Thunderstorm Wind — Des Moines, Iowa

2025-04-20 · near Beaverdale, Des Moines, Iowa

Event narrative

The Emergency Manager reported that 5 power poles were snapped. An NWS Storm Survey found that this was caused thunderstorms straight-line wind damage.

Wider weather episode

A line of severe thunderstorms lifted north northeastward along the Mississippi River through the Quad Cites with an area of trailing stratiform rainfall behind it. There were scattered reports of thunderstorm wind damage in the counties along the Mississippi River. A microburst occurred near West Burlington that caused damage to a DOT Shet and broke several power poles. An NWS Storm Survey team found damage in this area consistent with wind speeds of 80 to 90 mph. In addition to the severe thunderstorms, heavy rainfall of 2 to 3 inches fell across western Johnson and southwest Linn Counties. This led to reports of flash flooding in western Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, and Marion.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (40.8300, -91.2300)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1255448. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.