NWS Confirms EF-4 Tornado Struck Central Iowa, Six Fatalities

An EF-4 tornado hit Winterset before continuing on to Norwalk, Pleasant Hill and Newton among other central Iowa communities on Saturday afternoon, the National Weather Service confirmed.

NWS Des Moines says the EF-4 tornado first touched down at 4:26 p.m. Saturday roughly two miles north of Macksburg in Madison County.

The tornado stayed on the ground until 6:01 p.m. Saturday when it lifted about three miles northeast of Newton in Jasper County.

Although EF-4 damage was reported in Winterset, the National Weather Service says damage in Norwalk and Pleasant Hill was consistent with an EF-2 tornado, while Newton experienced up to EF-1 damage.

This tornado remained on the ground for 69.5 miles and had estimated peak winds at 170 mph, according to a survey from the National Weather Service. At its largest point, the tornado had a width of at least 800 yards.