Alert archive / Iowa / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 190, NWS Des Moines, IA
NWS Des Moines, IA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Sep 7, 1990, 6:17 PM CDT for 4 counties in Iowa. It was in force for 43 min. 1 report 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
- Sep 7, 1990, 6:17 PM CDT (23:17 UTC)
- Expired
- Sep 7, 1990, 7:00 PM CDT
- In force
- 43 min
- Issued by
- NWS Des Moines, IA
- Area
- Whole counties
Counties Buena Vista County, IA, Calhoun County, IA, Pocahontas County, IA, Sac 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 7, 6:20 PM CDT | Thunderstorm Wind 50 | Pocahontas, 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, 11.3 hours before the alert went out and 184 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
- 3615 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 24 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -28 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 1 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 072318
SVRDSM
IAC021-151-025-161-080000-
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
617 PM CDT FRI SEP 7 1990
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 700 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
IN NORTHWEST IOWA
...SOUTHERN BUENA-VISTA...SOUTHWESTERN POCAHONTAS
IN WEST CENTRAL IOWA
...NORTHWESTERN CALHOUN...NORTHERN SAC
AT 615 PM...WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A CLUSTER OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
EXTENDING FROM SOUTHWEST BUENA VISTA COUNTY TO SOUTHWEST POCAHONTAS
COUNTY. THESE AREAS ARE SOME 40 MILES SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST OF SPENCER.
THE CLUSTER OF STORMS WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR...AND
WILL BE AFFECTING THE CITIES OF SCHALLER...STORM
LAKE...FONDA...POMEROY...AND SAC CITY.
A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. REMEMBER
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONAL.LY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES
WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING. MOVE TO THE CENTER OF YOUR
HOUSE...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS...AND BE READY TO ACT QUICKLY IF A
TORNADO DEVELOPS.
HUTTON/TRUETTWhat 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, Sep 7, 5:15 PM CDT, 1 hour 2 minutes before
IAZALL-072315- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND WEATHER UPDATE FOR IOWA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 515 PM CDT FRI SEP 7 1990 ...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL IOWA UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS FRIDAY EVENING... AT 503 PM...VERY STRONG AND INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER NORTHERN IOWA. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE NORTH OF A LINE FROM SIOUX CITY TO MASON CITY TO CALMAR...50 MILES NORTHEAST OF WATERLOO. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE LOCATED 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SPENCER AND 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF BUFFALO GROVE...45 MILES NORTHWEST OF MASON CITY. THE STORM NEAR SPENCER HAS DUMPED MARBLE SIZE HAIL COVERING THE GROUND BETWEEN 445 PM AND 5 PM. THESE STORMS ARE ALSO CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN...WIND GUSTING TO 50 MILES AN HOUR...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS ARE URGED TO EXERCISE CAUTION AND SEEK SHELTER IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR. / THE ONE TO TWO HOUR OUTLOOK IS FOR THE STORMS TO CONTINUE MOVING THROUGH NORTHWEST...NORTH CENTRAL...AND NORTHEAST IOWA. DM
Special weather statement, Sep 7, 5:20 PM CDT, 57 minutes before
IAZ002-003-007-072300- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND WEATHER UPDATE FOR NORTHEAST IOWA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA 515 PM CDT FRI SEP 7 1990 ...TORNADO WATCH FOR NORTH CENTRAL IOWA UNTIL 800 PM CDT... A 515 PM CDT A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN A 30 MILE WIDE BAND WAS LOCATED FROM NORTHWEST OF MASON CITY...THEN ALONG THE MINNESOTA STATELINE TO THE DECORAH AREA AND ON TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. THE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR AND HAVE PRODUCED HAIL...WINDS OF 40 MILES AN HOUR...HEAVY RAIN AND DEADLY LIGHTNING. BY 610 PM CDT THE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE AFFECTING THE AREAS IN AND NEAR NORTHWOOD...ST ANSGAR...MCINTIRE...DECORAH AND WAUKON. THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE MONITORED CLOSELY IN AND NEAR THE TORNADO WATCH AREA. THEY COULD PRODUCE SEVERE WEATHER AND TORNADOES ON VERY SHORT NOTICE. STAY ALERT AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE PROTECTIVE ACTION IF SEVERE WEATHER IS SIGHTED.
