Alert archive / Iowa / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1987

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 94, NWS Sioux Falls, SD

July 11, 1987Osceola County, Iowa; Jackson County, Minnesota

NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 11, 1987, 10:54 PM CDT for Osceola County, Iowa; Jackson County, Minnesota. It was in force for 66 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 11, 1987, 10:54 PM CDT (03:54 UTC)
Expired
Jul 12, 1987, 12:00 AM CDT
In force
66 min
Issued by
NWS Sioux Falls, SD
Area
Whole counties

Counties Osceola County, IA, Jackson County, MN

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

Minneapolis, MN (KSTC), launched 00:00Z, 3.9 hours before the alert went out and 205 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, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 1987-07-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2069 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, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 1987-07-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 4 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
2069 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-19 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1014 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
4 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
71 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KFSD 120354
SVRFSD
IAC143-MNC063-120500-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
1054 PM CDT SAT JUL 11 1987
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
EFFECTIVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
 
IN NORTHWEST IOWA
          ...OSCEOLA
IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA
          ...JACKSON
CITIES EFFECTED ARE...HERON LAKE AND LAKEFIELD IN JACKSON COUNTY
MINNESOTA AND SIBLEY IN OSCEOLA COUNTY IOWA.
 
GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH SOME OF THESE
STORMS...WITH EXTREMELY HEAVY RAIN.
 
 
 
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...YOU SHOULD GET TO A
REINFORCED SHELTER. A SEVeERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCES WINDS IN EXCESS
OF 60 MPH...HAIL 3/4 INCH OR LARGER...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY
RAIN THAT CAN QUICKLY FLOOD A LOW LYING AREA.
KOSCIELSKI

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, Jul 11, 9:20 PM CDT, 1 hour 34 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
915 PM CDT SAT JUL 11 1987

...INTENSE THUNDERSORMS WERE INCREASING ACROSS SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA...

AT 9 PM CDT A LINE OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN
CONTINUED TO INCREASE ACROSS SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA.

THE LINE EXTENDED FROM 70 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SIOUX FALLS...NEAR SPRING/
FIELD TO 60 MILES NORTH OF SIOUX FALLS...NEAR BROOKINGS.  THESE STORMS
WERE PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN AND ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HAIL...
STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AS THEY MOVE TO THE EAST AT
25 MILES AN HOUR.

PERSONS IN THE SOUTH DAKOTA COUNTIES OF MOODY...MINNEHAHA...MCCOOK...
TURNER AND LINCOLN INCLUDING THE COMMUNITIES OF FLANDREAU...SIOUX FALLS
...DELL RAPIDS AND  MARION SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THESE STORMS
THROUGH 10 PM CDT.
STAY TUNED TO YOUR LOCAL TV OR RADIO STATION FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS
OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
BUSS
Special weather statement, Jul 11, 9:38 PM CDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HURON SD
935 PM CDT SAT JUL 11 1987

...TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA
UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT THIS SATURDAY NIGHT...

AT 930 PM CDT...A LINE OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO MOVE OVER
SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA AND WESTERN MINNESOTA.

THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS ALONG AND 10 MILES EITHER SIDE OF A LINE
FROM YANKTON TO SIOUX FALLS TO BROOKINGS. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS
WERE JUST WEST OF YANKTON AND 10 MILES NORTH OF YANKTON.

THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT
LIGHTNING AND HAIL. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS YOU SHOULD
SEEK SHELTER.

OTHERWISE...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER
MOST OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA.

THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE EAST OF A LINE FROM MOBRIDGE
TO PIERRE (TO MITCHELL AND WERE MOVING EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.
EDDY
Special weather statement, Jul 11, 10:20 PM CDT, 34 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
1020 PM CDT SAT JUL 12 1987

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN CONTINUED ACROSS SOUTHEAST
SOUTH DAKOTA AND SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA...

AT 1015 PM CDT A LINE OF SCATTERED THUNDERSORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN
CONTINUED ACROSS SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA AND INTO SOUTHWEST
MINNESOTA.

