Storm Across Iowa Leaves Hundreds of Thousands Without Power

Iowa was greeted by an extreme storm yesterday that produced 90+ mph wind gusts, hail, tornados, tree damage, and power outages.

The storm traveled east from Iowa to Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana, as 3 other states suffered the same wrath as we did in Iowa. Check out this graphic showing how much area this storm covered.

Here is where things begin to get pretty scary. Look at these wind gusts measured in yesterday's (July 15) storm. According to the National Weather Service, wind blowing from 32 to 38 mph is considered "near gale." Take that number and multiply it by 3, it is considered "hurricane force" wind.

There have been multiple videos from yesterday's storm posted on the IowaLovers Instagram page. How many other Iowa communities look like this after last night's storm?

Yesterday's storm left thousands of Iowans without power. If you add in the other states that felt the storm, there are around 460,000 homes and businesses without power, according to KWWL. There was widespread damage to buildings and trees. Power poles and power lines across the state were knocked down and this was another strong storm Iowans have dealt with this summer.

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Hopefully, when you woke up this morning your family was safe and your property was still in good condition. While communities around the state will begin cleaning up the damage caused by yesterday's storm, there is some good news for Iowa this week.

The horrible humidity Iowans have been going through for the past 3 days will be gone. I know Iowa weather can change every 30 minutes but for the most part, Iowa will see temperatures in the upper 70s and sunshine for the remainder of the week.

Dives Worth a Drive in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota

Almost every small South Dakota town has a watering hole. It’s where the locals go to kick back a few brews and engage in conversation.

Some of these establishments are located in buildings almost as old as the town itself. There might be a fresh coat of paint on the walls or new vinyl on the booth seats, but the ambiance is still reminiscent of a good ol’ dive.

If you think a "dive" is all about the sketchy clientele, the smell of the Devil’s lettuce, and stale Grain Belt, you’d be wrong. Not every dive has a bad reputation.

What makes a dive, a dive?

A dive has character. Neon beer signs and local memorabilia adorn the walls.

You might find a pool table, dart board, and a few video lottery machines.

The bartender knows the regulars by name and they know what you drink.

Some dives don't even serve food except for bags of chips and pickled eggs that sit in a jar of brine on the bar.

Dives aren't fancy. You might see 70's-style wood panels on the walls and wobbly tables leveled with a folded napkin.

Finally, the bathrooms. The bathrooms in dives are in a class by themselves and could be a whole topic on its own.

There are several small-town dives in our area with friendly faces, cheap booze with a burn, and even really good food! We use the term "dive" in the most affectionate way.

Here are some of the best and why you should go there.

Gallery Credit: Karla Brown