HAWK ALERT: NWS has issued a tornado warning for Johnson County until 4:45pm. Seek immediate shelter. See emergency.uiowa.edu for further information.
The tornado warning for our area has expired.
Continue to stay weather aware, as additional severe weather is possible through Wednesday. Our area remains under a tornado watch until 8 p.m. this evening.
The following actions are recommended by the NWS:
- Inside: Go to the basement or a safe room and assume a tornado safety position. If you don't have either, proceed to the lowest innermost room away from windows. Do not go to large open rooms such as cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums.
- Outside: Seek shelter inside a sturdy building immediately.
- In a vehicle: Being in a vehicle during a tornado is not safe. The best course of action is to drive to the closest shelter. If you are unable to make it to a safe shelter, either get down in your car and cover your head, or abandon your car and seek shelter in a low lying area such as a ditch or ravine.
- Stay weather-ready: Continue to monitor local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay updated about watches and warnings.
Keep in mind:
- The outdoor warning (siren) system is designed to notify those who are outdoors of the emergency condition. When indoors, the best way to receive severe weather notifications is through a NOAA weather radio.
- Be mindful of persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, or of those who may not be aware of emergency notifications because they are sleeping, watching TV, or listening to music.
- If you know of others in the building, please inform them of emergency conditions as you make your way to safety. If you can do so safely, help those who may need assistance to a safe area.
Additional information from the National Weather Service:
At 4:17 p.m. CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over University Of Iowa, or over Iowa City, moving northeast at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely.
* This dangerous storm will be near... Iowa City, Coralville, Solon, Elmira, West Overlook, Newport, Morse, and Coralville Lake Dam Complex around 420 PM CDT. Cedar Bluff and Sutliff around 425 PM CDT. Mount Vernon and Lisbon around 4:30 p.m. CDT. This includes Interstate 80 in Iowa between mile markers 243 and 249.