(Le Mars) — A strong storm passed through Le Mars Thursday afternoon at around 4:30 p.m. causing strong winds, heavy rain, and some marble sized hail. The city’s storm warning sirens had sounded, and tornado warnings were issued for parts of Plymouth County. Authorities say there wasn’t any confirmation of a tornado touching down, just the strong straight line
winds. As a result, several trees within the city lost limbs, or had
toppled, and some power lines had dropped causing the west-central areas of town to lose electricity. Fortunately, the storm lasted only a few minutes, but in its wake was plenty of destruction. A large 40 foot tree with a five foot diameter belonging to Sharon Sailer at 8th Street and 6th Avenue
southwest fell across the Boulevard.
Sailer says a smaller tree helped prevent the larger tree from hitting her home.
Sailer says the fallen tree was spared from destruction several years earlier.
Within minutes following the storm, city work crews had arrived with chainsaws and a payloader tractor to help clear the fallen tree from blocking the street. Scott Kniep is the Superintendent of the City Public Works Department. He says the city’s tree disposal site on the west edge of town will be open on Friday.
The rains, not only from yesterday, but from the entire week have created some flooding issues for Le Mars and Plymouth County and other surrounding counties. Many of the country roads are covered with flood waters. Le Mars Community School Superintendent Dr. Steve Webner says buses will travel only
on the open roads. Troy Clouse with the Iowa Department of Transportation says many highways are having to be detoured as a result of the flooded creeks and rivers.
Clouse tells of what is happening at this hour on Highway 60.
The Iowa D-O-T official says county road C-16 near Highway 60 is also closed.
