Northwestern Muscatine County was hit by an EF1 tornado Sunday evening.
According to the National Weather Service in the Quad Cities, the tornado formed northwest of West Liberty, headed northeast and eventually crossed Highway 6 between West Liberty and Atalissa.
A weather spotter estimated winds to be between 50 and 60 miles per hour in Nichols at 6:03 p.m.
The City of West Liberty reported on its Facebook page there was a tree down on North Calhoun Street and on East Fourth Street. A power outage was also reported. The power was restored shortly not too long after this.
The city’s park and recreation department also reported damage to Dutton Park. Netting for the batting cages was blown down. The playground tarp was also blown down from the storm. A porta potty was also missing.
A tree was also down at Oak Ridge Cemetery causing damage to tombstones. A crew came to clean up the tree Tuesday, April 9.
Muscatine County Emergency Management asked for anyone who had storm damage to report it to the office at 563-264-7142 or by email at ema@muscatinecountyiowa.gov on Facebook as well Sunday evening.
Atalissa Fire Chief Mike Smock said he never saw a funnel cloud but knew a tornado was reported east of West Liberty on Highway 6 Sunday evening.
“A window was blown out of a house,” Smock added. “And a machine shed on the Tracy Madsen farm was damaged.”
When the tornado warning was issued, Smock went out weather spotting.
“We had quarter size hail for 20 minutes,” he said.
The fire department was opened as a storm shelter for anyone who may have needed it.
“Two ladies took shelter there,” he said. “They couldn’t see the road so they pulled over and waited.”
In Atalissa itself, there were a few trees down because of the wind but no injuries were reported, Smock said.
“We never lost power,” he said.
West of Atalissa by 115th Street and Highway 6 there were utility poles knocked down by the storm.
Two utility poles were blown over by 115th Street. REC of Eastern Iowa had lineman fixing the lines and poles Monday morning.