At Least Two Injured As Tornadoes Rip Across Midwest

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T​ornadoes and high winds across several states today including Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri ripped roofs off buildings, tore apart farms and left at least two people injured.

P​hotos and video from Henry County in southeast Iowa showed damage to homes in the community of Salem, and there were also reports of damage in the nearby town of New London. The area is about 115 miles southeast of Des Moines. A tornado-warned storm moved through the region around 5:30 p.m. EDT.

T​he extent of the damage wasn’t immediately clear.

The severe weather comes as storms packing tornadoes, damaging winds and large hail, move across parts of the Midwest. The threat continues through tomorrow.

Areas with the highest risk through tonight include parts of Iowa, Missouri and Illinois, where dangerous supercell thunderstorms are most likely to develop.

G​et the full forecast here.

S​tudents at the University of Iowa were told to take shelter immediately when a tornado warning was issued around 5:25p.m. EDT.

S​traight-line winds gusting between 60 and 65 mph were reported across parts of the state.

E​arlier, a tornado damaged homes and injured at least two people near Overbrook, Kansas, about 55 miles southwest of Kansas City.

Storms also knocked down trees and power lines in the Kansas City area and the National Weather Service verified tornado damage north of the city in Smithville, Missouri. You can see that damage here.

There is a report of at least one semi tipped over in eastern Kansas and wind gusts in excess of 70 mph in central Nebraska, where a resident captured mesmerizing video of a tornado this afternoon.

D​amage from a possible tornado was also reported near Minburn, Iowa, a suburb northwest of Des Moines.

Last week, s​evere weather across the South brought down trees and power lines and damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes. The death of a 64-year-old woman in Mississippi was connected to a power outage after storms moved through.

T​his is a developing story. Please check back frequently for updates.

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