Special weather statement, Sep 7, 5:44 PM CDT, 33 minutes before
IAZALL-072345- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 545 PM CDT FRI SEP 7 1990 ...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL IOWA UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS FRIDAY EVENING... AT 530 PM...WIDELY SCATTERED INTENSE AND VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER NORTHERN IOWA. THESE STORMS WERE GENERALLY NORTH OF A LINE FROM 25 MILES EAST OF SIOUX CITY TO MASON CITY TO THE WEST UNION AREA...40 MILES NORTHEAST OF WATERLOO. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE LOCATED 15 MILES SOUTH OF SPENCER...45 MILES WEST OF MASON CITY... AND 45 MILES NORTHEAST OF WATERLOO...BETWEEN NEW HAMPTON AND CALMAR. THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING EXTREMELY HEAVY RAIN...WIND GUSTING TO 50 MILES AN HOUR...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND LARGE HAIL. OTHER STRONG STORMS WERE LOCATED 25 MILES NORTHWEST OF MASON CITY AND 30 MILES NORTHEAST OF SIOUX CITY. / THESE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR. DM
Special weather statement, Sep 7, 5:46 PM CDT, 31 minutes before
IAZALL-072345- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY...CORRECTED FOR CALL TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA ACTION... 545 PM CDT FRI SEP 7 1990 ...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL IOWA UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS FRIDAY EVENING... AT 530 PM...WIDELY SCATTERED INTENSE AND VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER NORTHERN IOWA. THESE STORMS WERE GENERALLY NORTH OF A LINE FROM 25 MILES EAST OF SIOUX CITY TO MASON CITY TO THE WEST UNION AREA...40 MILES NORTHEAST OF WATERLOO. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE LOCATED 15 MILES SOUTH OF SPENCER...45 MILES WEST OF MASON CITY... AND 45 MILES NORTHEAST OF WATERLOO...BETWEEN NEW HAMPTON AND CALMAR. THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING EXTREMELY HEAVY RAIN...WIND GUSTING TO 50 MILES AN HOUR...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND LARGE HAIL. OTHER STRONG STORMS WERE LOCATED 25 MILES NORTHWEST OF MASON CITY AND 30 MILES NORTHEAST OF SIOUX CITY. / PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS OR IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD MONITOR WEATHER REPORTS AND SEEK SHELTER IF THESE STORMS APPROACH. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR. DM
Special weather statement, Sep 7, 6:08 PM CDT, 9 minutes before
IAZ002-003-007-080000- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND WEATHER UPDATE FOR NORTHEAST IOWA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA 610 PM CDT FRI SEP 7 1990 ...TORNADO WATCH FOR NORTH CENTRAL IOWA UNTIL 800 PM CDT... A 610 PM CDT SEVERAL AREAS OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING THROUGH NORTHEAST AND NORTH CENTRAL IOWA...ONE AREA 20 MILES WIDE WAS LOCATED ALONG THE MINNESOTA BORDER NORTH OF MASON CITY TO ABOUT 35 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MASON CITY. ANOTHER AREA WAS WIDELY SCATTERED IN A 25 MILE WIDE BAND FROM CRESCO TO JUST NORTH OF WEST UNION...10 MILES WEST OF DECORAH. BY 710 PM CDT THE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE AFFECTING THE AREAS IN AND NEAR NORTHWOOD...GARNER...FOREST CITY...CRESCO...WEST UNION AND MASON CITY. THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE MONITORED CLOSELY IN AND NEAR THE TORNADO WATCH AREA. THEY COULD PRODUCE SEVERE WEATHER AND TORNADOES ON VERY SHORT NOTICE. STAY ALERT AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE PROTECTIVE ACTION IF SEVERE WEATH ER IS SIGHTED.
Special weather statement, Sep 7, 6:16 PM CDT, 1 minute before
IAZALL-080015- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND WEATHER UPDATE FOR IOWA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 615 PM CDT FRI SEP 7 1990 ...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL IOWA UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS FRIDAY EVENING... AT 605 PM...SCATTERED INTENSE AND VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER NORTHERN IOWA. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE LOCATED FROM 45 MILES EAST OF SIOUX CITY...JUST NORTHWEST OF HOLSTEIN...IN EASTERN BUEN VISTA COUNTY...EAST OF STORM LAKE...AND 20 TO 50 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MASON CITY. OTHER STRONG STORMS WERE LOCATED NORTH OF MASON CITY AND 35 MILES NORTH OF WATERLOO. THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING EXTREMELY HEAVY RAIN...LARGE HAIL ...DANGEROUS LI,GHTNING...AND WIND GUSTING TO 50 MILES AN HOUR. PERSONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS SHOULD SEEK INDOOR SHELTER AS THESE STORMS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. / THESE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR. DM
The office that day
Everything else NWS Des Moines, IA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 7, 3:47 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Emmet | 28 min |
| Sep 7, 4:05 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Kossuth | 40 min |
| Sep 7, 4:15 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Emmet, Palo Alto | 35 min |
| Sep 7, 5:01 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Buena Vista, Clay | 44 min |
| Sep 7, 5:39 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Buena Vista | 36 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; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.