Tornado warning lifts as storm weakens in southwestern Henry County, with power outages reported
A tornado warning issued for southwestern Henry County, Iowa, was canceled around midnight Monday after the storm weakened as it moved northeast toward Mt. Pleasant and surrounding communities. The system had been described as a supercell with rotation near the Mt. Pleasant area, prompting shelter advisories for residents in Mt. Pleasant, Salem, and areas north or west of Salem.
Power outages were reported in the wake of the storm. Mid American Energy reported outages in the Quad Cities area, with a count of 102 outages as of 12:01 a.m. In the final updates, a KWQC TV-6 viewer reported outages in Henry County with accompanying high winds and downed limbs.
Key updates from the late-evening timeline:
– 11:57 p.m.: Reports of power outages in Henry County and strong winds with downed branches.
– 11:56 p.m.: Tornado warning expired at 12 a.m. for southwestern Henry County as the storm weakened.
– 11:53–11:50 p.m.: Storm rotation tracked near the southern edge of Mt. Pleasant; the storm was moving northeast toward the Mt. Pleasant area.
– 11:45–11:40 p.m.: Rotation and the storm’s footprint were shifting, with storm activity centered south of Mt. Pleasant and near major interchanges (Highway 218/34).
– 11:33–11:29 p.m.: Officials and residents in Mt. Pleasant, Salem, and areas north or west of Salem were advised to take shelter as the storm was described as a potential tornadic supercell.
– 11:29–11:30 p.m.: The storm remained in the Mt. Pleasant to Salem corridor, with ongoing rotation observed.
What to do if you were in the area:
– If you’re in or near Mt. Pleasant, Salem, or surrounding areas, stay indoors in a sturdy building, move to a small interior room away from windows, and protect yourself from flying debris.
– Monitor local alerts for updates on warnings or further storms.
– Report or avoid downed power lines and seek assistance from local emergency services if someone is injured or trapped.
Overall takeaway: The storm that prompted the tornado warning weakened and exited the area, with power outages reported in the Quad Cities region and Henry County. Residents should remain cautious and stay tuned to official updates as conditions can change rapidly with severe weather situations.
Additional note: If new information becomes available, we’ll provide an updated, concise recap to help readers stay informed and safe.