A powerful storm system lifted into the central Plains on the afternoon of  April 27, 2014 and brought several rounds of showers and thunderstorms to eastern Iowa. Some of these thunderstorms were severe and produced damaging winds and an isolated hail report. There was one confirmed tornado during the event that moved across Keokuk, Iowa and Johnson Counties with two fatalities. In addition to the damaging winds rainfall totals ranged from a half an inch to around 1 inch in a little under an hour.

Thunderstorm Wind in IOWA, IOWA
From 27-APR-14 15:00:00 to 27-APR-14 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: LADORA
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter reported shingles blown off of houses, siding blown off of a church, and small limbs of 2 to 3 inches in diameter were down.

Thunderstorm Wind in JOHNSON, IOWA
From 27-APR-14 15:11:00 to 27-APR-14 15:11:00 (CST-6)
Location: TIFFIN
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Emergency Manager for Johnson County reported a wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph on Interstate 80 west of Coraville near Tiffin.

Thunderstorm Wind in BENTON, IOWA
From 27-APR-14 15:25:00 to 27-APR-14 15:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: BLAIRSTOWN
Magnitude: 78.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Benton County Emergency Manager reported a building blown down along with power lines. a tractor trailer was jack-knifed on Highway 30.

Thunderstorm Wind in JOHNSON, IOWA
From 27-APR-14 15:33:00 to 27-APR-14 15:33:00 (CST-6)
Location: IOWA CITY
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Tornado in KEOKUK, IOWA
From 27-APR-14 14:23:00 to 27-APR-14 14:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: MARTINSBURG
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

NWS storm survey teams determined that a tornado developed in far northern Wapello County, crossed Keokuk County and southeastern Iowa County, and ended in rural southwest Johnson County.  This entry is for the portion of the tornado that affected Keokuk County.
This long track tornado started east of Highland Center and traveled at about 60 mph to the northeast. The circulation was initially very broad and began to tighten as it progressed to the northeast.  The tornado moved into Keokuk County at around 323 pm CDT (223 pm CST).  It then created a near-continuous damage path across Keokuk County, with damage primarily to  outbuildings, trees, and power poles.  In Martinsburg, a tied-down mobile home was also pushed to the north off its block base.   Two fatalities occurred, one west of Martinsburg and on north of Kinross.  Both fatalities were associated with people who were outdoors and caught in debris from outbuildings that were destroyed.
The tornado was on the ground for about 30 miles across Keokuk County.  It exited Keokuk County at about 352 pm and moved into Iowa County near the junction of the Keokuk-Iowa-Washington county lines.

Tornado in IOWA, IOWA
From 27-APR-14 14:52:00 to 27-APR-14 15:02:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOLBROOK
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

NWS storm survey teams determined that a tornado developed in far northern Wapello County, crossed Keokuk County and southeastern Iowa County, and ended in rural southwest Johnson County.
This entry is for the portion of the tornado that affected Iowa County. This long track tornado initially started east of Highland Center and traveled at about 60 mph to the northeast. After crossing Keokuk County, the tornado moved into Iowa County near the junction of the Iowa, Keokuk, and Washington County lines at around 352 pm CDT (252 pm CST). It left a damage path about 10 miles long in rural areas that included damage to outbuildings and trees.
The tornado exited Iowa County at about 402 pm CDT (302 pm CST) and moved into Johnson County a few miles south of I-80.

Tornado in JOHNSON, IOWA
From 27-APR-14 15:02:00 to 27-APR-14 15:06:00 (CST-6)
Location: WINDHAM
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

NWS storm survey teams determined that a tornado developed in far northern Wapello County, crossed Keokuk County and southeastern Iowa County, and ended in rural southwest Johnson County. This entry is for the portion of the tornado that affected Johnson County.
This long track tornado initially started east of Highland Center and traveled at about 60 mph to the northeast. After crossing Keokuk and southeastern Iowa Counties, the tornado moved into Johnson County about 10 miles southwest of Tiffin at around 4:02 pm CDT (3:02 pm CST).  It left a path of scattered tree and shed damage for about 4.25 miles in rural southwest Johnson County as it weakened.
It finally lifted about 4.2 miles south of Oxford at about 4:06 pm CDT (3:06 pm CST).

