Twin tornadoes were confirmed heading for Essex, Iowa, Thursday evening, prompting a life-threatening tornado emergency from the National Weather Service. The dangerous storms moved through southwestern Iowa counties, putting several communities at risk.
The National Weather Service issued the emergency for Essex following radar and eyewitness reports confirming an extremely dangerous tornado west of the town. This storm moved quickly eastward, directly targeting Essex.
The warning area covered northeastern Fremont County, southwestern Montgomery County, and northwestern Page County. Towns including Yorktown and Imogene were also highlighted as being under threat from the storms.
Emergency management confirmed a tornado near Tabor, Iowa, earlier in the evening. This system tracked east at 35 mph, with predictions it would affect Randolph before reaching Shenandoah and Essex.
Residents were urged to take immediate action to protect themselves from the confirmed tornado. Officials advised moving to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy structure, away from windows.
Those in mobile homes, vehicles, or outdoors were told to seek the closest substantial shelter possible to avoid flying debris. The National Weather Service stressed the situation demanded immediate protective action.
The storm system also produced large hail, with reports indicating diameters up to 2.75 inches. Such large hail adds another layer of danger alongside the tornadic threat.
Social media platforms showed visuals posted by locals and storm chasers documenting the size and intensity of the twisters impacting the region. Reports described the tornadoes as large and serious.
Warnings indicated potential catastrophic damage, including the complete destruction of mobile homes and significant damage to buildings. The path of the tornado threatened widespread destruction.
Even areas not directly under the tornado were warned of dangerous winds exceeding 100 mph. Local emergency services remained on high alert throughout the event. Twin tornadoes were heading for Essex, Iowa on Thursday, leading to urgent calls for residents to stay updated on weather alerts. The Tornado warning for Fremont, Montgomery, Mills, Page Cos remained active until 9:00 PM CDT, with continued monitoring of storm activity across the area.
