Strong storms caused damage in parts of the middle U.S. on Tuesday, spawning tornadoes in Kansas and Iowa. An EF-1 tornado touched down near Richland, Kansas, reaching speeds of up to 100 mph and causing an RV to flip over, injuring two people. Buildings and trees were also damaged in Overbrook. In Iowa, a tornado destroyed a barn and damaged other buildings in Dallas County, with ping pong ball-sized hail reported in Bloomfield. The central U.S. was under threat of severe weather, with thunderstorms expected in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and northwestern Illinois.
In Kansas City, American Eagle Flight 3661 returned to the airport after takeoff due to a possible lightning strike, leading to maintenance workers inspecting the aircraft for damage. Passengers were later put on other flights. In western Missouri, around Smithville Lake, a camper was blown over and a building had its roof ripped off during a strong storm. Downed trees and power lines were reported in several communities near Kansas City as well. The National Weather Service issued warnings about severe weather continuing through Tuesday, with the potential for large hail and damaging winds in the forecast.
The EF-1 tornado in Kansas was on the ground for about 20 minutes, causing damage to structures and injuring two individuals. In Iowa, the tornado demolished a barn and caused additional damage to buildings in a rural area of Dallas County. The weather service also reported ping pong ball-sized hail in Bloomfield, near the Missouri border. Despite the destructive weather, there were no immediate reports of injuries in these areas. The central U.S. was identified as a high-risk region for severe weather, with thunderstorms expected in various states along with the potential for isolated storms in the mid-South.
American Airlines Flight 3661 had to return to Kansas City International Airport shortly after takeoff due to a possible lightning strike. The aircraft was inspected for damage by maintenance workers before passengers were accommodated on other flights. Meanwhile, in western Missouri, near Smithville Lake, a camper was overturned and a building lost its roof during a severe storm. Reports of downed trees and power lines in nearby communities were also received by the Clay County Sheriff’s Department. The National Weather Service continued to monitor the situation, cautioning residents about the potential for large hail and damaging winds in the affected areas.
Overall, the middle U.S. faced severe weather conditions on Tuesday, with tornadoes causing damage in Kansas and Iowa. The EF-1 tornado near Richland, Kansas, resulted in injuries and property damage, while a tornado in a rural area of Dallas County, Iowa, demolished a barn and caused additional destruction. The threat of severe weather, including thunderstorms, large hail, and damaging winds, persisted throughout the day in states like Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and northwestern Illinois. Passengers of American Eagle Flight 3661 experienced a disruptive return to the airport due to a possible lightning strike, highlighting the dangerous weather conditions in the region. Emergency responders and meteorologists worked towards maintaining the safety of affected communities and providing appropriate warnings to residents in the path of the storms.
