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Damage reported in southwest Iowa after Tuesday night's storms

National Weather Service meteorologists are still trying to determine whether a tornado touched down near Orient.

CRESTON, Iowa — Another round of strong to severe storms pushed through Iowa on Tuesday night, but this time the heaviest rain and most intense winds affected communities southwest of Des Moines.

The National Weather Service in Des Moines reported tree and powerline damage in parts of Creston and Orient, and emergency managers in Adair County reported a large tree fell on a home in Orient. 

This damage is likely a result of wind gusts higher than 65 mph, as it is still unclear whether a tornado touched down in the area.

Parts of Adair, Madison, and Union County were under a tornado warning for a little more than a half hour on Tuesday evening, but early Wednesday NWS meteorologists said they were still investigating if the severe storm actually produced a tornado. 

Tuesday night's storms also dropped quite a bit of heavy rainfall in southern and southwestern Iowa.

Doppler radar rain total estimates suggest more than an inch of rain fell in Adair, Afton, Chariton, Greenfield, Humeston, Indianola, and Osceola, while more than two inches of rain fell in both Bedford and Red Oak. 

Recent heavy rain in central Iowa has caused river levels to rise, including a stretch of the Raccoon River near Fleur Drive in Des Moines.

On Tuesday, Des Moines Public Works reported the Raccoon River had spilled over its banks, causing flooding on a portion of George Flagg Parkway.

George Flagg Parkway reopened on Wednesday morning, city leaders said in a news release. 

More showers and isolated thunderstorms are in the forecast for Thursday night through Friday morning. 

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