Severe thunderstorms tracked across much of eastern Iowa and northwest Illinois in the early afternoon hours of May 23rd, 2020. Storms quickly intensified in an extremely favorable environment, which was the result of a warm front lifting north across the Midwest. Seven tornadoes were confirmed from this event across Iowa and Illinois.

Tornado in JONES, IOWA
From 23-MAY-20 12:11:00 to 23-MAY-20 12:13:00 (CST-6)
Location: MORLEY
Tornado F-scale: EFU
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A  tornado developed southwest of Mechanicsville shortly before 1 pm, and tracked northeast through northern Cedar County. The tornado crossed into Jones County about 3 miles S of Morley before dissipating. The tornado was rated EF1 in Cedar County with maximum winds estimated around 95 mph. The tornado is designated as EF-U in Jones County as there was no observable damage. The tornado was on the ground for about 16 minutes along an intermittent 7 mile path. Assistance with the survey was provided by Cedar County Emergency Management and the Mechanicsville Fire Department.

Hail in KEOKUK, IOWA
From 23-MAY-20 05:39:00 to 23-MAY-20 05:39:00 (CST-6)
Location: RICHLAND
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Tornado in CEDAR, IOWA
From 23-MAY-20 11:57:00 to 23-MAY-20 12:11:00 (CST-6)
Location: MECHANICSVILLE
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A  tornado developed southwest of Mechanicsville shortly before 1 pm, and tracked northeast through northern Cedar County. The tornado destroyed the porch of a home just west of Mechanicsville, and caused outbuilding damage at a farmstead just south of Cedar/Jones County line. The tornado crossed into Jones County about 3.5 miles NNE of Mechanicsville before dissipating. The tornado was rated EF1 in Cedar County with maximum winds estimated around 95 mph. The tornado is designated as EF-U in Jones County as there was no observable damage. The tornado was on the ground for about 16 minutes along an intermittent 7 mile path. Assistance with the survey was provided by Cedar County Emergency Management and the Mechanicsville Fire Department.

Tornado in CLINTON, IOWA
From 23-MAY-20 12:20:00 to 23-MAY-20 12:23:00 (CST-6)
Location: LOST NATION
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Photo and video evidence passed along by Emergency Management confirms an EF-0 tornado just southeast of of Lost Nation, IA. There was damage to a metal farm building.
Maximum winds are estimated around 85 mph.

Tornado in JACKSON, IOWA
From 23-MAY-20 13:24:00 to 23-MAY-20 13:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: ANDREW
Tornado F-scale: EFU
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter observed a brief tornado in a field. There was no observable damage to assign an EF-scale rating.

Tornado in JACKSON, IOWA
From 23-MAY-20 12:53:00 to 23-MAY-20 12:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: MAQUOKETA
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Video passed along by emergency management confirms an EF-0 tornado, which caused some shingle damage at a few homes near Prairie Creek Golf Course, just south of Maquoketa, IA. The tornado path is around 1.5 miles long, and was on the ground for about 4 minutes. The maximum wind speed is estimated at 80 mph.

Tornado in CEDAR, IOWA
From 23-MAY-20 11:44:00 to 23-MAY-20 11:49:00 (CST-6)
Location: CEDAR BLUFF
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado caused damage at a farmstead in Johnson county, and crossed into Cedar County just south of the Cedar River, around 3.5 miles NW of Cedar Bluff. The tornado downed power poles east of Sutliff. The tornado was rated as EF-0 in Johnson County, with maximum winds of 85 mph. The rating in Cedar County was EF-1, with maximum winds around 110 mph. Johnson and Cedar County Emergency Management provided assistance in completing the survey.

Tornado in JOHNSON, IOWA
From 23-MAY-20 11:30:00 to 23-MAY-20 11:44:00 (CST-6)
Location: MORSE
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado caused outbuilding, grain bin, and tree damage at a farmstead in northeast Johnson County. The tornado then followed an intermittent northeast path for 7 miles, and crossed into Cedar County just south of the Cedar River. The tornado downed power poles east of Sutliff.  The damage in Johnson County was rated as EF-0, with maximum winds around 85 mph. The tornado rating in Cedar County was EF-1, with maximum winds around 110 mph. Johnson and Cedar County Emergency Management provided assistance in completing the survey.

Funnel Cloud in CLINTON, IOWA
From 23-MAY-20 12:10:00 to 23-MAY-20 12:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: TORONTO
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A rotating wall cloud was reported, with a funnel that did not touch the ground.