Severe thunderstorms rolled their way through the Raccoon Valley Radio-listening area Saturday which prompted Raccoon Valley Radio’s Severe Weather Action Team coverage. 

The National Weather Service in Des Moines first issued a severe thunderstorm warning at 6:54 a.m. Saturday for eastern Guthrie and western Dallas counties then at 7:08 a.m. the severe thunderstorm warning went into effect for northeastern Guthrie and northwestern Dallas counties. Adair and Guthrie County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Kempf reported pea-sized hail in Stuart along with moderate rainfall during the warning. The warnings expired at 7:30 a.m.

A second band of storms made their way through the area later in the day when the National Weather Service in Des Moines first issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Greene, and portions of Guthrie and Adair counties at 5:17 p.m. and later multiple other severe thunderstorm warnings at 5:24 p.m. which included portions of Dallas County with the main threats being high winds up to 70 miles per hour and hail. All severe thunderstorm warnings were allowed to expire before 7 p.m. Saturday. 

Throughout the event multiple reports from Dallas County Emergency Management Specialist Josh Heward came in for high wind gusts of 70 miles per hour and one-quarter inch hail including near the Dexter and Redfield area in Dallas County. There was also one-quarter inch hail reported near Minburn as well. Kempf reported strong winds, lighting and heavy rainfall near Stuart and Adair and Guthrie County Emergency Management Deputy Director Jeremy Cooper reported 60 mile per hour winds and heavy rainfall south of Guthrie Center. Acting Greene County Emergency Management Coordinator Jack Williams made reports of heavy rainfall and strong winds. 

Throughout the day multiple Raccoon Valley Radio staff participated in the Severe Weather Action Team coverage as well as multiple meteorologists with Weatherology. Raccoon Valley Radio provides live coverage of severe weather anytime there is a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning issued for Greene, Dallas and Guthrie counties.