Deadly tornado claims multiple lives in Iowa as powerful storms once more ravage Midwest

A tornado ripped through Greenfield, Iowa, claiming multiple lives and leaving behind a trail of destruction. Homes lay obliterated, cars crumpled, and trees splintered as the ferocious winds tore through the small town. Even the towering wind turbines outside Greenfield were no match, buckling and twisting to the ground in the face of the storm's fury.

With a population of 2,000 residents, the town bore the brunt of the devastation. The storms didn't stop there, moving eastward to wreak havoc on parts of Illinois and Wisconsin. Power outages affected over 130,000 customers across the two states as the relentless winds continued their destructive path.

Greenfield's hospital stood as one of the structures affected by the turmoil in the town, necessitating the transfer of at least twelve injured individuals to alternate facilities, as reported by Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Alex Dinkla.

"Regrettably, we can verify the occurrence of fatalities," remarked Dinkla during a Tuesday night press briefing, refraining from disclosing specific numbers. "The count is still ongoing."

He mentioned they believed they'd covered all the town's residents, but affirmed they'd persist with searches if anyone was reported missing. According to a Facebook post by the Adair County Health System on Tuesday night, a triage center has been established at Greenfield High School for those requiring medical attention.

The tornado wreaked havoc on a significant portion of Greenfield, a town situated approximately 55 miles (90 kilometers) southwest of Des Moines. This destructive event unfolded amidst a day marked by numerous tornadoes, colossal hail, and intense rainfall across several states.

Officials issued a compulsory curfew for the town, permitting only residents to access Greenfield until Wednesday morning. Additionally, media personnel were instructed to vacate the city by Tuesday night.

Following the storm, heaps of shattered wood from residences, branches, car fragments, and assorted debris cluttered plots where houses once stood. Some remaining trees were denuded of their branches and foliage. Residents collaborated in salvaging furniture and other possessions scattered in various directions.

Rogue Paxton recounted taking refuge in his home's basement as the storm passed through. Speaking to WOI-TV, he expressed his initial belief that his house had succumbed to the storm, yet thankfully, his family emerged unscathed.

"Unfortunately, others haven't been as fortunate, such as my brother Cody; his home was completely razed," Paxton lamented. "But witnessing the community come together to assist one another gives us hope. Despite the chaos, we find solace in each other's support, even though the road ahead looks incredibly challenging."

Numerous tornadoes were reported across the state, with one notably causing damage to several 250-foot (76-meter) wind turbines in southwest Iowa. Some of these turbines ignited, emitting columns of smoke into the atmosphere.

Wind farms are engineered to endure tornadoes, hurricanes, and other formidable winds. As per the U.S. Department of Energy, turbines are programmed to deactivate when wind speeds surpass certain thresholds, typically around 55 mph (89 kph). Moreover, they automatically position their blades and orient themselves into the wind to mitigate stress.

Greenfield, previously renowned for its tree-lined streets and welcoming ambiance, as described on its website, now faces the aftermath of the storm, despite billing itself as the "perfect place to grow."

Mary Long, proprietor of Long's Market situated in downtown Greenfield, recounted braving the storm at her establishment in the heart of the community's historic town square, which fortunately escaped major damage. Long observed extensive destruction predominantly on the east and south sides of town.

"I could hear this deafening roar, reminiscent of a freight train, and then suddenly, it was over," she remarked.

Meanwhile, Camille Blair disclosed that the Greenfield Chamber of Commerce office, where she is employed, shuttered its doors around 2 p.m. as a precautionary measure before the storm struck.

"From my vantage point at home, it appeared to follow a straight path down the road," she noted regarding the tornado's trajectory.

Governor Kim Reynolds announced her intention to visit Greenfield on Wednesday morning.

"It's surreal to think that just a few weeks ago, tornadoes devastated several other Iowa communities, and yet here we are again," she stated. "But as always, Iowans are resilient. Together, we will overcome this."

In southwestern Iowa, social media footage depicted a tornado just northwest of Red Oak. Further east and north, the National Weather Service issued multiple tornado warnings for areas surrounding the towns of Griswold, Corning, Fontanelle, and Guthrie Center, among others.

Iowa braced itself for severe weather following the Storm Prediction Center's high-risk forecast for most of the state, warning of severe thunderstorms and the potential for powerful tornadoes. As a precaution, Des Moines public schools dismissed classes two hours early and canceled evening activities.

Tuesday evening and night saw storms and tornado warnings advancing into Wisconsin, with a specific alert issued for the capital city, Madison.

Earlier that day, residents in Omaha, Nebraska, were jolted awake by blaring sirens and widespread power outages as torrential rain, high winds, and large hail hammered the area. The resulting deluge flooded basements and submerged cars, with television station KETV capturing firefighters rescuing people from vehicles.

In Illinois, dust storms prompted authorities to close stretches of two interstates due to limited visibility. Wind gusts of up to 45 mph (74 kph) battered the McLean area, as confirmed by National Weather Service meteorologist Chuck Schaffer.

These storms followed a series of extreme weather events that have impacted much of the central United States. Late Sunday, strong winds, large hail, and tornadoes tore through parts of Oklahoma and Kansas, resulting in home damage and two injuries in Oklahoma.

On Monday night, another bout of storms swept through Colorado and western Nebraska, with Yuma, Colorado, experiencing hail the size of baseballs and golf balls, transforming streets into flowing rivers of water and ice.

Deadly storms struck the Houston area in Texas last week, claiming the lives of at least eight individuals. These storms on Thursday caused widespread power outages for hundreds of thousands of people for several days, leaving many without electricity and air conditioning amidst hot and humid conditions. The death toll was revised on Tuesday, increasing from seven to eight, as a man succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning while operating a generator after losing power. Downtown skyscrapers suffered damage, with hurricane-force winds reducing businesses and other structures to rubble and shattering glass.

Bob Oravec, the lead forecaster at the National Weather Service, indicated that the system is projected to veer southward on Wednesday, bringing more severe weather to regions of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and southern Missouri.