Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 1989
Tornado Warning 4, NWS Des Moines, IA
NWS Des Moines, IA issued this tornado warning at Apr 26, 1989, 4:15 PM CDT for Polk County, Iowa. It was in force for 45 min. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- Apr 26, 1989, 4:15 PM CDT (21:15 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 26, 1989, 5:00 PM CDT
- In force
- 45 min
- Issued by
- NWS Des Moines, IA
- Area
- Whole counties
County Polk County, IA
The radar
The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 4:35 PM CDT | Hail 0.88 | Polk, IA | |
| Apr 26, 4:57 PM CDT | Hail 1.75 | Polk, IA |
NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in. Storm Data before 1996 records only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail.
The nearest sounding before it
Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 12:00Z, 9.3 hours before the alert went out and 236 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 3621 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 22 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 141 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 179 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
TTAA00 KDSM 262117
TORDSM
IAC153-262200-
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED/EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
415 PM CDT WED APR 26 1989
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 500 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY
IN THE CENTRAL PART OF IOWA
NORTHERN POLK
THIS WARNING INCLUDES THE PART OF POLK COUNTY NORTH OF
INTERSTATE 80.
AT 415 PM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE
A TORNADO OVER SOUTHEAST PART OF BOONE COUNTY JUST WEST
OF MADRID. THE STORM WAS MOVING EAST-SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
THIS WARNING INCLUDES THE CITIES OF SAYLORVILLE...SHELDAHL...
ANKENY...AND ELKHART. ALSO...ALL THOSE IN THE SAYLORVILLE LAKE
RECREATIONAL AREA SHOULD TAKE COVER AT ONCE.
ALL INDICATIONS ARE THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS STORY ROU
THE TORNADO WARNING ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN BOONE AND
SOUTHWEST STORY COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM.
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IS IN A
BASEMENT. GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF
NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE
LOWEST FLOOR. IF YOU ARE IN A VEHICLE OR MOBILE HOME...LEAVE IT AT
ONCE AND TAKE SHELTER IN A REINFORCED BUILDING OR IN A DITCH.
BARLOW/TRUETTWhat forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this tornado 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, Apr 26, 1:47 PM CDT, 2 hours 28 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 145 PM CDT WED APR 26 1989 THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR KOSSUTH AND POCAHONTAS COUNTIES...AS THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER HAS MOVED EAST OF THOSE AREAS. AT 145 PM...A CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS NEAR THE MASON CITY AREA. HOWEVER...RADAR IS INDICATING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM THIS CLUSTER...TO AROUND FORT DODGE..TO JUST SOUTHEAS3T OF ROCKWELL CITY. THEREFORE...THE THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER PARTS OF CENTRAL AND WEST CENTRAL IOWA SEEMS TO BE INCREASING. REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF IOWA UNTIL 7 PM. TRUETT
Special weather statement, Apr 26, 2:16 PM CDT, 1 hour 59 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 210 PM CDT WED APR 26 1989 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 7PM CDT THIS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR A LARGE PORTION OF IOWA... AT 204 PM...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED IN NORTH CENTRAL IOWA ...ALSO HAD DEVELOPED IN PARTS OF WEST CENTRAL AND CENTRAL IOWA. THE STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED NEAR MASON CITY TO HAMPTON OF NORTH CENTRAL IOWA...WHILE OTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HAD DEVELOPED BETWEEN FORT DODGE AND ROCKWELL CITY OF WEST CENTRAL AND CENTRAL IOWA. THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE PEA SIZE HAIL...STRONG GUSTY WIND...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAIN AS THEY MOVE TO THE EAST AfT 30 MILES AN HOUR. OTHER SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER MUCH OF NORTH CENTRAL AND PARTS OF NORTHEAST IOWA...MOVING TO THE EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR. GOODSON
