A cold front moving through the Midwest Monday night brought with it high winds and hail and created funnels throughout Iowa.
The Attig and Hobbs Weather Page, a popular weather resource on Facebook, pinpointed severe conditions throughout the state and gave community members a platform for sharing warnings for their neighbors, in many cases before official sources were available.
While there was no tornado or heavy hail damage in Osceola, there were sightings about 30 miles to the north and damage to the south in the town of Seymour. The town’s school lost a portion of its roof and the bus barn was completely wiped out. Various structures throughout the small town were badly damaged.
“I was raised in Promise City and attended Seymour schools,” said local Paula McLaflin. “I was scared to death for family and friends in its path.”
An official tornado warning went out Monday afternoon, with a follow-up severe thunderstorm warning released at 6:45 p.m. Heavy winds and rain lasted for less than three hours.
Nearly 4,000 Alliant Energy customers were still without electricity Monday night and into the morning, though Osceola service largely stayed intact. In Warren and Madison County, more than 600 customers served by Midamerican Energy were still without electricity at 11 p.m. Chariton Valley Electric Cooperative was also struggling to keep service going in Lucas County, though under 60 customers were without power by midnight.