More Strong Storms, Tornadoes Tear Across Midwest
A photo taken near Mapleton, Iowa, Saturday evening. Photo courtesy of Robin Lorenson.
In the wake of destructive tornadoes across Iowa on Saturday, more strong thunderstorms laid a path of damage across parts of the Upper Midwest on Sunday, with severe weather extending all the way south to Texas at night.
The severe weather was part of a multi-day outbreak, which will extend east into parts of the mid-Atlantic and Southeast states today.
On Saturday, a cluster of violent tornadoes raked across northwestern Iowa, and the town of Mapleton, Iowa, suffered extensive damage.
Southeast of Mapleton, trains using the Canadian National Railroad's track were able to avoid a direct tornado hit, due to adequate and timely warnings from AccuWeather Enterprise Solutions.
"The governmental warning for the Alta tornado was not issued until 9:46 p.m., when the tornado was crossing the track," Mike Smith, Expert Senior Meteorologist, AccuWeather Enterprise Solutions, said. "If a train had been in the area, a major incident would likely have occurred."
Damage from several tornadoes was reported across Wisconsin on Sunday evening between 5 and 7 p.m. local time as a complex of thunderstorms rushed east.
Hardest hit was the town of Merrill, in Lincoln County, where numerous homes and businesses were destroyed and power was knocked out to thousands. Several injuries were also reported.
Another tornado was suspected to have knocked down highway signs near Fremont, Wis.
Before the thunderstorms began to spin in Wisconsin, they generated powerful wind gusts that damaged a garage roof and destroyed boathouses and mobile homes in far southeastern Minnesota.
A preliminary Storm Prediction Center (SPC) plot of severe weather incidents from Sunday and Sunday night, as of 2:55 a.m. CDT Sunday. For a complete listing of severe weather reports, visit the SPC website. (SPC/NOAA)
In addition, large, destructive hail to the size of baseballs (2.75 inches in diameter) accompanied several of the storms. Windows were broken, vehicles were pelted and siding was damaged from an intense hailstorm near La Crosse, Wis.
Later in the evening, more hail was reported from storms along a broken line from southwestern Missouri to Texas.
During the predawn hours, potent storms passed through central Texas. A possible tornado caused damage in Ellis County, just to the south of Dallas.
More Weather News
-
Memorial Day Weekend Heat Wave
May 23, 2012; 7:48 PM ET
Break out the fans and air conditioners and get the pools ready as a heat wave is poised for portions of the Midwest and mid-Atlantic this Memorial Day weekend.
-
Severe Storm Threat Wisconsin to Nebraska
May 23, 2012; 7:47 PM ET
Locally damaging storms will shift farther to the east and south in the Midwest into tonight.
-
.jpg)
Southwest Winds Elevate Fire Risk, Threaten Blowing Dust
May 23, 2012; 7:46 PM ET
High winds will slam portions of California and the Desert Southwest late this week, bringing the already high fire threat to extreme levels and ushering in cooler air.
-
Bud to Strengthen into a Hurricane in the Eastern Pacific
May 23, 2012; 7:45 PM ET
Bud may become the first hurricane of the season in the eastern Pacific, brushing the central Mexico coast with rain as it passes by.
-
Big Storms from Carolinas to the Delmarva
May 23, 2012; 7:43 PM ET
As a disturbance rolls slowly northeastward, thunderstorms from portions of the Carolinas to the Delmarva can be especially nasty into this evening.
-
Chile Drought May Be Dented by Rainstorm
May 23, 2012; 7:40 PM ET
A major rainstorm may be in the offing for drought-hit central and mid-southern Chile, including the nation's biggest population centers.
-
Everest Death Toll 4 from Weekend Rush
May 23, 2012; 7:38 PM ET
Another Everest climber was found dead this morning, bringing the weekend death toll to four, with one climber still missing.
-
India Heat Wave as Monsoon Eagerly Awaited
May 23, 2012; 7:35 PM ET
Sweltering heat, the hottest of 2012 in some areas, has spread discomfort across the Indian subcontinent, spurring anticipation of the coming rainy season
-
Still Rebuilding One Year After The Joplin, Mo., Tornado
May 23, 2012; 7:33 PM ET
-
East Daily Downpours This Week
May 23, 2012; 7:32 PM ET
A stalled weather pattern will bring a daily dose of disruptive downpours from portions of Florida to New England.
Daily U.S. Extremes
past 24 hours
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | 107° | Death Valley, CA |
| Low | 28° | Daniel, WY |
| Precip | 2.39" | Alexandria, MN |
WeatherWhys®
People need to pay close attention to the UV index during this time of year. On a sunny day late in the spring and into the summer, the UV is usually at least an 8, which is very high. Readings over 11 are considered extreme values in which only 10 minutes of full exposure to the sun will produce a sunburn.
This Day In Weather History
New Hampshire (1814)
A tornado crossed Merrimac, Litchfield, Londonderry and North Chester. The same storm produced hailstones that had an 11-inch circumference and weighed 1/2 pound.
Northeast (1989)
More rain in an already wet month. Monthly totals topped 11 inches at New York City, 9 inches at Bridgeport, Conn., and 8 inches at Baltimore (all three totals set records for May).
Rough Weather
.jpg)
Comments
Comments left here should adhere to the AccuWeather.com Community Guidelines. Profanity, personal attacks, and spam will not be tolerated.