The first severe weather event of the season brought property and vehicle damage, along with lots of hail to the Raccoon Valley Radio area Friday evening.

Raccoon Valley Radio’s Severe Weather Action Team was activated for the first time this year when the National Weather Service issued the first severe thunderstorm warning for Guthrie County at 4:06pm and then southwestern Greene County and Dallas County soon followed with the next thunderstorm warning at 4:19pm. That kickstarted a cascade of additional thunderstorm warnings with the final one expiring at 6:30pm.

Adair and Guthrie County Emergency Management Coordinator Jeremy Cooper reported that there was a semi tractor-trailer that had blown over along Interstate-80 near Casey due to the approximate 70 miles per hour wind gusts. He also mentioned that a roof to an apartment complex in Guthrie Center had blown off. A listener later identified the building being on South 3rd Street, across from the Orchard Restaurant. Greene County Sheriff Jack Wiliams said there was dime to quarter size hail between A and D Avenues from the north to the south county lines. Additionally, several communities, including the city of Perry initiated the severe weather sirens due to the high wind gusts.

Five Raccoon Valley Radio staff, along with Sheriff Williams, EMA Coordinator Cooper, and Weatherology meteorologists provided live coverage of the storms. Anytime there is a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning issued for Greene, Dallas or Guthrie Counties, the Raccoon Valley Radio Severe Weather Action Team will interrupt regular programming to bring you live coverage until the storms drop below severe levels or move out of the coverage area.