Five people have lost their lives and at least 35 have been injured as tornadoes tore through Iowa, with one particularly devastating twister wreaking havoc in the small city of Greenfield, officials reported on Wednesday (May 22).
The Iowa Department of Public Safety stated that the tornadoes on Tuesday claimed four lives in the Greenfield area, while the Adams County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the death of a fifth person—a woman whose car was swept off the road—approximately 25 miles away. The Iowa Department of Public Safety expressed the belief that the actual number of injured individuals is likely higher.
Homes destroyed, trees uprooted, vehicles crushed
The tornado that struck Greenfield left behind a broad path of destruction, demolishing homes, uprooting trees, and crushing vehicles in the town of 2,000 residents situated about 55 miles southwest of Des Moines. Additionally, the powerful tornado tore through massive power-generating wind turbines several miles outside the city.
Over 40-mile path of destruction
Initial surveys conducted by the National Weather Service indicated that the tornado in Greenfield was at least an EF-3, though further damage assessments could potentially classify it as more powerful. According to AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter, the tornado appeared to have been on the ground for over 40 miles, leaving a nearly straight path of destruction through the town.
Deadly hailstorm in parts of US
Residents in Omaha, Nebraska, were roused from sleep earlier on Tuesday by the blare of weather sirens and widespread power outages caused by torrential rain, strong winds, and large hail. In less than two hours, the area received over five inches of rain, resulting in significant flooding that inundated basements and submerged cars.
Meanwhile, on Monday night, Colorado and western Nebraska faced another onslaught of storms. Yuma, Colorado, experienced hailstones as large as baseballs and golf balls, transforming streets into icy rivers. Cleanup crews had to employ front-end loaders to clear the streets of the half-foot-deep hail accumulation by Tuesday.