Weekly wrap-up: Tornadoes wreak havoc in Midwest; Iran records one of Earth's highest temperatures at 129 F

By Katy Galimberti, AccuWeather staff writer

June 30,2017, 12:23:05PM,EDT

 

Severe thunderstorms broke out across the central United States on Wednesday, including one that spawned a tornado in Prairieburg, Iowa.

A large tornado wreaked havoc across the town located about 30 miles northeast of Cedar Rapids. One person was injured, according to local outlet KCRG-TV. Less potent thunderstorms moved through the town immediately following the tornado, making the initial cleanup and damage assessment difficult.
Severe storms also hit portions of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois with winds gusting up to 80 mph. At least 27 tornadoes were reported on Wednesday across Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri and Minnesota.
One person was injured in Pierce County, Wisconsin, after a tornado tore through the area, causing significant damage to several houses.

A photo of storm damage in Prairieburg, Iowa after a tornado tracked through the town. (Photo/Twitter user @dunkss41)

Extreme heat in the southwestern U.S. continued this week, leading to numerous wildfires in the region. Hot and windy conditions have exacerbated some fires and made for hazardous air quality conditions across the region.
In Arizona, the heat killed cacti, melted road signs and gave residents a chance to experiment with new cooking techniques.

The mercury soared to 129 degrees F (53 C) in Ahvaz, Iran, this week, one of the highest temperatures to be recorded on Earth.
Etienne Kapikian from Meteo France reported the temperature spike. It marks as Iran's hottest day on record. The world's official highest temperature of 134 F (56 C) was recorded in 1913 in Death Valley, California.
One man was killed and another was injured by a lightning strike at a construction site in Pembroke Pines, Florida, on Tuesday. Pines Fire Rescue Chief Ruben Troncoso said the man who died had burns across his chest and an entry and exit wound, according to local the NBC6 station.
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This is the third lightning fatality of 2017, well below the average for this time of year, according to NWS lightning Safety Service Expert John Jensenius.
Deadly landslides struck China's Sichuan province over the weekend and early this week. The initial torrent of rocks and mud engulfed more than 62 homes and a hotel on Saturday in the village of Xinmo. A second landslide occurred on Tuesday.
At least 15 were killed, but the death toll is expected to rise as recovery efforts continue.
Mandatory evacuations were lifted in Tulare County, California, as the King River began to recede. A mobile home park, a golf course and dozens of other homes were impacted by floodwaters.

Mandatory evacuations were ordered for parts of Tulare County in California as the Kings River overflowed its banks. (Photo/Facebook/Tulare County Sheriffs Office UAV program)

Dora in the East Pacific was the first hurricane spotted by the GOES-16 satellite. The system strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane on Monday.
The high-resolution satellite is the most advanced weather satellite NOAA has ever developed.
Two people were killed in the Russian capital of Moscow on Friday as strong storms pounded the city. According to The Moscow Times, one person died after being struck by lightning.