(Spencer)– Severe thunderstorms spawned tornadoes this (Fri.) afternoon in portions of Clay and Palo Alto counties.
There were confirmed tornado touchdowns in the Everly area, just south of Fostoria, near Webb, in the Gillette Grove area, near Osgood, in the Graettinger area and near Emmetsburg. Damage is reported to barns and homes in the Everly and Webb areas.
No traffic is being allowed in or out of Everly. County Road M-27 is closed north and south of the town.
There were no immediate reports of injuries.
Emergency Management officials are out assessing the damage.
Rick Oleson, Operations Manager for Estherville-based Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative, tells KUOO news they received only reports of scattered power outages. He says most of those were in the Everly area where about a half-mile of three-phase line went on the ground. Crews were working to replace that late this afternoon.
Oleson says ILEC crews saw atleast six tornadoes on the ground as they were out and about this afternoon.
The Iowa Great Lakes escaped with mostly just heavy rain.
