Tornado in Muscatine County, Iowa

There was a narrow damage track with trees snapped and uprooted. The most intense damage occurred in the business district along Highway 61. There was damage to a church, car dealership, hotel, and several other business. The damage continued down New Era road where several farmsteads sustained damage. The fatality occurred at the car dealership. There were 5 semi trailers overturned along Highway 61.

A tornado entered into Muscatine County from Louisa County just south of Fruitland, IA. It progressed to the northeast through the center of Fruitland destroying the post office and city hall building, numerous homes, and overturning some railroad cars. The tornado weakened as it approached the southwest portions of Muscatine. In Muscatine, the western sections of town had varying degrees of damage, which was mainly confined to roof damage. At a car dealership, some cars were displaced. The tornado eventually lifted on the northeast side of Muscatine near the junction of highways 22 and 61. Debris from Muscatine and Fruitland fell in Lowden, IA. Some personal papers were found 1 to 4 miles northwest of Lowden. Lowden is approximately 30 miles NNE of Muscatine.|

This tornado touched down 5.2 miles northeast of Nichols and tracked to the northeast before lifting 2 miles west of Moscow. The EF2 tornado was on the ground for 6.5 miles, had maximum winds to 115 mph and was 150 yards wide. There were 5 farmsteads that were hit by the tornado, but no injuries were reported. Siding and shingles of two homes were peeled off. Outbuildings were damaged, a machine shed and grain bin destroyed, and a wooden swingset toppled. Utility poles were snapped or blown down, while several trees were snapped or uprooted.