Alert archive / Iowa / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 83, NWS Des Moines, IA

June 16, 1990Audubon County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 16, 1990, 11:47 PM CDT for Audubon County, Iowa. It was in force for 28 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jun 16, 1990, 11:47 PM CDT (04:47 UTC)
Expired
Jun 17, 1990, 12:15 AM CDT
In force
28 min
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Whole counties

County Audubon 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

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 00:00Z, 4.8 hours before the alert went out and 305 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, Topeka, KS at 00:00Z on 1990-06-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 3235 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, Topeka, KS at 00:00Z on 1990-06-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 54 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
3235 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-7 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1012 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
24 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
54 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
260 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
2.2
Supercell composite
14.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KDSM 170447
SVRDSM
IAC009-170515-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1147 PM CDT SAT JUN 16 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1215 AM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN WEST CENTRAL IOWA
          ...NORTHERN AUDUBON
 
DES MOINES RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IN NORTHWEST AUDUBON
COUNTY MOVING TO THE EAST AROUND 25 MILES AN HOUR.
 
A FUNNEL CLOUD HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH THIS STORM AT 1140 PM CDT.
THESE STORMS COULD PRODUCE STRONG WINDS...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS...AND
LARGE HAIL.
 
PERSONS IN THE TOWNS OF AUDUBON...GREY...AND ROSS SHOULD BE ON LOOKOUT
FOR POSSIBLE SEVERE WEATHER.
 
THIS IS ABOUT 60 MILES NORTHEAST OF COUNCIL BLUFFS.
 
A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA.  REMEMBER
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES
WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.  REMAIN CALM BUT BE ALERT TO
RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS.
 
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 CON 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

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 16, 9:52 PM CDT, 1 hour 55 minutes before
IAZALL-170300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
950 PM CDT SAT JUN 16 1990

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR ALL OF IOWA TONIGHT...
...TORNADO WATCH FOR EXTREME SOUTHEAST IOWA UNTIL 1 AM SUNDAY MORNING...
...TORNADO WATCH FOR WESTERN IOWA UNTIL 100 AM SUNDAY MORNING...
...TORNADO WATCH FOR EXTREME NORTHWEST IOWA UNTIL 11 PM TONIGHT...

AT 940 PM...A LINE OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WAS OCCURRING OVER NORTH-
WEST AND PARTS OF WEST CENTRAL IOWA.  THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED IN A LINE
THAT EXTENDED FROM SPENCER...POCOHANTAS...IDA GROVE...TO JUST WEST OF
DENISON IN WEST CENTRAL IOWA.  THESE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST NORTHEAST
AT 25 MILES AN HOUR AND SHOULD BE AFFECTING THE TOWNS OF ALGONA...HUMBOLDT
ROCKWELL CITY AND CARROLL BETWEEN 1030 AND 1100 PM THIS EVENING.

THESE STORMS WILL PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAINS...WINDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MILES
AN HOUR...HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.
/
ANOTHER CLUSTER OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED OVER EXTREME
SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA NEAR THE TOWNS OF CENTERVILLE AND MOULTON OR
35 MILES SOUTHWEST OF OTTUMWA.

THE STORMS OVER NORTHWEST IOWA WERE MOVING EAST AT 30 TO 35 MPH
...WHILE THE STORMS OVER SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA WERE MOVING EAST 10 TO
15 MPH.

JM/BARLOW
Special weather statement, Jun 16, 9:57 PM CDT, 1 hour 50 minutes before
IAZALL-170400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
950 PM CDT SAT JUN 16 1990

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR ALL OF IOWA TONIGHT...
...TORNADO WATCH FOR EXTREME SOUTHEAST IOWA UNTIL 1 AM SUNDAY MORNING...
...TORNADO WATCH FOR WESTERN IOWA UNTIL 100 AM SUNDAY MORNING...
...TORNADO WATCH FOR EXTREME NORTHWEST IOWA UNTIL 11 PM TONIGHT...

