Powerful thunderstorm producing high winds, hail, approaching Johnson County

Update: The NWS in Quad Cities has issued a tornado warning for Johnson County.

“The National Weather Service in the Quad Cities has issued a * Tornado Warning for... Central Johnson County in east central Iowa... * Until 545 PM CDT * At 448 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located 7 miles northwest of Kalona, or 13 miles west of Iowa City, moving east at 20 mph. HAZARD...Tornado and golf ball size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation. IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely. * This dangerous storm will be near... University Heights around 520 PM CDT. Hills around 525 PM CDT. Iowa City around 530 PM CDT. Lone Tree around 540 PM CDT. West Branch around 545 PM CDT.”

From the National Weather Service in the Quad Cities.

“The National Weather Service in the Quad Cities has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Johnson County in east central Iowa... Eastern Iowa County in east central Iowa... * Until 545 PM CDT * At 439 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 8 miles east of Parnell, or 16 miles west of Iowa City, moving east at 20 mph. HAZARD...70 mph wind gusts and ping pong ball size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect considerable tree damage. Wind damage is also likely to mobile homes, roofs, and outbuildings. * Locations impacted include... Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, Solon, Tiffin, Lone Tree, University Heights, Swisher, Oxford, Hills, Shueyville, Oakdale, Amana, Lake Macbride State Park, Newport, Middle Amana, Frytown, Windham, Sugar Bottom Camp Ground and Johnson County Fairgrounds. If you are at City of Solon you should seek safe shelter immediately! This includes the following highways... Interstate 80 in Iowa between mile markers 224 and 253. Interstate 380 between mile markers 1 and 11. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. This thunderstorm is capable of producing all types of severe weather including extremely large hail, destructive straight line winds and tornadoes. Move quickly to a safe shelter such as an interior room, a bathroom, closet or basement. Continuous cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Move indoors immediately. Lightning is one of nature`s leading killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.”