Updated: Madison County Cleanup Continues from Deadly Tornado

(Winterset, IA) –National Weather Service experts believe at least four tornadoes touched down in southern Iowa late Saturday afternoon, claiming seven lives and damaging or destroying more than 50 homes. N-W-S Meteorologist Chad Hahn says much of the area that was hit by the twisters got four or five inches of snow late Sunday and this (Monday) morning, which is slowing recovery efforts. Tornadoes can strike during any month, but Hahn says the magnitude and persistence of these tornadoes were unusual. Two of the tornadoes were rated as E-F-2s and two were rated as E-F-3s, while Hahn says it’s possible the twister that hit Winterset may be rated even more powerful. That E-F-3 was on the ground nearly 14 miles, and two of others were on the ground even longer.