine while assessing storm damage

Nearly every house on 59th Street in the Merle Hay neighborhood saw some storm damage Monday evening. Windows shattered, entire trees down. Residents wander up and down the street, comparing damage and chatting with wine glasses in hand.

Alex Colby, who paid off her car two weeks ago, saw her car windows broken and the roof cleaved down the middle by a tree. Across the street, Emily McGuire and Jonathan Diffley have multiple lines down in their backyard.

It’s a nice home warming party. The couple just moved in in January.

“The fun part about all of this, is that this is a very interesting way to meet your neighbors,” McGuire said, gesturing to the unofficial block party. “Everybody out here today, we met because of the storm.”

Simon Goheen, of nearby Simon’s restaurant, is responsible for the alcohol. He was already handing out wine to the restaurant’s neighbors less than an hour after the storm rolled through. It wasn’t his first course of action after the tornado sirens went off, but it was his “75 thought.”

The restaurant was packed, and guests were allowed to shelter in place until they felt ready to leave — with or without settling their tab.

They can pay whenever, he said.

“What’s important is that everybody’s ok,” he said.

Traffic lights out in Windsor Heights

Hickman Road east of 70th Street in Windsor Heights has been blocked off by the Windsor Heights Fire Department due to traffic lights being out. As of 7:10 p.m., 70th Street north of Hickman has also been blocked.

Des Moines City Council meeting postponed

Monday night’s Des Moines City Council meeting was postponed until next week due to the tornado warning.

Dozens of people were gathered in the council chambers at Des Moines City Hall when an emergency alert blared from cell phones in the room. City council members voted to adjourn the meeting around 5:40 p.m., and city staff members ushered attendees to the basement to take shelter. Most of the public stayed until the tornado warning ended at 6:15 p.m.

City council members ran through about 90% of the agenda, including items approved on consent, routine and non-controversial items that are considered in bulk. Before the warning, speakers were taking the podium to address the request to rezone a property at 1301 Kenyon Ave., which could convert a former children’s group home into affordable housing for recently homeless men.

Des Moines City Manager Scott Sanders announced the council meeting will resume July 22 at 7:30 a.m.

Damage reports centered on northwest Des Moines, no injuries reported yet

Des Moines Police said in a tweet that damage reports were coming in from the northwest side of Des Moines. While there were no injuries as of 6:12 p.m., in the 6200 block of Hickman Road there were multiple snapped utility lines, and at the intersection of 56th and 58th streets there were downed wires.

They also reported fallen trees and wires from Hickman Road south to Franklin Avenue, and non-functioning traffic signals at the intersection 63rd Street and Hickman Road as well the intersection of Westover Boulevard and Hickman Road.

Power outages hit 10,000 in Des Moines after storms

MidAmerican Energy reports 10,203 customers in the Des Moines metro area are without power after storms passed through the area.

The outages are largely focused in Des Moines, where 5,900 are without power, and Urbandale with 2,800 outages.

Tornado warning expires in Des Moines metro

A tornado warning for the Des Moines metro area has expired as severe storms move to the east.

Severe thunderstorm warnings are in effect, as of 6:12 p.m, for areas to the east of the Des Moines metro.

Any official tornado confirmations and ratings will occur after storms exit the state and NWS crews are able to conduct storm surveys.

Dangerous tornado confirmed in Des Moines area

As of 5:53 p.m., radar indicated rotation was reported with a storm near Des Moines and moving toward Pleasant Hill and Carlisle. The tornado warning continues for Polk and Warren counties until 6:15 p.m.

A NWS warning described the storm as “dangerous” and said flying debris will pose a danger to people outside.

Tornado sighting reported in Windsor Heights, Grimes

A tornado was reported by a Polk County sheriff’s deputy around 5:38 p.m. near Grimes. Another spotting was reported by a NWS employee near Windsor Heights around 5:43 p.m.

Des Moines City Council meeting interrupted by tornado warning

A Des Moines City Council meeting adjourned Monday evening as warning sirens sounded, with participants gathering in a basement shelter at City Hall.

‘Large and extremely dangerous tornado’ initially reported near Drake Stadium

At 5:47 p.m., NWS confirmed a “large and extremely dangerous” tornado located over Drake Stadium in near Des Moines.

At 5:48 p.m., NWS confirmed a “large and extremely dangerous” tornado was located near the Iowa Events Center in downtown Des Moines moving southeast at 30 mph.

NWS urges residents to take cover.

Severe thunderstorm watch issued for large portions of central and eastern Iowa

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for a large portion of Iowa, western Illinois and southwestern Wisconsin until 11 p.m. Monday.

The watch, which includes the Des Moines metro area, warns of the risk of widespread wind gusts up to 85 mph. Tennis ball-sized hail, sometimes referred to as gorilla hail, is also possible and so are a couple of tornadoes.

What does the Iowa weather radar show?

Here’s a look at the current radar loop from the National Weather Service in Des Moines:

What is the Iowa severe weather outlook today?

Storms could be especially severe and damaging in far eastern Iowa. An area covering Iowa City, Cedar Rapids and the Quad Cities is at a moderate (level 4 on a 5-point scale) risk tonight.

Storms are possible in northwest Iowa to start the day, but they are expected to weaken as they approach the state. That system is causing some uncertainty about exactly where and when storms will develop this afternoon.

Numerous severe storms will be possible in Iowa, with a primary threat of damaging winds and secondary threats of small hail and possible tornadoes.

Where are excessive heat warnings and heat advisories in Iowa?

NWS warns folks to take breaks on Monday in the shade or air conditioning, dangerous heat remains over the state. Areas in far southwest Iowa is under a heat warning, and much of central, southern and eastern portions of the state are under a heat advisory.

The heat advisory is in effect from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, with heat index values of 100 to 110 degrees expected.

Des Moines is expected to have a high of 97 degrees with the heat index reaching 107 degrees.

How to stay safe during extreme heat in Iowa

The National Weather Service says that excessive heat can be taxing to the body and cause various heat-related illnesses. Here are tips from NWS on how to stay safe during a heat wave:

Outdoor Activities

• Reduce, eliminate or reschedule strenuous activities until the coolest time of the day. Those particularly vulnerable to heat such as children, infants, older adults, those with chronic medical conditions and those pregnant should stay in the coolest available place.

• Dress for summer. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing to reflect heat and sunlight.

• Minimize direct exposure to the sun. Sunburn reduces your body’s ability to dissipate heat.

Eating and Drinking

• Eat light, cool, easy-to-digest foods such as fruit or salads. If you pack food, put it in a cooler or carry an ice pack. Don’t leave it sitting in the sun. Meats and dairy products can spoil quickly in hot weather.

• Drink plenty of water, non-alcoholic and decaffeinated fluids, even if you don’t feel thirsty.

Cooling Down

• Use air conditioners or spend time in air-conditioned locations such as malls and libraries.

• Use portable fans to exhaust hot air from rooms or draw in cooler air.

• Do not direct the flow of portable electric fans toward yourself when room temperature is hotter than 90°F. The dry blowing air will dehydrate you faster, endangering your health.

• Take a cool bath or shower.

Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at vreynarodriguez@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter @VictoriaReynaR.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Tornado warning expires for Des Moines metro

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