Davenport, Iowa – Nine tornadoes tore through eastern Iowa Friday afternoon and evening, overturning RVs, flattening barns, and knocking out power to thousands as severe storms hammered communities from Monticello to Davenport.
According to the National Weather Service Quad Cities, survey teams confirmed three EF2, five EF1, and one EF0 tornado between 3 and 9 p.m. CDT on July 11. Straight-line wind damage was also significant, with gusts between 70 and 100 mph recorded in Linn, Jones, Dubuque, and Jackson counties. Many rural barns were completely destroyed, and dozens of RVs at local campgrounds and along county roads were overturned or heavily damaged as storms swept across the region. Power outages, downed trees, and blocked roads made travel dangerous well into Friday night.
Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, and Monticello were among the hardest-hit areas. In Monticello, residents described a scene of chaos as tornado sirens blared and debris filled the air. Several barns along Highway 151 and County Road E34 were reduced to splinters, while multiple RVs were tossed across fields or flipped onto their sides. Utility crews worked overnight to restore power and clear lines from highways, while local first responders closed several stretches of rural road due to debris and flooding.
In Davenport, major flash flooding compounded the damage, with emergency officials urging drivers to avoid submerged streets and stay indoors unless travel was absolutely necessary. Despite the widespread destruction, no injuries or fatalities were reported as of Saturday morning, thanks in part to timely warnings and quick action by residents and emergency crews.
