The record
Everything the slot carries, as measured. Series arrays are drawn above and listed here in full.
| event_type | Lightning |
|---|---|
| ncei_event_id | 5,617,489 |
| episode_id | 2,069,651 |
| begin_utc | 1997-10-26T14:15:00+00:00 |
| end_utc | 1997-10-26T14:15:00+00:00 |
| state | IOWA |
| cz_type | C |
| cz_name | STORY |
| deaths_direct | 0 |
| deaths_indirect | 0 |
| injuries_direct | 0 |
| injuries_indirect | 0 |
| damage_property | 5K |
| episode_narrative | The first major winter storm of the season developed over the central Rockies as a powerful upper level jet stream dove into the southern Rockies. Intense low pressure developed over northern Oklahoma, then drifted northeast on the early morning of the 26th. A cold high pressure of Arctic origin was poised to the north of Iowa. The high gradually pushed cold air south into the central U.S. causing the precipitation on the northwest edge of the storm system to change to snow. During the early morning hours, the system went convective with widespread "thundersnow" reported over the south half of Iowa. Lightning struck a tree outside of a house in Nevada causing damage to electrical appliances as well as telephone damage in the house. The "thundersnow" resulted in very heavy snowfall with a band of nine inch or greater snowfall extending from Ringgold County in the south central to Mahaska County in the southeast part of the state. Six inches or greater fell in a several hour period over much of the southeast half of the state. The heaviest snow was recorded in Knoxville, with 11.5 inches. Beaconsfield came close behind with 10 inches recorded. There was an unofficial report of 11 inches from Adair County as well. Since the leaves were still on the trees, damage was extensive. Numerous trees were damaged, by some estimates at least 75% of the trees. Falling branches caused by the weight of the heavy snow felled power lines across the state. MidAmerica Energy reported 100,000 customers were without electrical service at the height of the storm. Fifty thousand were in the City of Des Moines. In addition, REC's indicated another 2,000 to 3,000 people without electricity. Damage to lines and electrical service was estimated at over $10 million. Damage was extensive to telephone and cable TV lines as well. Damage from those utilities was several million dollars each. Tree damage was more difficult to assess, but was certainly several million dollars as well. Crop damage was widespread as soybean crops in the field were virtually destroyed by the heavy wet snow. The corn crop fared better though some lodging occurred. At the time of the storm, 6% of the soybean crop and 51% of the corn crop remained in the field. Damage estimates were placed at $24 million on the beans, and $41 million on the corn crop. Following the storm, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad declared 52 Counties disaster areas. This included Grundy, Black Hawk, Story, Marshall, Tama, Guthrie, Dallas, Polk, Jasper, Poweshiek, Cass, Adair, Madison, Warren, Marion, Mahaska, Adams, Union, Clarke, Lucas, Monroe, Wapello, Taylor, Ringgold, Decatur, Wayne, Appanoose, and Davis Counties. Subsequently, 13 Iowa counties were declared Federal Disaster Areas. These included Clarke, Jasper, Madison, Mahaska, Marion, Polk, Tama, Union, and Warrne Counties within the Des Moines County Warning Area. Clean-up costs for the 13 counties was estimated at $5.1 million, ranging from $30,000 in Tama County to $1.84 million in Polk County. |
| year | 1,997 |
Provenance
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Storage: spine