Register photographer encounters tornado near Atlantic; 'It went right over the top of me'

Tony Leys, Des Moines Register
·1 min read

Des Moines Register photographer Bryon Houlgrave was stunned by how fast a tornado charged toward him in western Iowa Wednesday evening.

Houlgrave had pulled over on Interstate Highway 80 near Atlantic when he saw the funnel cloud south of the highway. He shot a quick video of it and thought he’d have time to get away. He was wrong.

“It went right over the top of me,” he said by phone a few minutes later. “My car was really rocking. I thought it was going to tip over.”

A tornado approaches Interstate 80 near Atlantic, Iowa, as a semi rolls eastward on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. A band of strong storms swept across much of the plains states on Wednesday, producing powerful wind gusts and tornadoes.
A tornado approaches Interstate 80 near Atlantic, Iowa, as a semi rolls eastward on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. A band of strong storms swept across much of the plains states on Wednesday, producing powerful wind gusts and tornadoes.

The veteran photographer took a second video, which showed rain and hail blasting into his car. The whole encounter was over in just a few minutes. The rain subsided as soon as the initial storm front roared past. “It was just a really powerful, intense band,” he said.

A tornado approaches Interstate 80 near Atlantic, Iowa, as a semi rolls eastward on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. A band of strong storms swept across much of the plains states on Wednesday, producing powerful wind gusts and tornadoes.
A tornado approaches Interstate 80 near Atlantic, Iowa, as a semi rolls eastward on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. A band of strong storms swept across much of the plains states on Wednesday, producing powerful wind gusts and tornadoes.

A semitrailer truck was tipped over on its side nearby, Houlgrave said. Other trucks that had pulled over were still standing upright.

“It’s so eerie. It’s so dark,” he said, shortly before heading off to document any damage.

More: 88 mph winds were recorded in one Iowa city. Here are top wind speeds in Iowa

Tony Leys covers health care for the Register. Reach him at tleys@registermedia.com or 515-284-8449.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Tornado near Atlantic, IA captured by Des Moines Register photographer