Alert archive / Iowa / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 66, NWS Des Moines, IA

June 12, 1990Winneshiek County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 12, 1990, 10:47 PM CDT for Winneshiek County, 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
Jun 12, 1990, 10:47 PM CDT (03:47 UTC)
Expired
Jun 12, 1990, 11:30 PM CDT
In force
43 min
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Whole counties

County Winneshiek 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, 10:48 PM CDTTornado F1Winneshiek, 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, 3.8 hours before the alert went out and 223 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 130347
SVRALO
IAC191-130430-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA
1047 PM CDT TUE JUN 12 1990

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1130 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTY

   IN THE NORTHEAST PART OF IOWA
      WINNESHIEK

AT 1045PM CDT WEATHER RADAR INDICATED AND POLICE REPORT A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM MOVING OVER DECORAH.  THIS STORM HAS PRODUCED HEAVY
HAIL COVERING ROADS AND STOPPING TRAFFIC BETWEEN RIDGEWAY AND
SPILLVILLE. THE STORM WILL ALSO PRODUCE HIGH WINDS OF 60 MPH AND
HEAVY RAIN AND INTENSE LIGHTNING AS IT MOVES NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

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

 TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY AS THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS STORM.

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, 9:29 PM CDT, 1 hour 18 minutes before
IAZALL-130600-

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

THE TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 247 IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR THE
FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN CENTRAL...SOUTHWEST...AND EAST CENTRAL IOWA.

THOSE COUNTIES THAT ARE NO LONGER INCLUDED IN THE WATCH ARE...

CRAWFORD   CARROLL  GREENE   BOONE   STORY    MARSHALL

DALLAS     POLK     JASPER   POWESHIEK    MADISON   WARREN  MARION

CASS      ADAIR    MONTGOMERY  ADAMS      PAGE      TAYLOR   UNION

RINGGOLD   DECATUR  LUCAS      WAYNE     TAMA     BENTON   LINN

JOHNSON     IOWA    AUDOBON    SHELBY     GUTHRIE

A TORNADO WATCHES REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEAST IOWA UNTIL 11 PM...AND
FOR NORTHWEST IOWA UNTIL 100 AM CDT WEDNESDAY MORNING.

IN ADDITION...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS ARE IN EFFECT FOR PARTS
OF NORTHEASTT IOWA UNTIL MIDNIGHT.

SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP AND MOVE INTO WESTERN
AND SOUTHWEST IOWA LATERJ TONIGHT.

...NOTE TO BROADCASTERS...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS EXTENDED THE TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 247
FOR NORTHEAST IOWA UNTIL 1100 AM TONIGHT.

MCQUIRTER
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 9:37 PM CDT, 1 hour 10 minutes before
IAZALL-130600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
935 PM CDT TUE JUN 12 1990

THE TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 247 IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR THE
FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN CENTRAL...SOUTHWEST...AND EAST CENTRAL IOWA.

THOSE COUNTIES THAT ARE NO LONGER INCLUDED IN THE WATCH ARE...

CRAWFORD   CARROLL  GREENE   BOONE   STORY    MARSHALL

DALLAS     POLK     JASPER   POWESHIEK    MADISON   WARREN  MARION

CASS      ADAIR    MONTGOMERY  ADAMS      PAGE      TAYLOR   UNION

RINGGOLD   DECATUR  LUCAS      WAYNE     TAMA     BENTON   LINN

JOHNSON     IOWA    AUDOBON    SHELBY     GUTHRIE

A TORNADO WATCHES REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEAST IOWA UNTIL 11 PM...AND
FOR NORTHWEST IOWA UNTIL 100 AM CDT WEDNESDAY MORNING.

IN ADDITION...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS ARE IN EFFECT FOR THE FAR
NORTHEAST COUNTIES UNTIL 11PM.

SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP AND MOVE INTO WESTERN
AND SOUTHWWEST IOWA LATER TONIGHT.

...NOTE TO BROADCASTERS...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS EXTENDED THE TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 247
FOR NORTHEAST IOWA UNTIL 1100 AM TONIGHT.

MCQUIRTER
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 9:44 PM CDT, 1 hour 3 minutes before
IAZALL-130400-

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

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR FAR NORTHEAST IOWA UNTIL 11PM...
...A TORNADO WATCH NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST IOWA UNTIL 11PM...
...A TORNADO WATCH WESTERN IOWA UNTIL 1AM WEDNESDAY MORNING...

