In a devastating wave of severe weather, several tornadoes touched down near Des Moines, Iowa causing significant damage and resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries. The town of Greenfield, located southwest of Des Moines, was particularly hard hit.

According to Sgt. Alex Dinkla of the Iowa State Patrol, the tornado caused major destruction in Greenfield, affecting both residential and commercial areas. The Adair County Memorial Hospital also sustained damage but continued to treat and transfer patients to nearby facilities.

Search and rescue operations were underway late into the night, with officials striving to account for all residents. “We believe we have everyone accounted for, but we are conducting extensive searches to be thorough,” Dinkla stated.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued a proclamation of disaster emergency for 15 counties, including Adair, Adams, Cass, and Harrison, to aid in recovery efforts.

The severe weather was part of a larger system threatening millions across the Great Plains and Midwest. The National Weather Service had issued tornado watches for regions extending from Nebraska to Oklahoma. Damaging winds and large hail were also reported, with forecasts predicting continued severe weather through the week.

Earlier reports noted that Monday saw over 100 severe storms from Colorado to Michigan, with significant hail damage in Colorado and tornado sightings in Minnesota, Nebraska, and Colorado.