Special weather statement, Apr 26, 2:39 PM CDT, 1 hour 36 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 245 PM CDT WED APR 26 1989 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 7PM CDT THIS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR A LARGE PORTION OF IOWA... AT 227 PM...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED IN PARTS OF NORTH CENTRAL IOWA...LOCATED 20 MILES EAST OF MASON CITY NEAR RUDD TO 35 MILES SOUTH OF MASON CITY NEAR HAMPTON. THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE 1/4 INCH HAIL...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AS THEY MOVE TO THE EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR. OTHER SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN A 30 MILE WIDE AREA THAT EXTENDED FROM 60 MILES NORTHWEST OF DES MOINES NEAR LAKE CITY OF WEST CENTRAL IOWA TO CRESCO OF NORTHEAST IOWA. THESE SHOWERS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR. GOODSON
Special weather statement, Apr 26, 2:42 PM CDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 245 PM CDT WED APR 26 1989 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 7PM CDT THIS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR A LARGE PORTION OF IOWA... AT 227 PM...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED IN PARTS OF NORTH CENTRAL IOWA...LOCATED 20 MILES EAST OF MASON CITY NEAR RUDD TO 35 MILES SOUTH OF MASON CITY NEAR HAMPTON. THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE 1/4 INCH HAIL...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AS THEY MOVE TO THE EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR. OTHER SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN A 30 MILE WIDE AREA THAT EXTENDED FROM 60 MILES NORTHWEST OF DES MOINES NEAR LAKE CITY OF WEST CENTRAL IOWA TO CRESCO OF NORTHEAST IOWA. THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR. GOODSON
Special weather statement, Apr 26, 3:07 PM CDT, 1 hour 8 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 305 PM CDT WED APR 26 1989 THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR CALHOUN COUNTY...AS THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER HAS MOVED EAST OF THAT AREA. AT 300 PM...A LINE OF STORMS STRETCHED FROM NORTHEAST IOWA NEAR DECORAH ...THROUGH THE WATERLOO AREA...TO AROUND BOONE. FURTHER INTENSIFICATION OF THE STORMS ARE EXPECTED ALONG...ESPECIALLY IN CENTRAL IOWA. REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF IOWA UNTIL 7 PM. TRUETT
Special weather statement, Apr 26, 3:39 PM CDT, 36 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 340 PM CDT WED APR 26 1989 AT 335 PM...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED THROUGH BLACKHAWK AND BUCHANAN COUNTIES IN NORTHEAST IOWA. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH BUT DEVELOPING SOUTH INTO TAMA..BENTON AND LINN COUNTIES. WITHIN THE NEXT 45 MINUTES...THESE STORMS WILL BE MOVING INTO EAST CENTRAL IOWA COUNTIES. IN AN AREA FROM NEAR TRAER...TO DYSART...MT. AUBURN...VINTON...URBANA...CENTER POINT...CENTRAL CITY AND MIDWAY TO THE CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS...EXPECT STRONG THUNDERSTORMS. WHILE THE STORMS DO NOT PRESENTLY APPEAR TO BE SEVERE...THESE DID PRODUCE SOME STRONG WIND GUSTS AROUND WATERLOO AT ABOUT 300 PM. THE STORMS MAY RE-INTENSIFY QUICKLY...SO BE ALERT FOR WORSENING CONDITIONS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS AT THESE MOVE INTO THE AREA. DOWD
The office that day
Everything else NWS Des Moines, IA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 11:19 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Dickinson, Emmet | 41 min |
| Apr 26, 12:06 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Emmet, Kossuth | 54 min |
| Apr 26, 12:32 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Kossuth | 28 min |
| Apr 26, 1:05 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Hancock | 40 min |
| Apr 26, 2:51 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Boone | 39 min |
| Apr 26, 2:54 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Black Hawk, Buchanan | 51 min |
| Apr 26, 3:15 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Boone | 30 min |
| Apr 26, 3:46 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Boone, Story | 44 min |
| Apr 26, 4:06 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Benton, Linn | 39 min |
| Apr 26, 4:45 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Johnson, Linn | 45 min |
| Apr 26, 4:45 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Audubon, Guthrie | 45 min |
| Apr 26, 4:54 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Jasper, Polk | 51 min |
| Apr 26, 5:20 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Jasper, Marion, Polk | 55 min |
| Apr 26, 5:32 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Carroll, Greene, Guthrie | 43 min |
| Apr 26, 6:10 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Mahaska, Marion | 50 min |
| Apr 26, 6:23 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Dallas, Guthrie | 67 min |
| Apr 26, 6:53 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Jefferson, Wapello | 67 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Iowa, 1989Every tornado warning in 1989Tornadoes in 1989
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.