SERGEANT BLUFF, Iowa — Drivers on Interstate 29 near Sergeant Bluff had nowhere to go Sunday evening as 70 mph wind gusts and driving rain made it nearly impossible to see the road ahead.
Dramatic footage captured live on FOX Weather showed headlights barely cutting through the darkness as the powerful storm brought traffic to a complete standstill.
FOX Weather Meteorologist Ari Sarsalari was watching the storm unfold in real time through Iowa Department of Transportation cameras when the gusts hit.
“Wow, that’s going to be 70-plus mile-an-hour wind,” Sarsalari said just after 7:30 p.m. local time.
“If there was ever a legitimate Severe Thunderstorm Warning that said 70 mph-plus, that is the one.”
A Tornado Was Confirmed Just Miles Away
While winds were battering the interstate, radar confirmed a tornado had touched down in Salix, Iowa — a city just a short distance from Sergeant Bluff.
The Sergeant Bluff city government quickly posted on social media that the local Fire Department had opened its doors as a shelter for anyone who needed a safe place to wait out the storm.
By Monday morning, the city had opened part of a local baseball field to handle tree debris left behind by the storm. No reports of additional damage or injuries had been released as of Monday.
Weekend Storms Hammered the Midwest
Sunday’s storm in Sergeant Bluff was not an isolated event.
Over the weekend, more than 70 Tornado Warnings were issued across the region, along with over 400 Severe Thunderstorm Warnings. The warnings were concentrated heavily across the Central Plains and parts of the Midwest.
Large tornadoes were captured on video tearing through rural parts of Nebraska on Sunday, adding to what has been a brutal stretch of severe weather for the region.
The Danger Is Not Over Yet
Monday brings more risk — and in some cases, even greater danger.
Meteorologists are warning of long-track, violent tornadoes possible over parts of Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri. Iowa itself is sitting at a Level 3 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms as the same system pushes through.
Residents in these states are urged to stay weather-aware throughout the day, have a shelter plan ready, and keep alerts turned on for any sudden Tornado Warnings in their area.
If you are in the path of a warning, do not wait. Move to the lowest floor of a sturdy building, away from windows, immediately.
Have you experienced the storm in Sergeant Bluff or anywhere in the Midwest this weekend? Share what you saw in the comments — your firsthand report could help others in the area stay informed and stay safe.
