EF2 tornado in Appanoose County, Iowa

NWS storm survey confirmed a tornado touchdown on the south side of Centerville just after 830 pm. The tornado produced significant damage to a manufacturing facility with a partial collapse of walls and roof structures. The tornado tracked very quickly northeast damaging an outbuilding and taking a large section of a roof off a residence along Highway 2. Damage was also found to several outbuildings at a farmstead south of Udell with a camper being tipped on its side. The worst damage occurred near Centerville where damage was consistent with winds of 115 to 125 mph - or EF2 damage. Damage to the east was not quite as intense generally EF0 or EF1 damage. It should be noted that the tornado may not have been continuous along the the entire 10 mile path...as the damage appeared to be more intermittent.

A low pressure system developed off the Rockies in the Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota region and deepened as it moved eastward through South Dakota through the day on the March 6th. Southerly flow had already established itself and was bringing up Gulf of Mexico moisture into the Plains. A dry line also developed out ahead of the parent cold front, sparking initial storms in eastern Nebraska during the afternoon hours. Storms relatively quickly developed into a linear system, though a few isolated storms developed out ahead of the main line and proceeded to produce severe hail. As the line of storms progressed eastward through Iowa, they produced numerous severe hail and damaging wind reports. Additionally, a few tornadoes developed along the line, producing damage primarily in central and southern Iowa.