Summer begins with tornadoes, flash flooding
By Steve Gravelle The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
(MCT) — Summer arrived in restless fashion Sunday, with a hot, muggy afternoon giving way to funnel clouds, hail, and heavy rain. There were no re ports of injuries. A heavy downpour caused flash flooding in Marengo, where most city streets were underwater, according to reports from the scene. Water was reported knee-deep in streets around the Iowa County Courthouse about 9:45 p.m. Heavy local rains prompted a flash-flood warning through early this morning for Johnson, Iowa, and southern Benton and Linn counties.
Belle Plaine received 2.6 inches of rain in the hour before 9 p.m., the National Weather Service said, and observer near Marengo reported 1.7 inches of rain fell in the 90 minutes ending at 8:45 p.m. Spotters reported a tornado on the ground between Kalona and Wellman about 8:30 p.m., about 15 minutes after a touchdown was reported three miles southeast of Marengo. Funnel clouds were reported earlier near Wellman, Conroy, and Belle Plaine.
KCRG-TV9 reported a hog gestation barn has had part of its roof torn off near Dike, while an other part of the building has collapsed. Reports of a tornado in Grundy County had not been confirmed.
Hot, humid air should remain across the region today and Tuesday, with heat-index readings ranging from the 90s along Highway 20 to more than 100 along the Missouri State line.
