Rock Rapids, Iowa — When the severe weather started in northwest Iowa, the first indication was a tornado warning for northeastern Lyon and western Osceola counties, as well as south-central Nobles County in Minnesota, issued about 10:40 p.m. and in effect until 11:15 p.m. Saturday night. That warning said the storm capable of producing a tornado was over the Rock Rapids area at that time. After a look at the damage on Sunday and Monday, the National Weather Service now says that’s exactly what happened — a tornado in the Rock Rapids area.
According to Alex Trellinger with the National Weather Service’s Sioux Falls office, there is enough evidence to say it was a tornado, which started about four miles west of the south side of Rock Rapids.
He tells us about the damage at Multi-Rose Jerseys, west of Rock Rapids.
The hog confinement building was a newer confinement, just to the east of Highway 75 and 170th Street, a mile south of the city limits. Trellinger tells us two silos were also destroyed on the James Hommes place, about four miles west of Rock Rapids.
Photo by KIWA staff. Roof of hog confinement building blown off just east of Highway 75 on 170th Street.
