It has been a relentless spring of severe weather in Iowa and we have more storms moving across the state early Friday morning. Closings | Interactive Radar | Weather Alerts Follow along below for the latest updates:Johnston fire caused by downed power linesA fire caused by a downed power line in the 5700 block of Merle Hay Road in Johnston caused traffic delays Friday morning.Watch the video below to see more from the scene.Four Des Moines schools enter two-hour delay due to severe weather, power outagesSix DMPS schools will start late Friday morning: Cowles MontessoriFindley ElementaryGreenwood ElementaryMadison ElementaryWillard ElementaryHarding Middle SchoolJohnston schools are also under a two-hour delay, along with Bondurant-Farrar, Newton and more.As always, you can see the latest closings and delays here.Severe thunderstorms move east, now heading into MarshalltownAs storms move east, we’re seeing severe thunderstorm warnings pop up again.The latest one issued by the National Weather Service in Des Moines includes Marshalltown.Large hail found in Wayne CountySouthern Iowa saw large hail early Friday morning, including the hail you can see below.KCCI meteorologist Zane Satre posted a viewer-submitted photo on Facebook from Wayne County, showing the size of the hail from Friday’s storm.More than 30,000 without power With over 23,000 in the Des Moines metro losing power, the statewide total according to MidAmerican Energy shows upward of 30,000 without power as of 5:45 a.m.You can see MidAmerican’s outage map here.DART warns of delays; winds dying down in Des Moines metroThe strong winds we’ve seen this morning are starting to let up in the Des Moines metro, but the rainfall continues.DART has warned of delays due to severe weather and urges bus riders to check the MyDART app for the latest updates.Pella, Montezuma under tornado warningTake shelter if you’re near Pella and Montezuma. A tornado warning is in effect until 6:15 a.m. for Pella, New Sharon, Montezuma and more.Tornado warnings move through central IowaA tornado warning is in effect through 5:45 a.m. for southwestern Poweshiek County, southeastern Polk, northern Marion, northwestern Mahaska and southern Jasper counties. At 5:04 a.m., a tornado-producing storm was located near Ackworth, or 6 miles northeast of Indianola, moving northeast at 40 mph. The National Weather Service says radar has confirmed a tornado in the area. Another tornado warning is in effect through 5:30 a.m. for northwestern Polk, southwestern Story, southeastern Boone and northeastern Dallas counties. At 4:45 a.m., a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Ledges State Park, or 9 miles south of Boone, moving east at 40 mph. Hazards include potential tornadoes and quarter-sized hail.Everyone in these areas should find a safe space and take cover. The storm has been recorded with 70 mph winds or higher.» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google PlayIowa weather: Tornado warning covers parts of Dallas, Polk countiesThousands without powerNearly 10,000 MidAmerican Energy customers were without power as of 4:45 a.m., including about 1,500 in the Adel area and another 1,000 around Winterset. More than 3,100 were without power in the Fort Dodge area and another 2,500 in Council Bluffs. By 5:30 a.m., that number had jumped to more than 25,000 without power in Iowa, including 17,000 in the Des Moines metro.You can see MidAmerican’s outage map here.Iowa weather: Straight-line wind damage possible from Friday morning stormsMost of Iowa under severe thunderstorm watchMost of the state is under a severe thunderstorm watch, with areas of western and southern Iowa in a severe thunderstorm warning.Storms will be capable of producing damaging winds and will have the potential for tornadoes and large hail. Heavy rain will also accompany this line, exacerbating our already saturated soils and swelling rivers and streams.Parts of Iowa in enhanced riskThe National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center shows an enhanced severe storm risk (level 3 out of 5) Friday morning for far western Iowa, where many are still picking up the pieces after Tuesday’s deadly tornadoes. Most of the rest of the western half of the state, including most of the 30-plus counties included on the governor’s most recent disaster proclamation, is under a slight risk (level 2 of 5).Get KCCI’s latest weather forecastThe potent line of storms reached the Nebraska-Iowa border around 2-3 a.m. and blew into central Iowa shortly after. Here’s how to make sure your phone provides severe weather alertsWhen storms are in the forecast, you want to make sure your mobile phone settings allow for alerts that warn you of severe weather.The U.S. Homeland Security Department says to check your phone’s settings and ensure you have “Government Alerts” or “Emergency Alert Messages” enabled.You can keep track of the weather wherever you are with the KCCI app: Apple | Google PlayWe’ll send you weather alerts and you can track live radar right on your phone.Share videos, photos of storm with KCCIIf you capture videos or photos of this week’s storms, please consider sharing them with us through this link.Weather Aware: What’s the difference between a watch and a warning?More severe weather coverageWeather Aware: Tornado safety tipsWeather Aware: How to make sure your phone provides severe weather alertsWeather Aware: Why is a clear sky bad on severe weather days?Weather Aware: What’s the difference between rain and thunderstormsUnderstanding the Enhanced Fujita ScaleThe National Weather Service uses the Enhanced Fujita Scale, or EF-Scale, to assign tornado ratings based on estimated wind speeds and related damage.The Enhanced Fujita Scale, which replaced the earlier Fujita Scale in February 2007, categorizes tornadoes by degree of damage indicators and associates that damage with estimated wind speeds for three-second gusts.Enhanced Fujita Scale levelsEF0 (weak): 65-85 mph wind gustsEF1 (weak): 86-110 mph wind gustsEF2 (strong): 111-135 mph wind gustsEF3 (strong): 136-165 mph wind gustsEF4 (violent): 166-200 mph wind gustsEF5 (violent): Over 200 mph wind gusts
It has been a relentless spring of severe weather in Iowa and we have more storms moving across the state early Friday morning.
