Alert archive / Iowa / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 170, NWS Des Moines, IA

August 24, 1990Mahaska County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 24, 1990, 5:20 PM CDT for Mahaska County, Iowa. It was in force for 40 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 24, 1990, 5:20 PM CDT (22:20 UTC)
Expired
Aug 24, 1990, 6:00 PM CDT
In force
40 min
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Whole counties

County Mahaska 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

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 12:00Z, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 311 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, Omaha, NE at 12:00Z on 1990-08-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Omaha, NE at 12:00Z on 1990-08-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -17 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
3633 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
42 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-17 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
71 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KDSM 242222
SVRDSM
IAC105-123-242300-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
520 PM CDT FRI AUG 24 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  600 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
 
IN SOUTHEAST IOWA
          ...WESTERN KEOKUK
IN SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA
          ...EASTERN MAHASKA
 
AT 515 PM CDT RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN THE SOUTHEAST
PART OF MAHASKA COUNTY OF SOUTHEAST IOWA. THIS IS ABOUT 15 MILES NORTH
OF OTTUMWA.
 
PERSONS IN THE COMMUNITIES OF DELTA...WHAT CHEER...ROSE HILL...WRIGHT
...AND HAYESVILLE SHOULD BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE SEVERE WEATHER.
 
THE STORM WAS MOVING TO THE NORTH NORTHEAST AROUND 25 MILES AN HOUR.
 
WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING...PEOPLE SHOULD MOVE INSIDE A
STRONG BUILDING.  DO NOT STAND BY WINDOWS.  DON'T USE TELEPHONES
OR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY UNTIL THE STORM
HAS PASSED.  MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT DRIVE INTO LOW WATER CROSSINGS.
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 60
MPH...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.
FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.  HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO
DON'T DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.
 
ADAMS/KS

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, Aug 24, 12:42 PM CDT, 4 hours 38 minutes before
IAZALL-231830-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1240 PM CDT FRI AUG 24 1990

AT 1230 PM...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND WIDELY SCATTERED VERY STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED IN PARTS OF SOUTHWEST...WEST CENTRAL
...NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL IOWA.  THE AREA WAS WEST OF A LINE
FROM 30 MILES NORTHWEST OF MASON CITY...TO 55 MILES WEST OF DES
MOINES...TO THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE STATE.  THE STRONGEST STORM
AND HEAVIEST RAIN WAS IN SOUTHWEST POCAHONTAS COUNTY...ABOUT 80 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF MASON CITY.  BRIEF...VERY HEAVY RAIN...DANGEROUS CLOUD
TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WIND TO 35 MILES AN HOUR WILL BE IN
THE VICINITY OF POCAHONTAS BY 1PM.

OTHER STRONG STORMS WERE FROM NEAR MANNING TO SOUTHWEST OF ATLANTIC
OR ABOUT 65 TO 70 MILES WEST OF DES MOINES.

THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN
HOUR.

HUTTON
Special weather statement, Aug 24, 3:24 PM CDT, 1 hour 56 minutes before
IAZALL-242100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND WEATHER UPDATE FOR IOWA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
315 PM CDT FRI AUG 24 1990

A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM NORTH CENTRAL INTO CENTRAL
IOWA.  THIS LINE WAS 10 MILES WIDE AND STRETCHED FROM BELMOND THROUGH
STORY CITY...AMES AND DALLAS CENTER TO GREENFIELD.  ALONG WITH THE HEAVY
RAINS...GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MILES AN HOUR ARE LIKELY.  MOVEMENT WAS
EAST AT 15 TO 20 MILES AN HOUR.

BY 430 PM...THE LINE OF STORMS WILL EXTEND FROM ACKELY THROUGH ELDORA...
SAYLORVILLE LAKE AND DES MOINES TO WINTERSET.

THOSE PEOPLE ENJOYING THE STATE FAIR AND THE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AT
SAYLORVILLE LAKE SHOULD BE PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTEcR.

KS
Special weather statement, Aug 24, 4:29 PM CDT, 51 minutes before
IAZ010-242200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
425 PM CDT FRI AUG 24 1990

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER CENTRAL IOWA...

AT 425 PM...WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER NORTHWEST
POLK COUNTY AT SAYLORVILLE LAKE...ABOUT 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF DES
MOINES.

