Storms shake area

No tornados, despite threat

By DON COGGER, Messenger staff writer
A weather front moved through Webster County Saturday night, carrying the possibility of severe thunderstorms and putting the area under a tornado warning.

Tornado sirens went off twice as a wall cloud moved directly over downtown Fort Dodge at about 7:30 p.m. Evening events at the 2008 Frontier Days were canceled, and the city streets started to flood.

To the north in Clarion, Ron Emerson said that as of 8:15 p.m. skies were beginning to clear a bit, although from his vantage point between Belmond and Clarion it looked as if another wall of clouds was rolling over Clarion.

‘‘There’s been some crazy stuff moving through, that’s for sure,’’ Emerson said. ‘‘It cleared up a bit, then it would rain really hard, then clear up again. Looking to the south, it looks like something is coming right over Clarion again, so we’ll see.’’

Back in Fort Dodge, roads began to flood, causing headaches for residents and law enforcement alike. Tammie Crouse, of 2116 Fourth Ave. N., said that as of 8:30 p.m. water was up over the curb in front of her residence and up to the rims of cars parked out front.

‘‘The water just keeps rising, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to stop anytime soon,’’ Crouse said. ‘‘Cars are having trouble just getting up and down the street.’’

There were unconfirmed reports of a tornado touchdown in Barnum, although resident Gene Ruebel said he saw what appeared to be a funnel cloud to the south of Barnum.

Steve Teachout of the National Weather Service in Johnston was able to confirm that there was no touchdown in Webster, Wright, Calhoun or Humboldt counties.

‘‘Hopefully, the worst has passed us,’’ Ruebel said late Saturday.



Contact Don Cogger at (515) 573-2141 or dcogger@messengernews.net