Storm knocks out power to city's east side

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BY CHUCK VANDENBERG

PCC STAFF

FORT MADISON - What could have been a powerful storm blew through the area very quickly Thursday afternoon yielding little of the much needed rain.

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued as a large front, prompting locals to go to Facebook with eerie cloud formations north of Fort Madison, moved to the southeast from central Iowa. Heavy rains and some high winds came off the bluff. Some of the winds could have been responsible for a large tree that fell at the corner of 18th Street and Avenue F.

About 20 minutes later power was interrupted on the city's east side including Fort Madison City Hall and the Lee County Health Department for approximately two hours as Alliant Energy crews worked along the stretch of 18th between Avenue F and Avenue E to restore the power. The LCHD has power generators that kicked on to keep them functional, but city officials said power and phones were out at City Hall for most of the time.

Emergency crews were reporting a possible tornado forming over Donnellson, but no sightings were ever confirmed.

Weather forecasts indicate clear skies through the weekend with highs near 90 and heat indices in triple digits. After Monday, however rain is predicted for seven straight days which should provide relief to parched farm fields in the area.

Alliant Energy crews work quickly on the corners of 18th and Avenue E, and 18th and Avenue F during Thursday's thunderstorm to clear power lines and restore power to the city's east side. Photo by Chuck Vandenberg/PCC

 

fort madison, Local, Pen City Current, power outage, storm, wind damage

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