EF1 tornado in Linn County, Iowa

This tornado is a continuation of a tornado that began in Johnson County, just northwest of Solon. The tornado crossed into Linn County about a quarter mile north of the intersection of 110th St. NE and Taft Ave. NE. In Linn County, the tornado continued northeast and produced some tree, roof, and outbuilding damage before dissipating in the southern part of Mt. Vernon. The tornado was rated EF1 in Linn County, with maximum winds around 110 mph.

A very strong system developed on the morning of March 31st and tracked across the state of Iowa. This system pulled unseasonably warm and moist air into the Midwest, which combined with a very favorable wind profile to create a volatile environment for severe thunderstorms. Discrete supercell thunderstorms occurred initially, but quickly transitioned into a QLCS mode. This system produced a historic tornado outbreak for the area, with a record 29 tornadoes on the day, including 13 rated EF-2, 1 rated EF-3, and 1 rated EF-4. This was the first EF-4 tornado in the NWS Quad Cities service area since 1995. 11 injuries were reported, with no known fatalities. In addition to the numerous tornadoes, there were many large hail and damaging wind reports. Maximum straight line thunderstorm winds were estimated at 80 to 90 mph.