Tornado that hit Pocahontas County upgraded to EF4

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The National Weather Service says a tornado that hit Pocahontas County in northwest Iowa on April 9 has been given an EF4 rating on the tornado-strength-scale, with top winds of 170 mph.

It was among at least 18 tornadoes that day in Iowa, including one that barreled through Mapleton, leveling more than half the town but causing no deaths. That storm was an EF3.

Meteorologist Jeff Johnson says the Pocahontas County tornado was rated an EF4 based on the destruction of a house. The twister also threw a combine about 100 yards. There were no injuries.

Johnson says the April 9 outbreak is seventh highest for tornadoes in a single day in the last 30 years. The most active day was 28 tornadoes on April 11, 2001.