What meteorologist John McLaughlin called a “twisting storm” passed through Jefferson shortly after 6 pm last night, causing damage in roughly two blocks on both sides of the Union Pacific railroad tracks from just east of the Highway 4 overpass to N. West St.
Genesis Development, Dagit Auction, Casey’s General Store and the former Wahl-McAtee Tire and Service Center were all damaged. At Casey’s, store staff and customers took shelter in the walk-in cooler as the tornado sirens sounded.
Wahl-McAtee vacated its building on W. McKinley St last month with the opening of a new building on N. Elm St.
All of Jefferson was without electricity until about 9 pm. Some neighborhoods were restored after midnight, and the area that was most affected did not yet have electricity Saturday afternoon. Alliant crews are on the scene.
Several pictures are posted on social media. Click here to see McLaughlin’s pictures.
