Storms that dropped large hail and buckets of rain in Omaha spin up tornados in Iowa

By SCOTT McFETRIDGE and MARGERY A. BECK
Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Storms that pummeled much of Nebraska with torrential rain, high winds and large hail spun up fierce tornados Tuesday that took down several 250-foot (76 meters) wind turbines in Iowa. Des Moines television station KCCI-TV showed at least three wind turbines that were toppled by an apparent tornado in southwest Iowa. At least one was in flames with black smoke pluming from the bent structure. Other images posted on social media showed extensive damage in Greenfield, a town of about 2,000 around 55 miles southwest of Des Moines. The severe storms were expected to hit Minnesota, Illinois and parts of Missouri later Tuesday.