AT 940 PM...A LINE OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WAS OCCURRING OVER NORTH-
WEST AND PARTS OF WEST CENTRAL IOWA.  THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED IN A LINE
THAT EXTENDED FROM SPENCER...POCOHANTAS...IDA GROVE...TO JUST WEST OF
DENISON IN WEST CENTRAL IOWA.  THESE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST NORTHEAST
AT 25 MILES AN HOUR AND SHOULD BE AFFECTING THE TOWNS OF ALGONA...HUMBOLDT
ROCKWELL CITY AND CARROLL BETWEEN 1030 AND 1100 PM THIS EVENING.

THESE STORMS WILL PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAINS...WINDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MILES
AN HOUR...HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.
/
ANOTHER CLUSTER OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED OVER EXTREME
SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA NEAR THE TOWNS OF CENTERVILLE AND MOULTON OR
35 MILES SOUTHWEST OF OTTUMWA.

THE STORMS OVER NORTHWEST IOWA WERE MOVING EAST AT 20 TO 30 MPH
...WHILE THE STORMS OVER SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA WERE MOVING EAST 10 TO
15 MPH.

JM/BARLOW
Special weather statement, Jun 16, 10:19 PM CDT, 1 hour 28 minutes before
IAZALL-170430-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1020 PM CDT SAT JUN 16 1990

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR ALL OF IOWA TONIGHT...
...TORNADO WATCH FOR EASTERN IOWA UNTIL 400 AM SUNDAY MORNING...
...TORNADO WATCH FOR WESTERN IOWA UNTIL 100 AM SUNDAY MORNING...

AT 1015 PM...A LINE OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WAS OCCURRING OVER PARTS OF
NORTH CENTRAL INTO WEST CENTRAL IOWA.  THESE STORMS HAVE PRODUCE VERY
HEAVY RAINS...STRONG GUSTY WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES AN HOUR AND SMALL
HAIL.  PEOPLE IN THE TOWNS OF HUMBOLDT...ESTHERVILLE...EMMETSBURG...
ALGONA...ROCKWELL CITY...AND CARROLL SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THESE
STORMS AND MOVE TO PLACE OF SAFETY IF SEVERE WEATHER THREATEN YOUR AREA.

ANOTHER CLUSTER OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS ABOUT 20 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
OTTUMWA AND JUST EAST OF LAKE RATHBUN IN EXTREME SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA.
THIS STORM CONTINUED TO SHOW VERY LITTLE MOVEMENT.  VERY HEAVY RAINS
AND DAMAGING WINDS ARE LIKELY WITH THIS STORM.

THE STORMS OVER NORTH CENTRAL AND  WEST CENTRAL IOWA WERE MOVING
EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

JM/BARLOW
Special weather statement, Jun 16, 10:56 PM CDT, 51 minutes before
IAZALL-170500-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1055 PM CDT SAT JUN 16 1990

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR ALL OF IOWA TONIGHT...
...TORNADO WATCH FOR EASTERN IOWA UNTIL 400 AM SUNDAY MORNING...
...TORNADO WATCH FOR WESTERN IOWA UNTIL 100 AM SUNDAY MORNING...

AT 1030 PM...AN AREA OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED EAST OF ALGONA
TO FORT DODGE JUST NORTHWEST OF JEFFERSON OR 50 MILES NORTHWEST OF
DES MOINES.

HEAVY RAINS...STRONG GUSTY WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES AN HOUR AND SMALL
HAIL.  PEOPLE IN THE TOWNS OF HUMBOLDT...BRITT...FORT DODGE...AND
JEFFERSON SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER.

ANOTHER CLUSTER OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED ABOUT 20 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF OTTUMWA AND JUST EAST OF LAKE RATHBUN IN EXTREME SOUTH
CENTRAL IOWA.  VERY HEAVY RAINS...HAIL AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS ARE
LIKELY WITH THIS STORM.  THIS STORM SHOWED VERY LITTLE MOVEMENT.