AT 926 PM...INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED IN PART OF NORTH CENTRAL
AND NORTHEAST IOWA.  A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS INDICATED IN FLOYD
COUNTY...ABOUT 20 MILES EAST OF MASON CITY.  AN ITENSE THUNDERSTORM
WAS INDICATED JUST SOUTH OF NEW HAMPTON...OR ABOUT 30 MILES NORTH OF
WATERLOO.  OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN A 50 MILE WIDE
AREA THAT EXTENDED FROM 30 MILES NORTHWEST OF MASON CITY...TO 30 MILES
NORTHEAST OF WATERLOO.

IN NORTHWEST IOWA...AN INTENSE THUNDERSTORM WAS INDICATED ABOUT 15
MILES SOUTHEAST OF SPIRIT LAKE.  OTHER WEAKER THUNDERSTORMS WERE
INDICATED FROM 15 MILES EAST OF SIOUX CITY...TO 40 MILES NORTHEAST
OF SIOUX CITY.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.

PERSONS IN THE SPIRIT LAKE AND ESTHERVILLE AREAS CAN EXPECT SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS BY 900 PM.  INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE
ACROSS NORTHEAST IOWA.
^
JAH
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 10:17 PM CDT, 30 minutes before
IAZALL-130430-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1016 PM CDT TUE JUN 12 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH EXTREME NORTHEAST UNTIL 11PM...
...A TORNADO WATCH WESTERN IOWA UNTIL 1AM WEDNESDAY MORNING...

AT 1006 PM...INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED IN EXTREME NORTHEAST
IOWA.  ONE STORM WAS INDICATED 10 MILES NORTHEAST OF NEW HAMPTON...
WITH ANOTHER LOCATED NEAR POSTVILLE...45 MILES NORTHEAST OF WATERLOO.
THE STORMS WILL PRODUCE EXCESSIVE RAINFALL...HIGH WIND AND HAIL.  AT
9PM...3 INCHES OF RAIN FELL DURING A 30 MINUTE PERIOD 5 MILES EAST OF
GREENE...IN NORTHERN BUTLER COUNTY OF NORTHEAST IOWA.  AT THE SAME
TIME...1.45 INCHES OF RAIN FELL AT HAMPTON...IN FRANKLIN COUNTY...IN
A 15 MINUTE PERIOD.

PERSONS IN EXTREME NORTHEAST IOWA CAN EXPECT THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL...
HIGH WIND...AND EXCESSIVE RAINFALL CAUSING LOW LYING FLOODING THROUGH
MIDNIGHT.

IN NORTHWEST IOWA...HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED 10 MILES SOUTH OF
SPENCER...AND ALONG THE IOWA-MINNESOTA BORDER NEAR SPIRIT LAKE.  THESE
STORMS COULD PRODUCE BRIEF...VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...HIGH WIND AND HAIL.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.

HUTTON
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 10:21 PM CDT, 26 minutes before
IAZALL-130400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1020 PM CDT TUE JUN 12 1990

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 447 REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM FOR THE
FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN EXTREME NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST IOWA.

...NORTH CENTRAL...
CERRO GORDO     FLOYD           HANCOCK         MITCHELL
WINNEBAGO       WORTH

...NORTHEAST...
ALLAMAKEE       CHICKASAW       HOWARD          WINNESHIEK

SOME CITIES INCLUDED IN THE WATCH ARE...

CHARLES CITY    DECORAH         MASON CITY

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 450 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PART OF
NORTHWEST IOWA UNTIL 1 AM.

MYERS
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 10:39 PM CDT, 8 minutes before
IAZALL-130500-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1040 PM CDT TUE JUN 12 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH EXTREME NORTHEAST UNTIL 11PM...
...A TORNADO WATCH WESTERN IOWA UNTIL 1AM WEDNESDAY MORNING...

AT 1027 PM...VERY STRONG TO INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED IN
EXTREME NORTHEAST IOWA.  THE STRONGEST STORM WAS LOCATED 15 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF DECORAH...OR ABOUT 45 MILES NORTH-NORTHEAST OF WATERLOO.
OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN A 50 MILE WIDE AREA
THAT EXTENDED FROM THE IOWA-WISCONSIN BORDER 65 MILES NORTHEAST OF
WATERLOO...TO THE IOWA-MINNESOTA BORDER NORTH OF MASON CITY.  HIGH
WIND...EXCESSIVE RAINFALL AND HAIL CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.
SOME LOW LYING AREAS WILL LIKELY EXPERIENCE FLOODING.

IN NORTHWEST IOWA...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM 10 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF SPENCER...TO THE IOWA-MINNESOTA BORDER NEAR SPIRIT LAKE.
THESE STORMS COULD PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL...STRONG WIND AND HAIL.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.

HUTTON

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, 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 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.