At least one person has lost their life after multiple tornadoes ripped through Iowa and caused widespread destruction across the state.
Homes were swept away and flash flooding gripped rural Iowa and several surrounding cities Tuesday afternoon, injuring at least a dozen people and leaving tens of thousands without power.
Forecasters warned that the carnage could continue in the Midwest as a storm system develops overnight, with millions under severe weather warnings stretching from Missouri to Wisconsin.
The tornado-related death occurred in Adams County, Iowa, about 90 miles southwest of Des Moines, the county medical examiner said. cnn.
Shocking images from Greenfield, Iowa, showed entire homes being leveled after a tornado ripped through the state.
Iowa resident June Handsaker comforts her brother Larry after a tornado destroyed their home Tuesday afternoon in Nevada, Iowa.
Images showed widespread damage hours after tornadoes tore through rural Iowa, including entire trees uprooted.
In Greenfield, about 40 miles from the dead in Adams County, shortly before 5 p.m. local time, a tornado developed, leveling hundreds of homes and injuring several people, the Patrol spokesman said. Iowa State Sgt. Alex Dinkla said.
Images shared with Facebook According to one Greenfield resident, entire homes were seen reduced to rubble and turned into scattered debris, while brick walls were also crushed by the force of the tornado.
The gusts also destroyed huge wind turbines, although authorities said the true extent of the devastation may not be clear until dawn.
Heavy cleanup crews have been seen across the state, with unaffected counties, including Guthrie and Madison, reportedly enlisted to help clean up damage in Greenfield.
Early reports said multiple tornadoes were also reported in Montgomery County, and forecasters warned that the storm system across the Midwest may spawn several more tornadoes of catastrophic strength.
In total, across the Midwest, more than 25 million people were under a severe storm warning of at least Level 3 Tuesday night.
Trees were torn to their roots by the force of the tornadoes, and forecasters predict more could be generated that could exceed speeds of 111 mph.
Residents reported widespread damage to homes and businesses, although much of the initial destruction affected rural Iowa.
Heavy cleanup crews have been seen across the state, with unaffected counties, including Guthrie and Madison, reportedly enlisted to help clean up damage in Greenfield (pictured).
Several areas experienced flash flooding after storm system swept across the Midwest
Although much of the initial damage was limited to rural Iowa, officials warned that several large cities and population centers could be in the storm’s path.
Chicago and Milwaukee are at risk of being hit by destructive storms, and Des Moines International Airport closed its runways in anticipation of possible tornadoes touching down Tuesday night.
Several regions have also experienced flash flooding due to the storms, with warnings of heavy rain across the Midwest.
As of Tuesday night, the Storm Prediction Center issued a rare “potentially dangerous situation” tornado watch covering Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois.
The tornado watch is only used when experts believe there is a high probability of multiple long-duration tornadoes at EF2 or stronger, meaning speeds of at least 111 mph.
Power lines were down across the state (pictured in Nevada, Iowa), leaving tens of thousands without power.
In total, across the Midwest, more than 25 million people were under a severe storm warning of at least Level 3 Tuesday night.
Shocking images from Greenfield showed widespread damage, with reports indicating that the city has also reported several injuries.
Greenfield residents described witnessing devastation throughout their town, and Valerie Warrior told KCCI that she was riding her bike when the storm hit.
“There are downed houses everywhere,” Warrior said, noting that he ran to his basement to wait out the tornado before coming out to find the city covered in debris.
“Devastating,” he added.
Stunning images of the storm chaser Nahel Belgherze focused on the damage seen on a Greenfield street, when a quiet suburb was turned into rubble in a matter of hours.