Closings | Interactive Radar | Weather Alerts
Follow along below for the latest updates:
Johnston fire caused by downed power lines
A fire caused by a downed power line in the 5700 block of Merle Hay Road in Johnston caused traffic delays Friday morning.
Watch the video below to see more from the scene.
Four Des Moines schools enter two-hour delay due to severe weather, power outages
Six DMPS schools will start late Friday morning:
- Cowles Montessori
- Findley Elementary
- Greenwood Elementary
- Madison Elementary
- Willard Elementary
- Harding Middle School
Johnston schools are also under a two-hour delay, along with Bondurant-Farrar, Newton and more.
As always, you can see the latest closings and delays here.
Severe thunderstorms move east, now heading into Marshalltown
As storms move east, we’re seeing severe thunderstorm warnings pop up again.
The latest one issued by the National Weather Service in Des Moines includes Marshalltown.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Large hail found in Wayne County
Southern Iowa saw large hail early Friday morning, including the hail you can see below.
KCCI meteorologist Zane Satre posted a viewer-submitted photo on Facebook from Wayne County, showing the size of the hail from Friday’s storm.
This content is imported from Facebook.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
More than 30,000 without power
With over 23,000 in the Des Moines metro losing power, the statewide total according to MidAmerican Energy shows upward of 30,000 without power as of 5:45 a.m.
You can see MidAmerican’s outage map here.
DART warns of delays; winds dying down in Des Moines metro
The strong winds we’ve seen this morning are starting to let up in the Des Moines metro, but the rainfall continues.
DART has warned of delays due to severe weather and urges bus riders to check the MyDART app for the latest updates.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Pella, Montezuma under tornado warning
Take shelter if you’re near Pella and Montezuma. A tornado warning is in effect until 6:15 a.m. for Pella, New Sharon, Montezuma and more.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Tornado warnings move through central Iowa
A tornado warning is in effect through 5:45 a.m. for southwestern Poweshiek County, southeastern Polk, northern Marion, northwestern Mahaska and southern Jasper counties. At 5:04 a.m., a tornado-producing storm was located near Ackworth, or 6 miles northeast of Indianola, moving northeast at 40 mph. The National Weather Service says radar has confirmed a tornado in the area.
Another tornado warning is in effect through 5:30 a.m. for northwestern Polk, southwestern Story, southeastern Boone and northeastern Dallas counties. At 4:45 a.m., a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Ledges State Park, or 9 miles south of Boone, moving east at 40 mph. Hazards include potential tornadoes and quarter-sized hail.
Everyone in these areas should find a safe space and take cover. The storm has been recorded with 70 mph winds or higher.
» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
Iowa weather: Tornado warning covers parts of Dallas, Polk counties
Thousands without power
Nearly 10,000 MidAmerican Energy customers were without power as of 4:45 a.m., including about 1,500 in the Adel area and another 1,000 around Winterset. More than 3,100 were without power in the Fort Dodge area and another 2,500 in Council Bluffs.
By 5:30 a.m., that number had jumped to more than 25,000 without power in Iowa, including 17,000 in the Des Moines metro.
You can see MidAmerican’s outage map here.
Iowa weather: Straight-line wind damage possible from Friday morning storms
Most of Iowa under severe thunderstorm watch
Most of the state is under a severe thunderstorm watch, with areas of western and southern Iowa in a severe thunderstorm warning.
Storms will be capable of producing damaging winds and will have the potential for tornadoes and large hail. Heavy rain will also accompany this line, exacerbating our already saturated soils and swelling rivers and streams.
Parts of Iowa in enhanced risk
The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center shows an enhanced severe storm risk (level 3 out of 5) Friday morning for far western Iowa, where many are still picking up the pieces after Tuesday’s deadly tornadoes. Most of the rest of the western half of the state, including most of the 30-plus counties included on the governor’s most recent disaster proclamation, is under a slight risk (level 2 of 5).
Get KCCI’s latest weather forecast
The potent line of storms reached the Nebraska-Iowa border around 2-3 a.m. and blew into central Iowa shortly after.
Here’s how to make sure your phone provides severe weather alerts
When storms are in the forecast, you want to make sure your mobile phone settings allow for alerts that warn you of severe weather.
The U.S. Homeland Security Department says to check your phone’s settings and ensure you have “Government Alerts” or “Emergency Alert Messages” enabled.
You can keep track of the weather wherever you are with the KCCI app: Apple | Google Play
We’ll send you weather alerts and you can track live radar right on your phone.
Share videos, photos of storm with KCCI
If you capture videos or photos of this week’s storms, please consider sharing them with us through this link.
Weather Aware: What’s the difference between a watch and a warning?
More severe weather coverage
Weather Aware: Tornado safety tips
Weather Aware: How to make sure your phone provides severe weather alerts
Weather Aware: Why is a clear sky bad on severe weather days?
Weather Aware: What’s the difference between rain and thunderstorms
Understanding the Enhanced Fujita Scale
The National Weather Service uses the Enhanced Fujita Scale, or EF-Scale, to assign tornado ratings based on estimated wind speeds and related damage.
The Enhanced Fujita Scale, which replaced the earlier Fujita Scale in February 2007, categorizes tornadoes by degree of damage indicators and associates that damage with estimated wind speeds for three-second gusts.
Enhanced Fujita Scale levels
- EF0 (weak): 65-85 mph wind gusts
- EF1 (weak): 86-110 mph wind gusts
- EF2 (strong): 111-135 mph wind gusts
- EF3 (strong): 136-165 mph wind gusts
- EF4 (violent): 166-200 mph wind gusts
- EF5 (violent): Over 200 mph wind gusts
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