Severe thunderstorms moved across Iowa and Minnesota on Monday, prompting numerous warnings and reports of large hail and strong winds throughout the afternoon and evening. The storms followed an earlier round of less severe weather in some areas.
In Iowa, the Tornado Watch was expanded southward to the Missouri border during the evening, adding Polk County and others to the list. Nearly 50 Iowa counties were under a watch at one point, with primary threats including tornadoes, widespread large hail up to 3 inches in diameter, and damaging winds potentially reaching 75 mph. Watches were set to expire late Monday night in southern areas, after earlier expirations for most northern counties.
Earlier tornado warnings had been issued for portions of Cass County and Kossuth County, but these warnings were canceled ahead of their scheduled expiration times. A severe thunderstorm watch covering eleven northwest Iowa counties, including Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, and others, expired at 11 p.m. Monday, with large hail and damaging winds cited as the main concerns.
Across the state border in Minnesota, a second, stronger round of storms developed, bringing reports of hail and possible tornadoes. Damage reports included a barn and silos destroyed near Kenyon, and roof damage to a commercial warehouse in the city. Tornado warnings were issued for various counties as storms tracked eastward.
A Tornado Watch was issued for a swath of central and southeast Minnesota, including the Twin Cities metro area, St. Cloud, and Rochester. This watch remained in effect until 11 p.m., highlighting the risk of very large hail and a few tornadoes, with strong tornadoes also possible.
The severe weather prompted preemptive actions in both states. Some school districts in northern Iowa and across Minnesota canceled afternoon activities and released students early to ensure safety before storms arrived. Utility companies prepared for power outages, staging crews to address potential issues caused by downed trees and power lines. Wind gusts were reported across the region, including a maximum reading of 76 mph at the Fort Dodge Regional Airport.
"It's a tad windy today," officials with the Fort Dodge Regional Airport posted on Facebook.
