Severe Storms Batter Eastern Iowa with Hail and Tornadoes

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A series of severe thunderstorms moved through eastern Iowa on Thursday, spawning tornado warnings, funnel clouds, and large hail across several counties. The KCII Severe Weather Action Team provided live on-air coverage and reported wind gusts up to 64 mph and confirmed tornado touchdowns near Kalona and Hills Access.

Why it matters

Severe weather events like this can cause significant property damage, disrupt transportation and power, and pose a serious threat to public safety. The KCII team's quick action and real-time reporting helped keep local residents informed and prepared during the dangerous storms.

The details

The National Weather Service Quad Cities office issued multiple tornado warnings throughout the afternoon as radar detected rotation and up to 2-inch hail in storms across Washington, Keokuk, Jefferson, and Johnson counties. Trained spotters reported a funnel cloud with possible debris and touchdown northeast of West Chester, as well as confirmed tornado touchdowns south of Kalona and at Hills Access in Johnson County that continued into Cedar County near West Branch. Hail the size of golf balls was reported in Kalona and at the Iowa City Municipal Airport.

• The first tornado warning was issued at 3:18 p.m. and remained in effect until 4 p.m.
• The warning was reissued for the northwestern half of Washington and southern Johnson counties until 4:45 p.m.
• The funnel cloud and tornado touchdowns were reported around 4:18 p.m.

What’s next

The National Weather Service will continue to monitor the situation and issue any additional warnings or updates as needed. Local authorities will assess any damage and coordinate emergency response efforts.