September 12, 2020 Storm Complex

The September 12th, 2020 Storm Complex was a severe weather outbreak that affected portions of eastern Iowa and northwestern Illinois. The outbreak consisted of several tornadoes, strong winds, and heavy rains. A total of (inster number here) tornadoes were reported, and (insert number here) died. The outbreak has became one of the costliest severe weather outbreaks in Iowa History.

Wayland, Iowa EF4
The Wayland, Iowa EF4 tornado touched down around 6:13 PM about 5 miles west of Wayland. The tornado quickly got stronger and grew in size as it approached the town, doing EF2 damage to the few buildings int hit before the town. The twister would do low end EF3 damage to the houses it would hit on the west side of town. However, near the center of town, the tornado would strike a Grain processing plant. Preliminary ratings would rate the damage at the plant high end EF3, however, they would end up changing their rating to low end EF4 after further assesment. The tornado would soon hit another Grain processing plant, where high end EF3 damage would be seen, before the tornado would exit the community. Soon after leaving town, the tornado likeluy hit its peak intensity, as small amounts of ground scurring were reported. A nearby doppler on wheels recorded winds around 185 MPH. Around this same time, the tornado spawned a small anticyclonic tornado that would be rated EF0. The tornado would then rapidly weaken, and die soon after crossing US Route 218.

Washington, Iowa EF3

 * 1 death**

The Washington Iowa EF3 tornado touched down shortly after the Waylord EF4 did. The tornado quickly became stronger, but stayed relativly thin. The tornado Crossed Higwhay 1, where the tornado would hit a small trailer park. Their, an elderly man would be killed by the tornado. The twister would then move into town, hitting Washington High School. Washington High School would suffer low end EF3 damage. The tornado would then strike an apartment complex, where similar damage would be reported. The tornado would also hit the Washington County Hospital, where EF3 damage would be reported. The tornado would then hit residential portions of western Washington, and hit the WHS football field, where more EF2-EF3 damage would be reported. The tornado would then strike a Walmart Supercenter, where EF2 damage would also occur. The tornado would go on for another 2 miles or so, before lifting.

Riverside-River Junction EF3
The tornado touched down a few miles away from Riverside, where it quickly began to strengthen. Within a few minutes, the tornado had became a massive wedge tornado. By the time it would hit RIverside, the entire town would be consumed by the tornado, leading to every building either being destroyed or damaged. Here, the tornado was rated a high end EF3, however, the NWS office in Davenport said that it was "highly plausible" that the tornado produced EF4 damage, but the buildings in town were not built well enough the warrant an EF4 rating. Thankfully, everyone in town would survive. The tornado would continue, crossing US Route 218, before crossing the Iowa River, and hitting the hamlet of River Junction, destroying the entire town. The houses in the town would suffer EF2 damage. The tornado would quickly die, lifting about a mile north west of the village of Lone Tree.