Severe Storms Hit Eastern Iowa Friday Evening

Severe storms swept through eastern Iowa on Friday evening.

The National Weather Service issued several Tornado Warnings and Severe Thunderstorm Warnings, impacting portions of Fayette, Buchanan, Delaware, Linn and Jones counties. The cluster of storms moved in from the northwest starting in the 4 pm hour, traveling southeast around 45 miles per hour.

The NWS said there were multiple reports of brief tornadoes as the system moved through southern Fayette County and Buchanan County. Utility poles were reported down in Fairbank, with golf-ball sized hail.

As the storm moved southeast, a funnel cloud was reported by weather spotters in the Ryan area around 5 pm.

Delaware County Emergency Management Coordinator Mandy Bieber says the Ryan area appeared to take the hardest hit in the county. A grain bin at the Ryan Co-op was damaged and rural power lines were leaning. Bieber also reported crop damage, with flattened bean fields and wind-torn cornfields.

Meanwhile, Emergency Management says Prairieburg was hit with heavy tree damage, with a couple trees falling on mobile homes.

The National Weather Service survey teams are expected to be in the area on Saturday.

photos courtesy of Delaware County Emergency Management