Overcast skies in downtown Jefferson
Overcast skies in downtown Jefferson

Slow-moving, pop-up severe thunderstorms went on for four hours Wednesday evening across the Raccoon River Valley area.

Raccoon Valley Radio’s Severe Weather Action Team broke into regular programming to provide live severe weather updates when the National Weather Service issued the first thunderstorm warning just before 4:30pm for northwestern Greene County. Between 4:30 and 8:45pm, there were eight severe thunderstorm warnings issued for portions in Greene, Dallas and Guthrie counties. The last warning was issued by the National Weather Service at 8:05pm.

Heavy rainfall moving between Jefferson and Grand Junction
Heavy rainfall moving between Jefferson and Grand Junction

Weather hazards included: heavy rainfall, pea to penny size hail, 50 to 70-miles-per-hour winds, lightning and periods of flash flooding. Due to the heavy rainfall, flash flooding occurred on portions of Highway 141 near Perry. While no significant damage was reported in any of our primary coverage area, it was reported that the Jefferson Fire Department responded to a call of a house that had its circuit breaker tripped when it was struck by lightning. Chief Jack Williams told Raccoon Valley Radio everything was fine and nothing caught on fire. Dallas County Sheriff Chad Leonard reported a down powerline in Dexter and there were multiple small tree limbs that had broken off and were in the roadway on Highway 141.

Over 30 people in Greene County were without power, along with seven people near Perry. Power was restored before the end of the night. Ten Raccoon Valley Radio staff worked through each severe weather threat. We were also in contact with Weather Eye Meteorologists and local law enforcement and fire personnel.