Iowa tornado live updates – Two children in Madison County are among the dead as storms devastate Winterset

Winterset Community School District’s statement

The Winterset Community School District released a statement on its Facebook page.

“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by today’s severe weather. We want to let everyone know that the New Bridge Church is opening as a Red Cross shelter tonight and will have a pancake breakfast starting at 7AM for those affected and EMS workers.”

What is a tornado?

Tornadoes are narrow funnels of wind that form from a thunderstorm and touch the ground.

They are known to be incredibly violent rotating columns of air, and can be especially dangerous due to the lack of visibility of wind.

Social media reports

One traveler shared a photo from a basement in the Des Moines airport.

“Our plane landed, then they stopped all air traffic. Shouldn’t last long,” tweeted Karl Vaters.

When is tornado season?

Tornado season refers to the time of the year when the US sees the most tornadoes.

According to the National Severe Storms Laboratory, tornado season hits around early spring near the Gulf Coast.

For the southern plains – Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas – tornado season peaks around May and June.

In the northern Plains and upper Midwest – including North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, and their surrounding areas – tornado season falls around June and July.

Tornadoes can occur at any time of the year, however.

Watch the tornado

A Twitter user shared a video of a tornado as it battered Iowa on Saturday evening.

The clip shows the towns of Patterson and Winterset.

At least seven people have been reported dead.

Seventh victim

A seventh person was killed in Lucas County by a different tornado.

The victim has not been publicly identified, but authorities said the person was inside an RV at Red Haw State Park in Chariton.

Intense winds

Madison County, specifically Winterset, was one of the hardest-hit areas.

Meteorologists estimated an EF3 tornado moved through the area with winds of at least 136 miles per hour.

Disaster proclamation

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation in Madison County in order to provide state resources to aid in response and recovery.

The governor’s office also said additional counties could be added to the proclamation in the future.

More severe weather possible

Parts of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, and Tennessee may see severe thunderstorms Sunday evening.

According to Accuweather, the anticipated storms bring tornado threats, floods, and strong winds.

Most damage in rural areas

The tornado Saturday night missed the city of Winterset, with most of the damage occurring in rural areas.

The Winterset Community School District released a statement on its Facebook page.

“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by today’s severe weather. We want to let everyone know that the New Bridge Church is opening as a Red Cross shelter tonight and will have a pancake breakfast starting at 7AM for those affected and EMS workers.”

Six victims ID’d

Seven people have reportedly died from the tornado, and officials just released the identities of six of the victims:

• Cecilia Lloyd, 72
• Rodney Clark, 64
• Melissa Bazley, 63
• Michael Bolger, 37
• Kenley Bolger, 5
• Owen Bolger, 2

Damage is ‘devastating’

A Twitter user shared a photo of the damage from last night’s tornado, as volunteers are out helping with recovery efforts.

Red Cross shelter established

A Red Cross shelter has been set up at New Bridge Church, in Madison County.

If you need help, you can contact the Madison County Chamber of Commerce by calling 515-462-1185.

More footage of tornado

Another video has been shared on Twitter of the tornado that hit Iowa Saturday night.

Madison County accepting donations

A Disaster Recovery Fund has been established for those in Madison County who have been impacted by the March 5 tornado.

To donate, visit http://www.desmoinesfoundation.org/givemadisoncounty.

You can also mail a donation to 1217 N. 6th Ave. Suite 3, Winterset, IA 50273.

Disaster proclamation issued

Iowa Gov Kim Reynolds issued a disaster declaration for Madison County.

The proclamation allows the state to assist in recovery efforts.

How much damage was reported?

Madison County Emergency Management Director Diogenes Ayala estimated that more than two dozen homes were seriously damaged in the tornado.

The Sheriff’s Office reported that there is also damage to power lines and debris blocking roadways.

‘Uncanny’

Photos of the tornado have been shared on Twitter.

How to stay safe during a tornado, continued

Keep an eye out for green clouds or the sound of a freight train, as that is what a tornado is described as sounding like.

Avoid corners, doors, and outside areas during a tornado.

How to stay safe during a tornado

During a tornado, one should seek a safe space in a shelter.

If a storm shelter is unavailable, people are advised to find a spot in their homes away from windows, typically the basement or a bathroom.

An emergency kit is recommended by AccuWeather. It suggests the kit should include non-perishable food, water, batteries, a flashlight, a battery-powered radio, and a first aid kit.

How many people died?

Authorities have confirmed at least seven deaths from the tornado in Iowa last night.

Two children aged under five are among the victims.

At least four others have been reported injured.

When was the worst US tornado?

On March 18, 1925, the deadliest single tornado in US history occurred.

Called the Tri-State Tornado of March 18, 1925, the tornado killed 695 people in three states.

11 were killed in Missouri, 613 in Illinois, and 71 in Indiana.

The different categories of tornadoes, continued

Another system of measurement, known as the Enhanced Fujita Scale (or EF Scale), is a set of wind estimates based on damage.

The scale uses three-second gusts of wind from the estimated point of damage to determine a category for the natural disaster.

EF Scale measurements are as follows:

• 0: 65-85 mph
• 1: 86-110 mph
• 2: 111-135 mph
• 3: 136-165 mph
• 4: 166-200 mph
• 5: Over 200 mph

What are the different categories of tornadoes?

According to the Fujita Scale, tornadoes in North America are categorized into one of six categories: F0 through F5.

The Fujita Scale (or F Scale) measures tornado damage intensity, according to the National Weather Service.

On the Fujita Scale, category four and five tornadoes are considered violent. Two and three are strong, whereas one and zero are looked at as weak.

What category tornado hit Iowa?

On March 5 at 4.30pm, Madison County, southwest of Des Moines was hit by a tornado which is understood to be of category EF-3.

This tornado had a speed of about 136 miles per hour.

Seven people died, two of whom are children.

It is said that it is expected for states from Texas to Florida to expect tornadoes during March, with Iowa normally hit by at least two.

Madison County Emergency Management Director Diogenes Ayalas said, “This is, I think, the worst anyone has seen in quite a long time. This is a widespread storm.”