Draft:2022 Winterset tornado
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | March 5, 2022, 4:26 p.m. CDT (UTC−06:00) |
| Dissipated | March 5, 2022, 6:00 p.m. CST (UTC−06:00) |
| Duration | 1 hour, 34 minutes |
| EF4 tornado | |
| on the Enhanced Fujita scale | |
| Highest winds | 170 mph (270 km/h) |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 7 |
| Injuries | 5 |
| Damage | $220 million (2022 USD)[1] (Costliest tornado in 2022)[2] |
This violent multiple-vortex wedge tornado produced major damage along its path and caused six fatalities.[3] The tornado was the deadliest and most intense of the outbreak, and was the third tornado produced by the long-tracked Winterset supercell. It first touched down near the intersection of Deer Run Avenue and 280th Street to the north of Macksburg. Moving northeast, the tornado began to rapidly intensify while traversing mainly open farmland and forest. The tornado then began to approach the southern outskirts of Winterset as it crossed Carver Road just south of town.[4] Here, the tornado exhibited multiple vortices and reached EF4 strength, its point of maximum intensity. Several homes were severely damaged or destroyed, a few of which were leveled or swept away. Cars were flipped and thrown, outbuildings were obliterated, debris was strewn long distances, and many large trees were snapped and denuded in this area as well. All six fatalities from the tornado occurred in the Winterset area, including four members of a family who were killed in the destruction of their home.[5]
After the large and destructive tornado exited the Winterset area, it continued to the northeast and passed through rural areas near Patterson, continuing to exhibit a multi-vortex structure but causing little damage as moved through sparsely-populated areas. The tornado then weakened some but remained strong as it tracked through the southeastern fringes of the Des Moines metropolitan area, moving through the outskirts of Norwalk, Avon, and Pleasant Hill. Homes in this area sustained major structural damage, outbuildings, and garages were destroyed, many trees and power poles were snapped, roofing was torn off of a manufacturing plant, and the Norwalk Public Works building had its garage doors blown in. Continuing to the northeast, the tornado became increasingly rain-wrapped, downing more power poles and causing additional damage to homes as it passed south of Colfax, and then weakened further as it moved through Lambs Grove and the north side of Newton before dissipating. Damage in Newton consisted of downed trees, damage to a baseball field, and minor to moderate structural damage. The TPI Composites manufacturing plant had a large portion of its roof torn off near the end of the damage path.[5][6] At least five people were injured.[7] This tornado became the first EF4 tornado to affect Iowa since October 4, 2013, was the deadliest tornado in Iowa since May 25, 2008, the longest tracked tornado in Iowa since April 27, 2014, and the northernmost confirmed violent tornado so early in the season.[8]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Iowawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Hurricanes, floods and tornadoes: The year in weather 2022". KCRA-TV. December 22, 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- ^ Grazulis, Thomas P. (2023). Significant Tornadoes 1974–2022. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project. p. 619. ISBN 978-1-879362-01-7.
- ^ "Winterset tornado upgraded to EF-4 with 170 mph winds". who13.com. 2022-03-07. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
- ^ a b "Family remembers those who perished in central Iowa tornado". weareiowa.com. March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
- ^ Houlgrave, Bryon (March 7, 2022). "4 of the 7 killed in Iowa tornadoes came from the same family, sheriff says". NPR. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
- ^ "Initial interrogation of photos and videos from around Winterset suggests at least EF3 tornado damage occurred late Saturday afternoon. NWS survey teams will be out Sunday to thoroughly investigate the damage and further assess a potential rating". Twitter. National Weather Service Forecast Office in Des Moines, Iowa. Retrieved March 6, 2022."NWS Damage Survey for 3/5/22 Tornado Event - Update #3". Iowa Environmental Mesonet. National Weather Service in Des Moines, Iowa. March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
- ^ Saturday’s EF4 tornado in Iowa rated state’s strongest since 2013, Washington Post, March 7, 2022