Tree damage in the city of Washington. Photo by Joe Nichols – KCII

Severe storms brought the KCII Severe Weather Action Team live on air twice Wednesday.

At 3:45 p.m. a tornado warning was issued for areas of Washington, Keokuk and Jefferson counties. Damage was reported by law enforcement in the Wellman area, including damage to outbuildings, sheds, windows and roofs. The Salem area had ping-pong ball sized hail. At 5:51 p.m. a second severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Washington County with strong winds reported. Washington and Keokuk Counties Emergency Management Coordinator Larry Smith said wind speeds reached 40 miles per hour on the south side of Keota with heavy rain. Smith said there was damage to outbuildings along Cedar Avenue, east of Keota.

At 6:22 p.m. a tornado warning was issued for Washington County until 7 p.m. A trained weather spotter with the Wayland Fire Department reported rotation in the clouds near Orange Avenue south of Washington during the tornado warning. Wind speeds gusted up to 67 miles per hour at the Washington Municipal Airport and tree branches were down across Main Street and D Avenue. Hail was reported near Riverside at 1.5 inches wide, Mt. Pleasant had hail 1.75 inches in diameter.

Power lines were knocked down around the county. Nearly 1,000 Washington County Alliant Energy customers lost power. Emergency generators kept KCII on air providing up to the minute coverage when the power went out. Six members of the KCII Severe Weather Action Team responded to the severe weather and brought you up to the minute coverage.