Storms Lash Iowa State Campus As Tornado Watch Covers Ames

Wind-driven rain swept across the Iowa State University campus Monday night as a line of storms moved through central Iowa under a Tornado Watch.

Footage filmed by X user Sam shows a person with an umbrella stepping from beneath a brick arch into heavy rain and strong gusts. Trees whip in the wind as mist blows sideways across the soaked walkway.

Sam captioned the footage, “That was fun iawx.” He later said it was taken on the north side of Iowa State University at about 9:30 p.m. CDT on September 14 and confirmed it could be reused.

A Tornado Watch covered much of central Iowa, including the Des Moines–Ames corridor, until midnight. The Storm Prediction Center maintained a Slight Risk over western and central Iowa for damaging winds, hail and a conditional tornado threat as the storm line moved east.

The National Weather Service in Des Moines issued Severe Thunderstorm Warnings southwest of Ames, including Madison, Dallas and Guthrie counties and nearby areas, for 60 mph wind gusts.

A Flood Watch was also in effect statewide. The footage shows street-level rain and wind on campus, not a confirmed tornado.