Pleasant Hill tornado classified as an EF-2 with max wind speeds of 125 MPH
The tornado that tore through the heart of Pleasant Hill Friday, April 26 has been classified as an EF-2, according to the National Weather Service.
The twister was one of at least 10 confirmed tornadoes that terrorized the state, including one that devastated the town of Minden.
The Pleasant Hill tornado lasted roughly 12 minutes, with estimated max wind speeds of 125 MPH, ending around 9:12 p.m. The National Weather Service believes the rotation was at least 300 yards wide.
It first touched down in southeast Des Moines near Indianola Avenue around 8:50 p.m., traveling for 7.2 miles past James W. Cownie Park and northeast through Pleasant Hill.
Six of the 10 confirmed tornadoes have been classified as EF-2. A pair of EF-2 tornadoes traveled parallel to each other near Afton while the weakest and shortest-lived tornado was confirmed near Maffit in Madison County, classified at EF-0.
The National Weather Service has not yet categorized the Minden tornado that destroyed the small western Iowa town on Friday.
(1/9)Here are the preliminary storm survey results for the tornadoes that impacted portions of central Iowa on April 26th. Additional surveys will be forthcoming and more paths may be discovered. #iawx
Creston #1 pic.twitter.com/B8Tpcix0Vh— NWS Des Moines (@NWSDesMoines) April 28, 2024
More: Tornado outbreak batters Iowa. Small town of Minden smashed for second time in 50 years
Several tornadoes confirmed in rural, southern Iowa
Three additional tornadoes were confirmed in Union County and two were confirmed in Ringgold County. NWS officials have also confirmed a tornado that touched down Monroe in Jasper County, one in Madison County, and another near the town of Osceola.
An EF-2 tornado tore through the small Ringgold County town of Tingley Friday, April 26, leaving the community without electricity. The twister also destroyed the Tingley Community Center.
More: A large tornado tore through northern Ringgold County with no advanced warning, residents say
Union County recovering from trio of tornadoes
Three separate EF-2 tornadoes touched over 90 minutes Friday night, including one that traveled through Creston and hit an assisted living facility.
The first Union County tornado is believed to have touched down at roughly 6:52 p.m. outside of Creston. The EF-2 tornado traveled 6.8 miles to the northeast at a width of 350 yards with an estimated peak wind speed of 125 MPH.
The first of two EF-2 tornadoes that traveled near Afton touched down at roughly 7:26 p.m. on April 26, traveling nearly 11 miles and lasting 18 minutes. The National Weather Service believes the tornado reached a maximum wind speed of 130 MPH and was 150 yards wide.
A second EF-2 tornado popped up a few minutes after the first expired, touching the ground almost in the same spot at 7:53 p.m. The NWS believes this tornado traveled 11.7 miles, lasting 12 minutes, with a maximum wind speed of 125 MPH and a width of 150 yards.
More: Trees downed, homes damaged in Pleasant Hill after tornadoes sweep through area.
A pair of tornadoes blast through Ringgold County
The small town of Tingley in Ringgold County may be without electricity for several days after an EF-2 tornado swept through April 26, one of two that touched down that night.
An EF-1 tornado traveled nearly 27 miles outside Mount Ayr and reached speeds of about 110 mph. The twister touched down at 7:27 p.m. and lasted until 8:08 p.m. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
An EF-2 tornado ripped through Tingley on April 26, traveling about 10 miles starting around 8:19 p.m. At its peak, it reached 125 MPH, destroying homes and the Tingley Community Center.
No injuries or deaths were reported.
Osceola tornado produced high wind speeds
An EF-2 tornado was confirmed to have torn through Osecola on April 26, producing some of the strongest confirmed wind speeds. The twister was just 75 yards in width but is believed to have reached a speed of 135 MPH during its 12-minute, nearly 7-mile jaunt through the county.
The NWS indicates the tornado first touched down west of Interstate 35 before heading northeast, hopping the interstate and through the heart of downtown Osecola. The tornado eventually dissipated a few miles northeast of town.
Tornado touches down in Monroe, Jasper County
An EF-0 tornado touched down in Maffit, Madison County, at 8:23 p.m. on April 26. It reached peak wind speeds of 80 mph and traveled just 1.7 miles, lasting three minutes with an estimated width of 30 yards.
An EF-1 tornado touched down around 9:42 p.m. in Monroe in Jasper County and reached 105 MPH, traveling just two miles with a width of 50 yards. No injuries or deaths resulted from these twisters.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: NWS: Pleasant Hill hit with EF-2 tornado, 125 MPH wind speeds
