Watch: Wind turbine burns in Iowa after being destroyed by tornado
Nearly two dozen tornadoes were seen in western and central parts of the Hawkeye State, including by FOX Weather storm chasers. Video shows smoke billowing from a wind turbine after a twister in Prescott caused the structure to snap in half.
Watch: Iowa tornado snaps giant wind turbines like toothpicks
Storm Tracker Vince Waelti is following in the wake of the tornado and has seen at least 5 wind turbines snapped in half by a tornado in Prescott, Iowa. Black smoke billows from the burning turbine and fills the sky that is already clearing.
Multiple tornadoes caused extensive damage in Iowa on Tuesday during severe weather that storm trackers across the region captured live on video.
Reports of tornadoes and damage started coming in Tuesday afternoon while a "Particularly Dangerous Situation" Tornado Watch was underway for parts of the Midwest.
Nearly two dozen tornadoes ripped through western and central parts of the Hawkeye State.
TORNADOES CAUSE DESTRUCTION IN IOWA AS DEADLY STORMS RACE ACROSS STATE
Storm chaser Brandon Copic's cameras started recording a massive tornado that developed in western Iowa.
"It's definitely a multi-vortex tornado in progress," Copic told FOX Weather Meteorologist Ian Oliver.
Storm trackers get two views of Iowa tornado
Exclusive FOX Storm Trackers Vince Waelti and Brandon Copic both have live views of a tornado tearing through Iowa.
Meanwhile, Vince Waelti captured another video of a twister touching down on the ground in Corning, Iowa.
The images below were recorded by a weather watcher about 2 miles north of Corning as the tornado touched down.
Images show a tornado in Corning, Iowa on May 21, 2024 during a severe weather outbreak. (Image: Alexstaar_wx/X)
(Alexstaar_wx/X)
Some of the most catastrophic tornado damage happened in Greenfield. The NWS in Des Moines said the Greenfield tornado was at least an EF-3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. However, storm surveys are ongoing.
The close-up video below shows the strong tornado moving toward Greenfield.
See it: Close-up video shows destructive tornado approaching Greenfield, Iowa
A video captured from close range shows a powerful tornado just moments before it hit Greenfield, Iowa, causing destruction in its path on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
Drone video revealed much of the town was destroyed. At least two deaths and several injuries were reported there.
Drone video shows tornado devastation in Greenfield, Iowa
A violent tornado tore through central Iowa on Tuesday causing destruction in the town of Greenfield. Drone video showed several structures that were leveled and residents working to find storm victims.
Copic was among the first on the scene after the tornado hit. He said search and rescue efforts were underway Tuesday because people were trapped in their homes.
"Most of this town is gone. There's no other way to put it," Copic said.
Firefighters searched the area on Tuesday evening as residents began emerging from their tornado shelters to see the destruction caused by the powerful tornado, including destroyed homes and flipped cars. But Iowa State Patrol officials said they believe everyone is accounted for.
As of Tuesday night, Greenfield was closed to everyone besides residents and those who live there were required to show identification to get past checkpoints.
![Damage left after a tornado swept through Greenfield, Iowa on May 21, 2024.]()
Image 1 of 11Damage left after a tornado swept through Greenfield, Iowa on May 21, 2024. (Chris Juhn)
![Damage and several deaths were reported in Greenfield, Iowa, on Tuesday after a large and violent tornado struck the town located about 60 miles southwest of Des Moines.]()
Image 2 of 11Damage and several deaths were reported in Greenfield, Iowa, on Tuesday after a large and violent tornado struck the town located about 60 miles southwest of Des Moines. (Chris Juhn)
![Damage and several deaths were reported in Greenfield, Iowa, on Tuesday after a large and violent tornado struck the town located about 60 miles southwest of Des Moines.]()
Image 3 of 11Damage and several deaths were reported in Greenfield, Iowa, on Tuesday after a large and violent tornado struck the town located about 60 miles southwest of Des Moines. (Chris Juhn)
![Damage and several deaths were reported in Greenfield, Iowa, on Tuesday after a large and violent tornado struck the town located about 60 miles southwest of Des Moines.]()
Image 4 of 11Damage and several deaths were reported in Greenfield, Iowa, on Tuesday after a large and violent tornado struck the town located about 60 miles southwest of Des Moines. (Chris Juhn)
![Damage and several deaths were reported in Greenfield, Iowa, on Tuesday after a large and violent tornado struck the town located about 60 miles southwest of Des Moines.]()
Image 5 of 11Damage and several deaths were reported in Greenfield, Iowa, on Tuesday after a large and violent tornado struck the town located about 60 miles southwest of Des Moines. (Chris Juhn)
![Damage and several deaths were reported in Greenfield, Iowa, on Tuesday after a large and violent tornado struck the town located about 60 miles southwest of Des Moines.]()
Image 6 of 11Damage and several deaths were reported in Greenfield, Iowa, on Tuesday after a large and violent tornado struck the town located about 60 miles southwest of Des Moines. (Chris Juhn)
![Damage and several deaths were reported in Greenfield, Iowa, on Tuesday after a large and violent tornado struck the town located about 60 miles southwest of Des Moines.]()
Image 7 of 11Damage and several deaths were reported in Greenfield, Iowa, on Tuesday after a large and violent tornado struck the town located about 60 miles southwest of Des Moines. (Chris Juhn)
![Damage and several deaths were reported in Greenfield, Iowa, on Tuesday after a large and violent tornado struck the town located about 60 miles southwest of Des Moines.]()
Image 8 of 11Damage and several deaths were reported in Greenfield, Iowa, on Tuesday after a large and violent tornado struck the town located about 60 miles southwest of Des Moines. (Chris Juhn)
![Damage and several deaths were reported in Greenfield, Iowa, on Tuesday after a large and violent tornado struck the town located about 60 miles southwest of Des Moines.]()
Image 9 of 11Damage and several deaths were reported in Greenfield, Iowa, on Tuesday after a large and violent tornado struck the town located about 60 miles southwest of Des Moines. (Chris Juhn)
![Damage and several deaths were reported in Greenfield, Iowa, on Tuesday after a large and violent tornado struck the town located about 60 miles southwest of Des Moines.]()
Image 10 of 11Damage and several deaths were reported in Greenfield, Iowa, on Tuesday after a large and violent tornado struck the town located about 60 miles southwest of Des Moines. (Chris Juhn)
![Damage and several deaths were reported in Greenfield, Iowa, on Tuesday after a large and violent tornado struck the town located about 60 miles southwest of Des Moines.]()
Image 11 of 11Damage and several deaths were reported in Greenfield, Iowa, on Tuesday after a large and violent tornado struck the town located about 60 miles southwest of Des Moines. (Chris Juhn)
In southwest Iowa, a tornado outside of Prescott ripped down a wind turbine, causing a fire.
The video at the top of this story shows dark smoke billowing from the broken wind turbine after the twister moved through the area.
A Carl, Iowa wind turbine destroyed by a tornado.
(FOX Weather)
FOX Weather producers on the ground near Carl, Iowa, documented the turbine still burning and nearby silo that was damaged in the storm.
Tornado spotted in western Iowa on Tuesday
A tornado was spotted outside of Red Oak, Iowa on Tuesday.
National Weather Service Des Moines storm survey teams continue to assess the damage in Iowa to determine the strength of the tornadoes on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.