Videos capture tornado aftermath of destruction at Iowa homes, farms

After severe weather, including tornadoes, tore through the Midwest on Tuesday, videos shared on social media portrayed the devastation in Iowa.

More than 4 million people across the Midwest were under threat of severe weather through Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Forecasts warned of thunderstorms and possible tornadoes in parts of Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and northwestern Illinois, delivering large hail and damaging winds.

While it was unclear at the time of publication exactly how man tornadoes ripped through Iowa on Tuesday, the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) said in a statement that a “fast-moving storm popped quick and spawned many small tornadoes” across the one county alone.

The sheriff’s office said that there were no reports of injuries but shared photos of the wreckage in posts on Facebook.

“Even though the damage was substantial, we are grateful that no one was injured and no animals lost at this farm west of Sioux Center,” the SCSO wrote.

Newsweek reached out via email on Tuesday night to the Iowa State Patrol, NWS and the SCSO for comment and updates.

Videos and photos shared on X, formerly Twitter, captured the severe weather that pummeled other parts of Iowa on Tuesday, including funnel clouds and high winds that resulted in “significant” storm damage.

Storm chaser and videographer Aaron Jayjack shared a roughly 30-second video on X that showed several structures northeast of the city of New London that collapsed into rubble following a possible tornado.

“Significant damage to homes and farms NE of New London, Ia from wedge tornado moments ago,” Jayjack posted.

Another clip shared by Jayjack features a close-up of the storm destruction.

“Close range 360 video. Had to bail out of there at the last second,” he wrote.

Storm chaser Brandon Copic shared a video on X that shows a silo hurtling through the air and landing mere feet from his vehicle.

“STRONG Tornado Lofts Silo and throws it across the road outside of Salem, IA a short time ago,” Copic said.

Iowa State Patrol Trooper Paul Gardner posted video and photos on X of tornadoes in Pocahontas and Calhoun counties.

“Tornado on the ground in Pocahontas County,” Gardner wrote in one post.

A fascinating 40-second video shows a “rope tornado” twisting through fields east of Palmer. Rope tornadoes may appear weaker due to their stringy appearance, but some get more intense, according to the NWS. This type of tornado usually assumes a sinuous shape in the early or final minutes of its life cycle.

Storm chaser Reed Timmer posted on X: “What an incredible rope #tornado from veteran storm chaser Paul Spomer.”