High Winds Overturn Semi on Interstate 35; Ankeny High School Graduates Evacuated Mid-Commencement

Updated, 8:09 p.m.

Traffic is backed up on Interstate 35 southbound just north of Ankeny due to a semi that overturned due to high winds during Sunday night's storms.

Several reports and photos have been seen on Twitter involving the semi, which was reported to be blocking both lanes.

Ankeny Commencement Ceremony Put on Hold

A few Ankeny High School graduates received their diplomas at tonight's commencement exercises at Drake University's Knapp Center before the ceremony was put on hold due to the tornado warning affecting Polk County, the Des Moines Register reported.

Seniors and attendees were moved to the corners of the building as the storm passed, the article said.

The ceremony continued once the storm had passed.

Our earlier coverage

A tornado warning for northern Polk County, which included Ankeny, has been cancelled, WHO Channel 13 reports.

According to the National Weather Service, the warning was supposed to expire at 8 p.m.

See any damage around Ankeny? Have photos from the storm? Share them with your neighbors by clicking on "Upload Photos and Video".

At about 6:40 p.m. a tornado touched down about 30 miles west of Des Moines near the town of Earlham. It was moving northeast at 55 mph toward Adel, according to the Des Moines Register. Another was reported near Huxley, or north of Ankeny, at about 7:11 p.m. 

Our area remains under a tornado watch until 10 p.m.