Alert archive / Iowa / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1986

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 59, NWS Des Moines, IA

June 29, 1986Dallas County, Polk County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 29, 1986, 5:14 AM CDT for Dallas County, Polk County, Iowa. It was in force for 46 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jun 29, 1986, 5:14 AM CDT (10:14 UTC)
Expired
Jun 29, 1986, 6:00 AM CDT
In force
46 min
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Whole counties

Counties Dallas County, IA, Polk County, IA

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 00:00Z, 10.2 hours before the alert went out and 337 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Topeka, KS at 00:00Z on 1986-06-29Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2615 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Topeka, KS at 00:00Z on 1986-06-29The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 13 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
2615 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-51 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1293 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
23 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
13 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
77 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
0.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KDSM 291016
SVRDSM
IAC153-049-291100-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
514 AM CDT SUN JUN 29 1986

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 600 AM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES OF

CENTRAL IOWA...POLK AND NORTHEAST DALLAS

AT 510 AM CDT..RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OVER NORTHERN
DALLAS COUNTY.  THE STORM WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN
HOUR.

REMEMBER..A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAN PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS
OF 60 MPH..LARGE HAIL..DEADLY LIGHTNING..AND HEAVY RAINS THAT CAN
QUICKLY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS.  PEOPLE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM
SHOULD TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION IMMEDIATELY.
/
IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES..YOU SHOULD GO TO A SAFE PLACE
IMMEDIATELY.  IF SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE OBSERVED..PLEASE ASK
THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

BIKLE

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 28, 11:44 PM CDT, 5 hours 30 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1140 PM CDT SAT JUN 28 1986

..A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3AM FOR MUCH OF
  NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL IOWA..

AT 1130 PM..NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED IN IOWA.  HOWEVER..
A FEW SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN CENTRAL AND WEST CENTRAL
IOWA.

THE AREA IN WEST CENTRAL IOWA EXTENDED FROM 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF
AUDUBON TO 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ADAIR.  THE HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORM WAS
LOCATED JUST NORTHWEST OF ADAIR..OR ABOUT 50 MILES WEST OF DES MOINES.

A SHOWER WAS ALSO LOCATED ABOUT 20 MILES NORTHEAST OF DES MOINES.

THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAS[T AT 20 MILES AN
HOUR.

SCOTT
Special weather statement, Jun 29, 1:46 AM CDT, 3 hours 28 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
145 AM CDT SUN JUN 29 1986

..A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3AM FOR MUCH OF
  NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL IOWA..

NO SEVERE WEATHER WAS REPORTED IN IOWA BETWEEN 1245 AND 145 AM

AT 134 AM CDT...
A 25 MILE WIDE AREA OF SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS HAD DEVELOPED OVER
CENTRAL IOWA SOUTHEAST IOWA.  THEY EXTENDED FROM 30 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF FORT DODGE..TSO JUST NORTH OF OTTUMWA.

THEY WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT ABOUT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

SCHUMACHER
Special weather statement, Jun 29, 2:42 AM CDT, 2 hours 32 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
241 AM CDT SUN JUN 29 1986

..A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3AM FOR MUCH OF
  NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL IOWA..

NO SEVERE WEATHER WAS REPORTED IN IOWA BETWEEN 145 AND 240 AM

AT 234 AM CDT...
A NARROW BAND OF VERY HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED FROM NORTHWEST
INTO SOUTHEAST IOWA.  THE BAND WAS ABOUT 15 MILES WIDE AND EXTENDED
FROM 30 MILES NORTHEAST OF SIOUX CITY..TO 20 MILES NORTHWEST OF DES
MOINES..TO JUST SOUTHEAST OF OTTUMWA.

THESE STORMS WILL PRODUCE DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN AS
THEY PASS OVERHEAD.

THEY WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT ABOUT 15 MILES AN HOUR ANsD WERE
INCREASING IN INTENSITY.
\
SCHUMACHER
Special weather statement, Jun 29, 3:08 AM CDT, 2 hours 6 minutes before
>PQ>
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
307 AM CDT SUN JUN 29 1986

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR MUCH OF NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL
IOWA EXPIRED AT 3 AM CDT...AND WILL NOT BE EXTENDED AT THIS TIME.

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE AT VARIOUS POINTS ACROSS THE
STATE FORE THE REST OF THIS MORNING BUT THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER
DEVELOPMENT NO LONGER APPEARS LIKELY..AT LEAST FOR THE EARLY PART OF
THE DAY.

ELLINGSON
Special weather statement, Jun 29, 3:41 AM CDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
339 AM CDT SUN JUN 29 1986

AT 334 AM CDT...
A 20 MILE WIDE AREA OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM NORTH-
WEST INTO SOUTHEAST IOWA.  THE AREA EXTENDED FROM CHEROKEE..TO DES
MOINES..TO NEAR OTTUMWA.

VERY HEAVY RAIN AND DANGEROUS LIGHTENING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE
STORMS.  THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE BETWEEN DES MOINES AND JEFFERSON..
50 MILES NORTHWEST OF DES MOINES.  PEOPLE SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT
FOR LOCAL LOWLAND FLOODING IN THESE AREAS DUE TO THE SLOW MOVEMENT
OF THE STORMS.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 MILES AN HOUR.

SCHUMACHER
Special weather statement, Jun 29, 4:42 AM CDT, 32 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
440 AM CDT SUN JUN 29 1986

AT 434 AM CDT...
INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED OVER CENTRAL IOWA.  THE STRONGEST
STORMS WERE LOCATED JUST SOUTHEAST OF DES MOINES..AND BETWEEN FORT
DODGE AND REDFIELD.  THE LATER IS 25 MILES WEST OF DES MOINES.
THESE STORMS WERE PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN AND SOME PEA SIZE HAIL.

ELSEWHERE...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING OVER
NORTHWEST..THE REMAINDER OF CENTRAL..AND PARTS OF SOUTHEAST IOWA.
THEY WERE IN A 60 MILE WIDE AREA EXTENDING FROM 30 MILES NORTH OF
SIOUX CITY TO OTTUMWA.

THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.
THERE WAS LITTLE CHANGE IN INTENSITY..BUT AREAL COVERAGE WAS
INCREASING.

SCHUMACHER

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Iowa, 1986Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1986

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.