Mapleton slammed by tornado

At least 10 tornadoes hit northeast Iowa on Saturday, causing major destruction in Mapleton (pictured) and widespread damage in two other counties. No fatalities, however, have been reported.

There were 27 reports of tornadoes in western Iowa, according to the National Weather Service on Saturday, and experts on Sunday confirmed 10 tornadoes in five counties. The tornado that hit Mapleton was three-quarters of a mile wide at times with winds of at least 136 mph, according to media reports. The storm system moved northeast from Mapleton and produced two confirmed twisters in Ida County, four in Sac County, two in Pocahontas County and one in Kossuth County, according to the weather service.

Gov. Terry Branstad visited Mapleton on Sunday afternoon and has declared Monona and Pocahontas counties disaster areas.