Tornado in LINN, IOWA
From 27-APR-14 15:40:00 to 27-APR-14 15:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: LISBON MOHN ARPT
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Several spotters reported a tornado between Mt. Vernon and Springville.  Traffic lights were knocked out by the tornado.  Radar signatures show that this tornado shares the same parent storm circulation that can be traced back to the Keokuk County tornado.

Hail in JEFFERSON, IOWA
From 27-APR-14 14:54:00 to 27-APR-14 14:54:00 (CST-6)
Location: PLEASANT PLAIN
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter reported dime sized hail.

Hail in JOHNSON, IOWA
From 27-APR-14 15:29:00 to 27-APR-14 15:29:00 (CST-6)
Location: HILLS
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A public report of hail up the size of pennies.

Thunderstorm Wind in LEE, IOWA
From 27-APR-14 15:43:00 to 27-APR-14 15:43:00 (CST-6)
Location: WEVER
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter estimated winds gusts of 55 to 65 MPH.

Hail in JOHNSON, IOWA
From 27-APR-14 15:33:00 to 27-APR-14 15:33:00 (CST-6)
Location: IOWA CITY
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Emergency Manager reported penny sized hail.

Thunderstorm Wind in KEOKUK, IOWA
From 27-APR-14 14:45:00 to 27-APR-14 14:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: SIGOURNEY
Magnitude: 78.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Keokuk County Emergency Manager reported large power poles blown across a road.

Thunderstorm Wind in LINN, IOWA
From 27-APR-14 15:22:00 to 27-APR-14 15:22:00 (CST-6)
Location: BEVERLY
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter estimated wind speeds of 60 mph. They also reported several trees snapped or uprooted. One of these trees was approximately 10 inches in diameter. Several medium sized tree branches were also down.

Thunderstorm Wind in BENTON, IOWA
From 27-APR-14 16:00:00 to 27-APR-14 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: ATKINS
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Broadcast Media reported shingles off of a house. Power lines were down and blocking Highway 30 between 218 and 21st Avenue causing traffic to be re-routed. The report was relayed by KWWL-TV.

Thunderstorm Wind in IOWA, IOWA
From 27-APR-14 15:00:00 to 27-APR-14 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: LADORA
Magnitude: 61.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in KEOKUK, IOWA
From 27-APR-14 14:30:00 to 27-APR-14 14:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: MARTINSBURG
Magnitude: 78.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Emergency Manager reported that a barn was blown down. Time of the event was estimated by radar.

Thunderstorm Wind in IOWA, IOWA
From 27-APR-14 15:10:00 to 27-APR-14 15:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: VICTOR
Magnitude: 60.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A public report, relayed by the media, that power lines were down.

Thunderstorm Wind in IOWA, IOWA
From 27-APR-14 14:55:00 to 27-APR-14 14:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: PARNELL
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter reported that small branches were down with a gutter blown off of the house.

Thunderstorm Wind in JACKSON, IOWA
From 27-APR-14 16:24:00 to 27-APR-14 16:24:00 (CST-6)
Location: BALDWIN
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

A tree was reported down in Baldwin. Time of the event was estimated using radar.

Thunderstorm Wind in JOHNSON, IOWA
From 27-APR-14 15:33:00 to 27-APR-14 15:33:00 (CST-6)
Location: IOWA CITY
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Johnson County Emergency Manager reported a power pole down near the Emergency Dispatch Center.

Thunderstorm Wind in BENTON, IOWA
From 27-APR-14 15:20:00 to 27-APR-14 15:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: NORWAY
Magnitude: 77.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter reported that two buildings were damaged. A Davis Weather Instrument System measured a wind gust of 89 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in IOWA, IOWA
From 27-APR-14 15:09:00 to 27-APR-14 15:09:00 (CST-6)
Location: MARENGO
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter estimated winds gusts to be 60 to 70 mph with small branches coming down.