Tornado rips through parts of Iowa. by Tomasz Schafernaker
Almost half of the town of Parkersburg in Iowa was left in ruins yesterday as a tornado tore through part of the state on Sunday evening. Six people were killed and more than 400 homes were destroyed by the twister which was accompanied heavy rain and winds of up to 70mph (113kph). According to the US National Weather service around 100 people have died so far this year as a result of tornadoes, making it the worst toll in a decade.
The US Midwest is prone to tornadoes and thunderstorms as a result of the contrasting air masses found in that area. Cold air from the Rockies meets with warm and moist air from the Gulf, creating instability and as a result an increase in activity.
The tornado came after several days of severe weather across the US. Over the weekend heavy rains battered Oklahoma, with further thunderstorms expected across the Midwest in the coming days. A state of emergency still remains in Washington County as local aid agencies help residents recover from the tornado.
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