A confirmed tornado and high winds caused widespread “significant” damage across Greene County Wednesday night.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Greene County around 5:15pm. Jefferson Assistant Fire Chief Sean Schiltz told Raccoon Valley Radio there was a confirmed tornado that started south of Jefferson and moved northeast across Greene County. He said there was a 20 car train derailment one mile east of Jefferson and no injuries were reported and no hazardous materials were spilled that are known at this time. 

Schiltz reported several other major property damages, including a roof blown off of a hog confinement structure on G Avenue and 310th Street. Additionally, a farm property near Highway 4, south of Jefferson, had all buildings destroyed and a semi-tractor trailer was rolled onto the property. A neighboring farm property also suffered significant damage to its outbuildings. Schiltz added there was a tree that fell onto a house on old Highway 30 between Jefferson and Scranton. Schiltz noted there were several power lines down across the county and power lines that are over roadways. However, Schiltz said there were no reported injuries.

Greene County Engineer Wade Weiss said all Secondary Roads crews were out after the storm clearing county roads of debris and will return this morning to clear the ditches of the debris. Jefferson Police Chief Mark Clouse told Raccoon Valley Radio there have been no reports of property damage and no downed power lines following the storm. Additionally, Alliant Energy is reported 2,988 Greene County customers and 292 Midland Power Cooperative Greene County customers were without power. 

The tornado warning expired at 6pm. Each severe weather event was covered live by the Raccoon Valley Radio Severe Weather Action Team. Seven Raccoon Valley Radio staff, along with Weatherology meteorologists, Greene County Sheriff Jack Williams, and Jefferson Assistant Fire Chief Sean Schiltz contributed to the live coverage of the Wednesday night storms.  

Raccoon Valley Radio will bring you more information as it becomes official.