THE STORMS OVER NORTH CENTRAL AND WEST CENTRAL IOWA WERE MOVING
EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

JM/BARLOW
Special weather statement, Jun 16, 11:24 PM CDT, 23 minutes before
IA002-003-007-170400

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA
1115 PM CDT SAT JUN 16 1990

AT 1115 PM CDT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAD MOVED INTO NORTHEAST IOWA
...THE LEADING EDGE OF THE STORMS WAS JUST EAST OF MASON CITY THEN
SOUTH ALONG AND ABOUT 15 MILES EAST OF I35.  THE STORMS WERE PRODUCING
BRIEF HEAVY RAIN AND WIND GUSTS 30 TO 45 MILES AN HOUR AS THEY MOVE
RAPIDLY EAST.  THE REMAINDER OF NORTHEAST IOWA HAD CLOUDY SKIES AND
TEMEPRATURES IN THE UPPER 60S AND LOWER 70S.  THE WINDS WERE SOUTHERLY
AT 10 TO 25 MILES AN HOUR.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT THE FOLLOWING AREAS BY MIDNIGHT...
MARBLE ROCK...GREENE...DUMONT...CHARLES CITY...OSAGE AND THE
PARKERSBURG A0REA.  THEY WILL PRODUCE BRIEF HEAVY RAIN..INTENSE
LIGHTNING AND WINDS GUSTING TO 35 TO 45 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, Jun 16, 11:30 PM CDT, 17 minutes before
IAZALL-170530-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1125 PM CDT SAT JUN 16 1990

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR ALL OF IOWA TONIGHT...
...TORNADO WATCH FOR EASTERN IOWA UNTIL 400 AM SUNDAY MORNING...
...TORNADO WATCH FOR WESTERN IOWA UNTIL 100 AM SUNDAY MORNING...

AT 1120 PM...A LARGE COMPLEX OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM
MASON CITY...TO JEFFERSON OR 50 MILES NORTHWEST OF DES MOINES...TO
40 MILES SOUTH OF THE OMAHA/COUNCIL BLUFFS AREA.

VERY HEAVY RAINS...STRONG GUSTY WINDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MILES AN HOUR...AND
SMALL HAIL ARE LIKELY WITH SOME OF THESE STORMS.

ANOTHER CLUSTER OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED OVER SOUTHEAST IOWA
BETWEEN OTTUMWA AND THE QUAD CITIES.

IN ADDITION...ISOLATED VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HAD DEVELOPED OVER
NORTHEAST IOWA.  THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ABOUT 20 MILES NORTH
OF DUBUQUE.

THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE WESTERN THIRD WAS MOVING
EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.5..WHILE THE STORMS OVER SOUTHEAST IOWA
WAS MOVING EAST AT 10 TO 15 MILES AN HOUR.

JM/BARLOW

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 16, 7:17 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXLucas18 min
Jun 16, 7:33 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXMonroe27 min
Jun 16, 9:03 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXAppanoose27 min
Jun 16, 9:29 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXBuena Vista31 min
Jun 16, 9:33 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXClay, Palo Alto, Pocahontas42 min
Jun 16, 9:45 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXAppanoose30 min
Jun 16, 9:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXHumboldt, Kossuth40 min
Jun 16, 9:57 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXVan Buren33 min
Jun 16, 9:57 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXMonroe33 min
Jun 16, 10:16 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXAppanoose, Davis, Monroe, Wapello29 min
Jun 16, 10:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXEmmet28 min
Jun 16, 10:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXWebster, Wright45 min
Jun 16, 10:53 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXJones37 min
Jun 16, 10:53 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXJefferson, Van Buren37 min
Jun 16, 11:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXHamilton49 min
Jun 16, 11:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXJefferson, Van Buren26 min
Jun 17, 3:14 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXCrawford3 hr
Jun 17, 4:09 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXWashington3 hr

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.