THE LINE EXTENDED FROM 35 MILES SOUTH OF SIOUX FALLS...NEAR CENTERVILLE
SOUTH DAKOTA TO 70 MILE NORTHEAST OF SI"OUX FALLS...NEAR MARSHALL
MINNESOTA.

THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL...
GUSTY SURFACE WINDS AND DANGEROUD LIGHTNING AS THEY MOVE TO THE
EAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.
BUSS
Special weather statement, Jul 11, 10:24 PM CDT, 30 minutes before
^DSMSPSSUX
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX CITY IA
1022 PM CDT SAT JUL 11 1987

...TORNADO WATCH FOR UNION COUNTY IN SOUTH DAKOTA UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT...

AT 1018 PM CDT STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HAD DEVELOPED JUST WEST OF SIOUX
CITY IOWA. THESE THUNDERSTORM WERE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 30 MILES AN
HOUR AND WILL BE MOVING INTO SIOUX CITY BY 1030 PM CDT.

PEOPLE IN EASTERN DAKOTA COUNTY IN NEBRASKA AND WESTERN WOODBURY COUNTY
IN IOW*A SHOULD BE ALERT AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE COVER IF SEVERE WEATHER
IS OBERVED. THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL...
STRONG GUSTY WIND...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.
ROSNER
Special weather statement, Jul 11, 10:34 PM CDT, 20 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HURON SD
1030 PM CDT SAT JUL 11 1987

...TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA
UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT THIS SATURDAY NIGHT...

AT 1030 PM CDT...A LINE OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO MOVE OUT
OF SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA AND INTO WESTERN MINNESOTA AND EXTREME
NORTHWESTERN IOWA.

THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS ALONG AND 30 MILES WEST OF A LINE
FROM SIOUX CITY IOWA TO REDWOOD FALLS MINNESOTA.

THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT
LIGHTNING AND HAIL. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS YOU SHOULD
SEEK SHELTER.
OTHERWISE...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER
NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA.

THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE NORTH AND EAST OF A LINE
FROM MOBRIDGE TO HURON TO BROOKINGS AND WERE MOVING EAST AT 30A MILES
AN HOUR.
EDDY
Local storm report, Jul 11, 10:51 PM CDT, 3 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
1050 PM CDT SAT JUL 11 1987

 420 PM CDT  PEA/MARBLE SIZE HAIL AND .54 PRECIP AT SIOUX CENTER IOWA

 430 PM CDT  TORNADO REPORTED FEW MILES WEST OF WHITE RIVER IN
             MELLETTE COUNTY SOUTH CENTRAL SD

 900 PM CDT  TORNADO TOUCHDOWN AT MENNO IN HUTCHINSON COUNTY SD

 901 PM CDT  GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL NORTH OF MONTROSE IN MCCOOK COUNTY SD

 901 PM CDT  40 MPH WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN AT COLTON IN MINNEHAHA COUNTY
             IN SD

 908 PM CDT  ESTIMATED 50 MPH WINDS AND VERY HEAVY RAIN AT PARKER IN
             TURNER COUNTY SD

 920 PM CDT  FUNNEL CLOUD 6 MILES WEST OF YANKTON SD

 925 PM CDT  60 MPH PLUS WINDS AT IRENE SD CAUSING DAMAGE

 925 PM CDT  FUNNEL CLOUD 3 MILES SOUTH OF VIBORG IN TURNER COUNTY SD

 950 PM CDT  GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL TYLER LINCOLN COUNTY MINNESOTA

1002 PM CDT  FUNNEL 3 MILES SOUTH OF LENNOX REPORTED BY LINCOLN SD
             COUNTY XSHERIFF

RYRHOLM

The office that day

Everything else NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 11, 10:22 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFSDLyon, Sioux68 min
Jul 11, 10:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFSDLyon60 min
Jul 11, 10:22 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFSDCottonwood, Murray, Nobles68 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Iowa, 1987Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Minnesota, 1987Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1987

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.