Storms cross county Monday night

LINN COUNTY - High humidity and warm temperatures led to prime conditions for storms that blew over Linn County Monday night causing countywide damage to trees, power poles and many outbuildings and homes.

According to Linn County Fire Chief Doug Barlet, the National Weather Service contacted him and requested Linn County call out storm spotters for the first of two storms that crossed the county. He said the storm that moved through Linn County at approximately 10:30 p.m.

blew through in an easterly direction and caused damage to the Prescott and Parker area. The second storm blew to the east southeast and hit the county at 4 a.m. blowing with less strength than the first storm, approximately 50 mph winds carrying pea sized hail.

Blue Mound and Prescott both experienced power outages that began with the 10:30 p.m. storm and lasted past press time Tuesday. Barlet said the outage in Blue Mound was due to wires damaged within the city while the power loss in Prescott was due to six poles on KCP&L's main power grid being snapped off on Ungeheuer Road north of Prescott.

According to KCP&L communications specialist Courtney Beatty, poles were being reset Tuesday afternoon and power was expected to be returned by that evening.

Beatty said that on Tuesday, 1,895 customers were without power, but 477 were restored since power went out Monday night.

She said that in Prescott, 22 customers of 35 were without power as of press time.

Three homes were damaged in Blue Mound, one possibly beyond habitation; all three are owned by firefighters who were out storm spotting.

Sugar Valley Lakes sustained damage from the 4 a.m. storm causing extensive tree damage.

More storms were forecast for Tuesday evening.