Severe Weather and Flash Flooding From the Upper Midwest to Mid-Atlantic; Heat Continues in the Central and Southeast U.S.

Scattered severe thunderstorms are expected tonight across parts of the Upper Midwest to western Great Lakes. Additional severe storms will also be possible in parts of the northern Plains, central Appalachians, and Mid-Atlantic. Extreme heat is expected to intensify across much of the Southeast and Tennessee Valley, continuing through much of this week. Read More >

August 12, 1974

During the afternoon, a storm system produced tornadoes that touched down in both Iowa and Delaware Counties.

Around 4:30pm, the town of Ryan in Delaware County, located north of Cedar Rapids, was hit by a F4 tornado. The tornado was on the ground for about 5 miles and had a width of about 400 yards. Approximately 30 homes were destroyed in the town of Ryan. There was also extensive damage to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Great Plains Lumber Company, and the West Delaware grade school. There were 12 injuries that occurred with the tornado that hit Delaware County. Damage estimates from the storm totaled about 2.5 million dollars.

National Climate Data Center August 12, 1974 event record for Delaware County

Another tornado touched down in Iowa County. The tornado hit around Ladora, IA which is southwest of Marengo. The F4 tornado traveled roughly 2 miles. There were two injuries reported with this storm. About six houses were damaged and total estimates from the storm were around 250,000 dollars.

National Climate Data Center August 12, 1974 event record for Iowa County
Pictures from Cedar Rapids Public Library Digital Newspaper Archive (Cedar Rapids Gazette August 13, 1974)

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Severe Weather and Flash Flooding From the Upper Midwest to Mid-Atlantic; Heat Continues in the Central and Southeast U.S.

Iowa and Delaware Counties F4 Tornadoes