Source: National Weather Service data. Map by John McGlothlen / The Gazette

Gazette staff



Tornadoes touched down Thursday evening in several Iowa communities, causing “catastrophic damage” in Marshalltown and injuries in Pella as the Vermeer equipment manufacturing plant took a ‘direct hit,” the National Weather Service reported.

Images in photos and videos taken by employees at Vermeer and posted on social media showed cars damaged and tossed by the winds into piles.

“There was some injuries, I can’t really tell you the extent of those injuries at this time,” Vince Newendorp, vice president of operations at Vermeer, told the Pella Chronicle. “The east half of our campus was hit most severely.”

He told the newspaper all employees had taken shelter by the time the storm hit, about 4 p.m.

Pella police reported spotting a funnel cloud west of the plant about 3:50 p.m.

Farther north in Marshalltown, tornadic winds ripped the clock tower off the courthouse and tops off buildings.

Cars were overturned, power lines downed and trees toppled across town, the weather service said.

There were no official reports of injuries.

Authorities said they were dealing with natural gas leaks in both communities.

State police reported spotting a rain-wrapped tornado at 5:12 p.m. near the Ottumwa Airport, but there were no reports as of Thursday evening it had touched down there.

Elsewhere, there were reports of hail east of Cedar Rapids and heavy rains throughout Eastern Iowa.

Update 6:09 p.m.:

Once a 3-story house. Marshalltown, Iowa pic.twitter.com/RTu48OEiD4 — Denice Pelster (@DenicePelster) July 19, 2018

Found in the aftermath. Vermeer will overcome this. pic.twitter.com/XCw279pmpn — Sarah Müller (@SarahAMuller1) July 19, 2018

At 4:10 PM CDT, 1 E Pella [Marion Co, IA] LAW ENFORCEMENT reports TORNADO. VERMEER PLANT TOOK DIRECT HIT FROM TORNADO. SEVERAL INJURIES REPORTED. GAS LEAK DANGER AS WELL. https://t.co/Iun99yDTni — IEMBot DMX (@iembot_dmx) July 19, 2018

Update 5:58 p.m.:

To all of the businesses and individuals impacted by this afternoon's tornado, please know that we are thinking of you. Once we know more information about what assistance is needed and how people can help, we... https://t.co/yhvUrjbiKZ — Marshalltown Chamber (@mtownchamber) July 19, 2018

From the Marshalltown Times-Republican:

Update 5:44 p.m.:

26 tornado reports so far across Iowa (some of those reports are from the same tornado), here's a look at the Des Moines radar over the past 6 hours. #iawx pic.twitter.com/mI2P4fKmpo — Zach Holder (@ZachHolderWx) July 19, 2018

Update 5:36 p.m.:

Marshalltown tornado footage

Feel very lucky - took a direct tornado hit in downtown Marshalltown with my sister - pic.twitter.com/s6Gt10DQbr — Golfergirldee (@golfergirldee) July 19, 2018

Even more damage!!! More photos of the tornado damage in Marshalltown, Iowa. Photos captured from the Iowa Storm Chasing Network via live stream. #iawx #iowa #tornados #marshalltown pic.twitter.com/VrR1RGcMe0 — Thomas Stuckey-Mounter (@tsmounter) July 19, 2018

Update 5:24 p.m.:

These photos from Jesse Fox in Marshalltown show the tornado approaching, and the damage afterwards @KCCINews @KCCIWeather #iawx pic.twitter.com/rmbFXTbfwM — Andy Garman (@GarmanSports) July 19, 2018

Tornado located 5 miles North of Ottumwa IA take cover. #iawx pic.twitter.com/CDLpQK8i7s — Jeff Piotrowski (@Jeff_Piotrowski) July 19, 2018

Stop and Watch this video on youtube... OMG this Wedge in Marshalltown Iowa.https://t.co/nWGuo249xV pic.twitter.com/N4vJXN5iQK — Bob - NILStormChaser (@nilwxreports) July 19, 2018

Update 5:09 p.m.:

There are severe damage reports coming out of Marshalltown.

At 4:55 PM CDT, 2 NW Marshalltown [Marshall Co, IA] TRAINED SPOTTER reports TORNADO. REPORTS OF CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE, INCLUDING VEHICLES MISSING, VEHICLES OVERTURNED, TOPS OF BUILDINGS GONE, TREES DOWN, POWER LINES, GAS LINES, ETC... https://t.co/imrQbHsZvf — IEMBot DMX (@iembot_dmx) July 19, 2018

Photos of the tornado damage in Marshalltown, Iowa. Photos captured from the Iowa Storm Chasing Network via live stream. #iawx #iowa #tornados #marshalltown pic.twitter.com/EIIhPyrJES — Thomas Stuckey-Mounter (@tsmounter) July 19, 2018

Luckily rotation has loosened up after a tornado caused damage in Marshalltown -- this storm could still produce another tornado - take shelter in western Tama.#iawx pic.twitter.com/Fmano74JUM — Rebecca Kopelman (@KopelmanWX) July 19, 2018

Update 4:44 p.m.:

The National Weather Service has declared a tornado emergency for Marshalltown for a tornado that is confirmed on the ground. Meanwhile, Tama County has a tornado warning until 5:00 p.m. related to this same storm system.

* Tornado Warning for... Eastern Marshall County in central Iowa... Southwestern Tama County in central Iowa... * Until 500 PM CDT. * At 437 PM CDT, a confirmed large and destructive tornado was observed over Marshalltown, moving east at 25 mph. TORNADO EMERGENCY for Marshalltown. This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW! HAZARD...Deadly tornado. SOURCE...Law enforcement confirmed tornado. IMPACT...You are in a life-threatening situation. Flying debris may be deadly to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be destroyed. Considerable damage to homes, businesses, and vehicles is likely and complete destruction is possible

The National Weather Service in the Quad Cities has issued a tornado watch for much of Eastern Iowa that will last until 10:00 p.m.

IOWA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE APPANOOSE BENTON DAVIS GRUNDY HARDIN HENRY IOWA JASPER JEFFERSON JOHNSON KEOKUK LEE LINN LUCAS MAHASKA MARION MARSHALL MONROE POLK POWESHIEK STORY TAMA VAN BUREN WAPELLO WARREN WASHINGTON WAYNE

Tornado warnings have been issued have been issued for central Iowa counties including the Marshalltown area as the storm, which has produced tornadic activity east of Des Moines, moves east.