Officials: Tornado in Western Iowa Causes Damage in Oakland

Weather officials say a strong tornado touched down last week in western Iowa’s Pottawattamie County.

The National Weather Service says investigators surveying debris concluded an EF-2 tornado landed June 3 about nine miles west of Oakland. Such a classification means the tornado could have packed wind speeds ranging from 111 to 135 mph.

The Council Bluffs Nonpareil reports the tornado carved out a three-mile path before it merged with another storm. That created straight-line winds that exceeded 90 mph and severely damaged properties in Oakland.

Brian Smith, a warning coordination meteorologist, says there were reports of severe wind and hail damage in the area.

Gov. Terry Branstad has issued a disaster proclamation for Pottawattamie County.