Alert archive / Iowa / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 57, NWS Des Moines, IA

June 12, 1990Mitchell County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 12, 1990, 7:36 PM CDT for Mitchell County, Iowa. It was in force for 69 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
Jun 12, 1990, 7:36 PM CDT (00:36 UTC)
Expired
Jun 12, 1990, 8:45 PM CDT
In force
69 min
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Whole counties

County Mitchell 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jun 12, 7:54 PM CDTThunderstorm Wind 52Mitchell, 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

Minneapolis, MN (KSTC), launched 00:00Z, 0.6 hours before the alert went out and 178 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 1990-06-13Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1326 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 1990-06-13The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -50 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
1326 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-36 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1196 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
71 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-50 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
94 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
-0.4
Supercell composite
-2.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KALO 130036
SVRALO
IAC131-130145-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA
736 PM CDT TUE JUN 12 1990

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 845 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTY

   IN THE NORTH CENTRAL PART OF IOWA
      MITCHELL

AT 730 PM CDT WATERLOO RADAR SHOWED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 20 MILES
EAST OF MASON CITY IOWA.  THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND
DAMAGING WINDS TO 60 MILES AN HOUR AS IT MOVES NORTHEAST AT 35
MILES AN HOUR.  IT WILL BE AFFECTING THE OSAGE AND MCINTRE AREAS.
THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS STORM.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES
WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.

 TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY AS THIS STORM IS VERY DANGEROUS.

ROBB

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 12, 5:45 PM CDT, 1 hour 51 minutes before
IAZALL-122340-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
545 PM CDT TUE JUN 12 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF IOWA UNTIL 10 PM
THIS TUESDAY EVENING...

AT 532 PM CDT...SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN A
15 MILE WIDE BAND...EXTENDING FROM NEAR WEST BRANCH...OR ABOUT 40
MILES NORTHEAST OF WATERLOO...TOROUGH ABOUT 20 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
MARSHALLTOWN...OR ABOUT 35 MILES NORTHWEST OF DES MOINES.

THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN PRODUCING BRIEF VERY HEAVY RAIN
...FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND HAVE ALSO PRODUCED BRIEF STRONG
GUSTY WIND...AND COULD PRODUCE SOME SMALL HAIL...AS THEY MOVE
NORTHEAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.

PEOPLE IN THE PATH OF THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE PREPARED
TO SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY SHOULD THREATENING WEATHER APPROACH.
OVER THE REMAINDER OF NORTHEAST THROUGH CENTRAL IOWA...NUMEROUS
SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER ABOUT A 50 MILE
WIDE AREA...FROM 50 MILES NORTH OF WATERLOO...TO ABOUT 20 MILES
NORTHEAST OF DES MOINES.

WPM/KAS
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 5:53 PM CDT, 1 hour 43 minutes before
IAZALL-122340-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY...LINE 2 FIRST PARA..
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
545 PM CDT TUE JUN 12 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF IOWA UNTIL 10 PM
THIS TUESDAY EVENING...

AT 532 PM CDT...SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN A
15 MILE WIDE BAND...EXTENDING FROM NEAR WEST UNION...OR ABOUT 40
MILES NORTHEAST OF WATERLOO...THROUGH ABOUT 20 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
MARSHALLTOWN...OR ABOUT 35 MILES NORTHWEST OF DES MOINES.

THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN PRODUCING BRIEF VERY HEAVY RAIN
...FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND HAVE ALSO PRODUCED BRIEF STRONG
GUSTY WIND...AND COULD PRODUCE SOME SMALL HAIL...AS THEY MOVE
NORTHEAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.

PEOPLE IN THE PATH OF THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE PREPARED
TO SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY SHOULD THREATENING WEATHER APPROACH.
OVER THE REMAINDER OF NORTHEAST THROUGH CENTRAL IOWA...NUMEROUS
SHOWERS AND SCAT2TERED THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER ABOUT A 50 MILE
WIDE AREA...FROM 50 MILES NORTHEAST OF WATERLOO...TO ABOUT 20 MILES
NORTHEAST OF DES MOINES.

WPM
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 6:24 PM CDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before
IA002-003-007-130200

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND WEATHER UPDATE FOR NORTHEAST IOWA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA
615 PM CDT TUE JUN 12 1990

...TORNADO WATCH FOR NORTHEAST IOWA UNTIL 1000 PM CDT...

AT 615 PM CDT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO MOVE NORTHEAST
ACROSS NORTHEAST IOWA AT 40 MILES AN HOUR. THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE
PRECIPITATION WAS FROM THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF IOWA TO NEAR DECORAH
TO JUST WEST OF WATERLOO. TO THE WEST OF THE PRECIPITATION THE SUN
WAS OCCASIONALLY PEEKING THROUGH THE CLOUDS. TEMPERATURES WERE IN THE
UPPER 70S TO MIDDLE 80S AND THE WINDS WERE FROM SOUTHWEST 25 TO 40 MPH.

THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THEIR NORTHEAST MOVEMENT
WITH THE HEAVIEST RAIN ENTERING THE INDEPENDENCE AREA BY 645 PM. SKIES
WILL REMAIN CLOUDY FOR THE MOST PART AND TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN
NEARLY STEADY IN THE LOWER 80S EXCEPT IN THE RAIN AREAS WHERE THEY
MIGHT DROP INTO THE 70S. WINDS WILL CONTINUE FROM THaE SOUTHWEST 25 TO
35 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 6:50 PM CDT, 46 minutes before
IAZALL-130040-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
645 PM CDT TUE JUN 12 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF IOWA UNTIL 10 PM
THIS TUESDAY EVENING...

AT 633 PM CDT...A SMALL AREA OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS
LOCATED OVER NORTH CENTRAL IOWA...IN A 15 MILE WIDE AREA...BETWEEN
IOWA FALLS AND DAYTON...OR FROM 40 MILES WEST OF WATERLOO...TO 50
MILES NORTHWEST OF DES MOIMES.  THESE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.

THESE VERY STRONG STORMS HAVE BEEN PRODUCING VERY LARGE AMOUNTS OF
RAIN...FREREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND CUULD ALSO PRODUCED
BRIEF STRONG GUSTY WIND AND HAIL.

PEOPLE IN THE PATH OF THESE |STRONG THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE PREPARED
TO SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY SHOULD THREATENING WEATHER APPROACH.
OVER THE REMAINDER OF NORTHEAST...NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST IOWA...
SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO DEVELOP.

WPM/KAS
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 7:08 PM CDT, 28 minutes before
IAZALL-130100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
705 PM CDT TUE JUN 12 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF IOWA UNTIL 10 PM
THIS TUESDAY EVENING...

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT THIS TUESDAY EVENING AND WEDNESDAY
MORNING FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN AND NORTHERN IOWA...

AT 700 PM CDT...A SMALL AREA OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED
OVER NORTH CENTRAL IOWA...IN A 15 MILE WIDE AREA...BETWEEN
SHEFFIELD AND WEBSTER CITY...OR FROM 15 MILES SOUTH OF MASON CITY
TO 55 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MASON CITY.  THESE STORMS WERE MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.

THESE INTENSE STORMS HAVE BEEN PRODUCING VERY LARGE AMOUNTS OF
RAIN...FREREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND COULD ALSO PRODUCE
BRIEF STRONG GUSTY WIND AND HAIL.

WPM/KAS
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 7:23 PM CDT, 13 minutes before
IA002-003-007-130200

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND WEATHER UPDATE FOR NORTHEAST IOWA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA
715 PM CDT TUE JUN 12 1990

...TORNADO WATCH FOR NORTHEAST IOWA UNTIL 1000 PM CDT...

AT 715 PM CDT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING IN A 45 MILES
WIDE BAND FROM FORT DODGE WEST OF I35 TO ABOUT 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
MASON CITY.  THIS AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS PRODUCING BRIEF HEAVY
RAIN...SOME SMALL HAIL POSSIBLE AT TIMES AND WIND GUST TO AROUND
30 TO 40 MILES AN HOUR. THE STORMS WERE MOVE NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES
AN HOUR.  THE REMAINDER OF NORTHEAST IOWA HAD VARIABLE CLOUDS WITH
SOME SUNSHINE FROM MASON CITY TO WATERLOO TO OELWEIN TO THE DECORAH AREA.
THE TEMPERATURES WERE IN THE 70S AND 80S WITH SOUTH WINDS 10 TO 25
MILES AN HOUR.

THE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE MOVING INTO THE MASON
CITY/ROCKFORD/ CHARLES CITY AND HAMPTON AREAS BY 810 PM. STORMS COULD
DEVELOP ANYWHERE IN NORTHEAST IOWA WITH STEADY WINDS AND TEMPERATURES.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 12, 7:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXHardin13 min
Jun 12, 7:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXHamilton44 min
Jun 12, 7:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXWright44 min
Jun 12, 8:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXButler, Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Franklin35 min
Jun 12, 8:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXChickasaw60 min
Jun 12, 9:23 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXFloyd37 min
Jun 12, 9:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXWinneshiek56 min
Jun 12, 9:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXFayette41 min
Jun 12, 9:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXDickinson28 min
Jun 12, 10:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXHoward57 min
Jun 12, 10:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXChickasaw27 min
Jun 12, 10:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXAllamakee40 min
Jun 12, 10:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXWinneshiek43 min
Jun 13, 2:28 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXCarroll, Greene, Guthrie32 min
Jun 13, 6:44 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXCass18 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.