UPDATE 5:40 pm: Vermeer's manufacturing facility in Pella suffered a "direct hit" during Thursday's storm.
Injuries were reported, but not immediately
More than 14,000 customers of MidAmerican Energy and Alliant Energy had no electricity on Thursday night. [196590] 11] CLOSE
A tornado caused significant damage to Bondurant, Iowa, on Thursday, July 19, 2018. TJ Phillips / Special to the Register
UPDATE, 5:05 PM: Reports to the National Weather Service indicated that the Marshalltown area had suffered "catastrophic damage" in tornadoes on Thursday. Violent storms have overturned vehicles, torn roofs from buildings and demolished trees and power lines.
UPDATE, 4:55 PM: There was little warning that bad weather was possible on Thursday afternoon; no tornado alerts were announced until an initial tornado warning was issued for Polk County.
A number of supercell storms suddenly formed over Iowa, announcing meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Des Moines. 19659010] Alex Krull, a meteorologist serving in Des Moines, said Thursday afternoon that the forecast models produced in the morning showed only a low probability of strong thunderstorms later in the day.
"This morning it did not look like supercell tornadoes were possible," said Krull. "We expected that we could have big hail if strong storms developed."
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A video provided by a reader shows a pair of clouds in funnel on Thursday, July 19, 2018 in the center of Iowa. Julio C. Galvan, Special to the Register
Krull says that the meteorological service was waiting for that a threat of severe weather remains in effect until 39 at 19 hours. at 20 hours 16:45: The National Meteorological Service issued a tornado emergency for Marshalltown
"A confirmed large destructive tornado was located over Marshalltown" at 4:46, moving east, the meteorologists said. "It's a particularly dangerous situation, take the cover right now!"
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Videos and photos submitted by eyewitnesses show tornadoes and funnel clouds swirling around Bondurant . Des Moines Register
UPDATE AT 4:15 PM: A tornado struck Thursday afternoon in the suburb of Bondurant, Des Moines, authorities said
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Several streets were closed and officials of the public services were investigating a gas leak, the city said in a statement
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Second Street NE and NW were closed
MidAmerican Energy said that more than 1,800 customers were without electricity in central Iowa, most of those in Bondurant.
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A funnel cloud is visible in the center of Iowa on Thursday, July 19, 2018. The view is north-east of Altoona, towards Bondurant. Sarah Skoglund, special to the register
ORIGINAL STORY: The Iowans publish videos and photos of spotted funnel clouds
The National Weather Service has issued tornado warnings for northeastern Marion County, northwestern Mahaska County and southern Jasper County. The watch affects most of southeastern Iowa.
Brooke Hagenhoff, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service, said the tornado warning Polk County, which was in effect at 3:01 pm, was downgraded to a watch as the storms head east. The watch will last until all counties are erased.
For those who are under a tornado warning, the National Weather Service's website says to take cover now that the tornadoes have hit the ground.
Hagenhoff said the phones are currently ringing with funneling tornadoes and funneling, but no damage has been reported yet.
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