Storm Causes Damage Across North Ames

A fast moving storm swept through Ames overnight Wednesday toppling at least one tree, felling branches and causing power outages in isolated pockets, but the northern part of the city seemed to receive the most damage.

The storm producing high winds came through Ames between 1:45 and 2 a.m. Wednesday said Craig Cogil, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service of Des Moines.

The NWS received numerous reports of tree damage and one sustained wind gust was recorded as high as 61 miles an hour. One home weather station reported a gust as high as 73 miles an hour, Cogil said.

The wind was strong enough to take out traffic lights at Bloomington and Grand avenues. Temporary stop signs were put in its place until a crew can install new lights, which is expected to take place by noon Thursday. Damage to an electric transmission line at the same intersection left 1,000 homes without power from 2 to 4 a.m., a release from Susan Gwiasda, Ames Public Relations officer stated. Gwiasda said that Ames Electric crews continue to work to restore power at homes around the community.

Most of the storm damage reported to the city occured north of 24th Street, Gwiasda said.

The storm uprooted an elm tree at Nixon Circle where it crashed through an attached garage and broke a gas line. Alliant Energy officials were on the scene Wednesday making repairs.

There were some reports of garage damage as well, Cogil said.

In one case a 2 by 4 pierced a garage wall.

Cogil said some garage doors had been blown in.

A roof blew off an apartment complex garage on Orion Drive damaging some cars in the parking lot, said Ames Police Cmdr. Jim Robinson. 

A few planks of siding also blew off an apartment building on the same street.

"It took out a lot of limbs and a lot of trees," Robinson said.

Just a little more than half of inch of rain fell during the storm. Thunderstorms are supposed to continue off and on through the week.

Ames should have a break from storms most of the day, but the chance of storms resumes this afternoon, Cogil said.

Gwiasda said with more hazardous weather expected, now is a good time to make sure to plug in weather radios. Tornado sirens are meant to warn people when they are outside their homes and are only turned on when the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning. 

The City has opened a drop-off site for tree limbs at the Parks and Recreation Maintenance Facility at 700 East 13^th Street. The site will be marked with a sign and open daylight hours through Sunday. Volunteer help may be available for some residents. Call the City Manager’s Office for more information at (515) 239-5101.

Read more on the storm here: 

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