Alert archive / Iowa / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 59, NWS Des Moines, IA

June 12, 1990Chickasaw County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 12, 1990, 8:45 PM CDT for Chickasaw County, Iowa. It was in force for 60 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, 8:45 PM CDT (01:45 UTC)
Expired
Jun 12, 1990, 9:45 PM CDT
In force
60 min
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Whole counties

County Chickasaw 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, 9:44 PM CDTThunderstorm Wind 50Chickasaw, 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, 1.8 hours before the alert went out and 224 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 130145
SVRALO
IAC037-130245-

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 945 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTY

   IN THE NORTHEAST PART OF IOWA
      CHICKASAW

AT 848 PM CDT WEATHER RADAR AT WATERLOO WAS SHOWING A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM MOVING INTO SOUTHERN CHICKASAW COUNTY.  THIS STORM
IS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL PRODUCE WINDS IN
EXCESS OF 60 MILES AN HOUR...LARGE HAIL...EXTENSIVE LIGHTNING AND
VERY HEAVY RAIN. THIS STORM WILL AFFECT NASHUA AND NEW HAMPTON.

YOU SHOULD MOVE INSIDE A REINFORCED BUILDING.  STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS. DO NOT USE TELEPHONES OR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNTIL
AFTER THE STORM PASSES.

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

 TAKE COVER THIS IS A SEVERE STORM. I REPEAT THIS IS A SEVERE
 STORM TAKE COVER.

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, 7:08 PM CDT, 1 hour 37 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, 1 hour 22 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.
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 7:47 PM CDT, 58 minutes before
IAZALL-130230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
745 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 FOR WESTERN AND NORTHERN IOWA UNTIL
1 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING...

AT 733 PM...ISOLATED INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER NORTH CENTRAL
IOWA...25 MILES EAST AND 40 MILES SOUTH OF MASON CITY.  THE STORMS
WERE IN THE NORA SPRINGS...CLARION AND IOWA FALLS AREAS.

IN ADDITION TO THE EXCESSIVE RAINS...BRIEF STRONG WINDS AND HAIL
ARE MOST LIKELY OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL BE IN
THE DOWS...ROWAN...HAMPTON AND OSAGE AREAS BY 815 PM.

KS/WPM
Local storm report, Jun 12, 7:55 PM CDT, 50 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
752 PM CDT TUE JUN 12 1990

    ...ALL TIME IN CDT...

TIME            EVENT

320 PM        TORNADO 3 MILE WEST OF ANITA/CASS COUNTY/

330 PM        TORNADO AT MASSENA /CASS COUNTY/

355 PM        TREES DOWN AND POWER LINES DOWN IN THE VICINITY OF
              BRIDGEWATER /ADAIR COUNTY/

505-515 PM    50 MPH WIND GUSTS BETWEEN RHODES AND MELBOURNE/MARSHALL
              COUNTY/

510 PM        6-8 INCH DIAMETER TREE LIMBS DOWN AND TOP OF RADIO TOWER
              BENT.

515 PM          56 MPH WIND REPORTED AT MARSHALLTOWN/MARSHALL COUNTY/

740 PM          TORNADO JUST SOUTH OF DOWS IN EXTREME SOUTHEAST WRIGHT
                COUNTY.

JM
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 8:05 PM CDT, 40 minutes before
IAZALL-130230-

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

...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF IOWA UNTIL 10 PM
TONIGHT...

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN AND NORTHERN IOWA UNTIL
1 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING...

AT 800 PM...ISOLATED INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER NORTH CENTRAL
IOWA...25 MILES SOUTH OF MASON CITY NEAR HAMPTON.

IN ADDITION TO THE EXCESSIVE RAINS...BRIEF STRONG WINDS AND HAIL
ARE MOST LIKELY OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR...MOVING BETWEEN
SHEFFIELD AND DUMONT AND INTO THE MARBLE ROCK AREA BY 900 PM.
/
ALSO...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER THE NORTH CENTRAL
AND NORTHEAST COUNTIES...NORTH OF A FORT DODGE/WATERLOO LINE.

KS/WPM
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 8:42 PM CDT, 3 minutes before
IAZALL-130300-

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

...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF IOWA UNTIL 10 PM
TONIGHT...

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN AND NORTHERN IOWA UNTIL
1 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING...

AT 829 PM...ISOLATED INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER NORTH CENTRAL
AND NORTHEAST IOWA...FROM 10 TO 35 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MASON CITY.
THE STORMS WERE NEAR THE TOWNS OF SHEFFIELD...GREENE AND CLARKSVILLE.
IN ADDITION TO THE EXCESSIVE RAINS...BRIEF STRONG WINDS AND LARGE HAIL
ARE MOST LIKELY OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL MOVE INTO
THE ROCKFORD...MARBLE ROCK AND NASHUA AREAS BETWEEN 9 - 930 PM.
/
ALSO...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER THE NORTH CENTRAL
AND NORTHEAST COUNTIES...NORTH OF A FORT DODGE/WATERLOO LINE.

KS/WPM

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, 7:36 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXMitchell69 min
Jun 12, 8:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXButler, Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Franklin35 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.