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Heavy rains across southern & central Iowa Tuesday

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July 29th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Thunderstorms rumbled across southern and central Iowa Tuesday, dumping heavy rain and causing damage in some parts of the state. Anywhere from 2.5 to as much as 5.5-inches of rain fell across a wide swath of the State. Flash flooding was reported in Adams County late Tuesday night, where 5.5-inches of rain fell in Corning.

Water was reported to have flowed over roads at around 11:30-p.m. in Corning and Prescott, as well as several gravel roads south of Highway 34. Many rural roads remained closed at mid-day, today (Wednesday). In Taylor County, a small pond in Bedford was filled to overflowing just before 11-p.m. The Weather Service says 4.26-inches of rain fell in Bedford overnight Tuesday into early this morning. A storm spotter in Clarinda reported 2.93-inches of rain fell in that area.  3.02-inches was reported in the Union County community of Lorimor.

Further north rain amounted to 5.3-inches near Panora, while a National Weather Service spotter in Guthrie Center reported 4.15 inches had fallen Tuesday. In both cases, a majority of the heavy rain fell Tuesday evening, in less than two-hours.

Elsewhere across the State, thunderstorm winds gusting up to 65-mph toppled a telephone pole in Ottumwa, along with numerous tree limbs, some of which fell on homes. Winds up to 65mph were also reported in Centerville, causing large tree limbs to snap. In Dallas County, a gravel road was washed out southwest of Granger. Penny-sized hail (3/4” diameter) was reported near Grimes, also.

A lightning strike southeast of Urbandale sparked a fire on a telephone pole.