AT THIS TIME...THE STORM DID NOT APPEAR TO BE SEVERE...BUT IT WAS
PRODUCING EXTREMELY HEAVY RAINS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND SOME SMALL
HAIL.

THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST...AND WILL MOVE INTO SOUTHERN STORY
COUNTY BETWEEN 430 AND 445 PM.  PEOPLE OVER NORTHWEST POLK AND SOUTHERN
STORY COUNTIES SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER
CONDITIONS.  REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR
CENTRAL IOWA UNTIL 10 PM.

TRUETT
Special weather statement, Aug 24, 4:47 PM CDT, 33 minutes before
IAZALL-242230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
445 PM CDT FRI AUG 24 1990

AT 433 PM...VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED IN PARTS OF CENTRAL
AND SOUTHEAST IOWA.  THE VERY STRONG STORMS WERE 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF
DES MOINES...JUST EAST OF KNOXVILLE AND JUST SOUTH OF MONTEZUMA.  VERY
HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL AND WIND TO 50 MILES AN HOUR ARE POSSIBLE WITH
THE STRONGER STORMS.  A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED 1.27 INCHES OF RAIN
IN 15 MINUTES IN ADEL...ABOUT 20 MILES WEST OF DES MOINES...SHORTLY
AFTER 4PM.

OTHER SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE NORTH OF A LINE FROM 10
MILES SOUTH OF SIOUX CITY...THROUGH DES MOINES TO OTTUMWA.  THE AREA OF
PRECIPITATION WAS WEST OF A LINE FROM OTTUMWA...THROUGH WATERLOO TO THE
IOWA BORDER NORTH OF WATERLOO.

THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 TO 30 MILES
AN HOUR.

HUTTON
Special weather statement, Aug 24, 4:52 PM CDT, 28 minutes before
IAZALL-242230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
445 PM CDT FRI AUG 24 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH SOUTH HALF OF IOWA UNTIL 10PM...

AT 433 PM...VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED IN PARTS OF CENTRAL
AND SOUTHEAST IOWA.  THE VERY STRONG STORMS WERE 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF
DES MOINES...JUST EAST OF KNOXVILLE AND JUST SOUTH OF MONTEZUMA.  VERY
HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL AND WIND TO 50 MILES AN HOUR ARE POSSIBLE WITH
THE STRONGER STORMS.  A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED 1.27 INCHES OF RAIN
IN 15 MINUTES IN ADEL...ABOUT 20 MILES WEST OF DES MOINES...SHORTLY
AFTER 4PM.

OTHER SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE NORTH OF A LINE FROM 10
MILES SOUTH OF SIOUX CITY...THROUGH DES MOINES TO OTTUMWA.  THE AREA OF
PRECIPITATION WAS WEST OF A LINE FROM OTTUMWA...THROUGH WATERLOO TO THE
IOWA BORDER NORTH OF WATERLOO.

THE SHOWERS AND THUNDESTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 TO 30 MILES
AN HOUR.

HUTTON
Special weather statement, Aug 24, 5:12 PM CDT, 8 minutes before
IAZALL-242300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND WEATHER UPDATE FOR IOWA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
511 PM CDT FRI AUG 24 1990

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH SOUTH HALF OF IOWA UNTIL 10PM...

AT 510 PM...VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED IN PARTS OF CENTRAL
AND SOUTHEAST IOWA.  THE STORMS WERE JUST NORTHEAST OF NEWTON...JUST
NORTHEAST OF MONTEZUMA AND 5 TO 10 MILES NORTH OF OTTUMWA.  VERY HEAVY
RAIN...SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WIND TO 50 MILES AN HOUR ALONG WITH DANGEROUS
CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED.  IN ADDITION...STREET FLOODING
AND FLOODING OF LOW AREAS IS LIKELY.

OTHER SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN PART OF NORTHWEST...
NORTHEAST AND EAST CENTRAL IOWA....MAINLY FROM 15 MILES NORTHEAST OF DES
MOINES TO OTTUMWA...AND FROM 30 MILES SOUTHWEST TO 20 MILES NORTH OF
WATERLOO.

THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

HUTTON

The office that day

Everything else NWS Des Moines, IA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 23, 11:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXClay39 min
Aug 24, 3:47 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXClay, Palo Alto28 min
Aug 24, 5:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXJones40 min
Aug 24, 6:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXDavis42 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Iowa, 1990Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1990

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.