Earth Changes
Residents experienced heavy rain, wind, lightning, hail during severe storms across the area.
A tornado warning was issued for some areas, NewsChannel5 reported.
The number of pet-owner reunions at a shelter in Cedar Rapids is expected to grow in the coming days, as more victims begin assessing damage to their homes and finding temporary accommodations.
"[Owners] are now making plans for themselves and their pets, so we'll continue to see larger numbers of people reclaim their animals," said Scotlund Haisley, senior director of emergency services for the Humane Society of the United States.
Last week rescue workers from several private animal-welfare agencies, including the Humane Society, descended on the city after the Cedar River breached levees, filling streets with dark swirling water and forcing 24,000 people to evacuate.
With the water now receded, city officials estimate damages to reach U.S. $736 million.
As of Saturday evening, CAL FIRE reported that approximately 37 lightning-caused fires were started during the past 24 hours in widely scattered areas of its Humboldt-Del Norte Unit.
Most of the 626 passengers and 121 crew are missing and the vessel's owner, Sulpicio Lines, said it had lost contact with the ferry, which was en route to Cebu from Manila, at around 12.30 p.m. (0430 GMT) on Saturday.
The coast guard finally reached the area where the MV Princess of Stars sank 3 km (two miles) from Sibuyan island in the centre of the archipelago. It had been forced to abort a previous rescue mission on Saturday because of high seas.
The first earthquake, of 5.4 magnitude, occurred at 0857 local time (0557 GMT). The second, a magnitude 5.9 quake occurred at 1436 local (1136 GMT). A third earthquake, of magnitude 5.0. occurred at 1645 local (1345 GMT), the Athens Geodynamic Institute said.
The Director of the Meteorological Service Kyriacos Theofilou, said that the temperature is five degrees higher than normal for this time of year, with the normal level being around 35C.
This awesome phenomenon also causes more deaths and property destruction in a typical year than floods, hurricanes and tornadoes combined.
Don't underestimate the dangers of lightning.
The threat of lightning danger can occur anytime, but the most likely time for damaging thunderstorms is June through August.