EF1 tornado in Keokuk County, Iowa

NWS storm survey teams determined that a tornado developed in far northern Wapello County, crossed Keokuk County and southeastern Iowa County, and ended in rural southwest Johnson County. This entry is for the portion of the tornado that affected Keokuk County.

This long track tornado started east of Highland Center and traveled at about 60 mph to the northeast. The circulation was initially very broad and began to tighten as it progressed to the northeast. The tornado moved into Keokuk County at around 323 pm CDT (223 pm CST). It then created a near-continuous damage path across Keokuk County, with damage primarily to outbuildings, trees, and power poles. In Martinsburg, a tied-down mobile home was also pushed to the north off its block base. Two fatalities occurred, one west of Martinsburg and on north of Kinross. Both fatalities were associated with people who were outdoors and caught in debris from outbuildings that were destroyed.

The tornado was on the ground for about 30 miles across Keokuk County. It exited Keokuk County at about 352 pm and moved into Iowa County near the junction of the Keokuk-Iowa-Washington county lines.

A powerful storm system lifted into the central Plains on the afternoon of April 27, 2014 and brought several rounds of showers and thunderstorms to eastern Iowa. Some of these thunderstorms were severe and produced damaging winds and an isolated hail report. There was one confirmed tornado during the event that moved across Keokuk, Iowa and Johnson Counties with two fatalities. In addition to the damaging winds rainfall totals ranged from a half an inch to around 1 inch in a little under an hour.