Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 1991
Tornado Warning 10, NWS Des Moines, IA
NWS Des Moines, IA issued this tornado warning at Apr 27, 1991, 2:04 AM CDT for Iowa County, Iowa. It was in force for 41 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
- Apr 27, 1991, 2:04 AM CDT (07:04 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 27, 1991, 2:45 AM CDT
- In force
- 41 min
- Issued by
- NWS Des Moines, IA
- Area
- Whole counties
County Iowa County, IA
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 2:09 AM CDT | Tornado F1 | Iowa, 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, 7.1 hours before the alert went out and 373 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
- 1609 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 24 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 212 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 433 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 270705 TORDSM IAC095-105-270745- BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 204 AM CDT SAT APR 27 1991 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 245 AM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS... IN EAST CENTRAL IOWA ...WESTERN IOWA COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST IOWA ...NORTHWESTERN KEOKUK COUNTY AT 202 AM...A TORNADO WAS REPORTED NEAR THE MAHASKA...KEOKUK COUNTY LINE...SOME 15 MILES NORTHEAST OF OSKALOOSA OR 50 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CEDAR RAPIDS. THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MILES AN HOUR...AND WILL BE AFFECTING THE CITIES OF GIBSON...THORNBURG..AND MILLERSBURG. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IS A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. USE BLANKETS...PILLOWS... OR CUSHIO3NS TO COVER YOUR BODY. AVOID WINDOWS.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
In the hours before
Local storm report, Apr 27, 12:45 AM CDT, 1 hour 19 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA
1245 AM CDT SAT ARP 27 1991
EVENT AND LOCATION
HANCOCK COUNTY
1040PM CDT TORNADO REPORTED TO THE WEATHER OFFICE AT 1205
AM CDT.
EXTENSIVE TREE DAMAGE IN GARNER WITH 3 TO 5
TRAILER HOMES TIPPED OVER AND HEAVILY DAMAGED.
SOME HOME DAMAGE WITH NO SERIOUS INJURIES
REPORTED. EVERYONE ACCOUNTED FOR.Special weather statement, Apr 27, 12:49 AM CDT, 1 hour 15 minutes before
IAZALL-270645- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 1248 AM CDT SAT APR 27 1991 ...AT 1 PM...ONLY A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PORTION OF SOUTHERN AND EASTERN IOWA UNTIL 4 AM... AT 1231 AM...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER MUCH OF THE WEST THREE QUARTERS OF IOWA...GENERALLY WEST OF A LINE FROM OTTUMWA TO 30 MILES EAST OF WATERLOO. WITHIN THIS AREA...SCATTERED INTENSE STORMS WERE OVER SOUTH CENTRAL AND CENTRAL IOWA. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE LOCATED FROM 30 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DES MOINES...TO 45 MILES EAST OF DES MOINES NEAR NEW SHARON...AND 45 MILES NORTHEAST OF DES MOINES NEAR GRINNELL. . THESE INTENSE STORMS HAVE BEEN PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND POSSIBLY HAIL AND BRIEF STRONG GUSTY WIND. THE SHOWERS AND STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MILES AN HOUR. PEOPLE IN THE PATH OF THESE INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING CONDITIONS...AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER SHOULD THREATENING WEATHER APPROACH. DM/JAK
Special weather statement, Apr 27, 1:17 AM CDT, 47 minutes before
IAZALL-270710- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND IOWA WEATHER UPDATE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 118 AM CDT SAT APR 27 1991 ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF IOWA UNTIL 4 AM... AT 105 AM...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER MUCH OF THE EAST THREE QUARTERS OF IOWA. MOST OF THE PRECIPITATION WAS EAST OF A LINE FROM LAMONI...TO FORT DODGE...TO 30 MILES WEST OF MASON CITY. WITHIN THIS AREA...SCATTERED INTENSE STORMS WERE LOCATED FROM SOUTH CENTRAL INTO NORTHEAST IOWA. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE OCCURRING IN A 10 MILE WIDE BAND FROM 35 MILES SOUTHWEST OF OTTUMWA NEAR CENTERVILLE... TO 35 MILES NORTHEAST OF DES MOINES NEAR NEWTON. OTHER STRONG STORMS WERE LOCATED FROM 15 MILES SOUTH OF WATERLOO TO 30 MILES WEST OF CEDAR RAPIDS. THESE INTENSE STORMS WERE PRODUCING BRIEF HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND POSSIBLY SOME HAIL AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS. THE SHOWERS AND STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MILES AN HOUR. PEOPLE IN THE PATH OF THESE INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING CONDITIONS...AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER SHOULD THREATENING WEATHER APPROACH. DM/JAK
Special weather statement, Apr 27, 1:21 AM CDT, 43 minutes before
IAZ002-003-006-007-270700- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA 1215 AM CDT SAT APR 27 1991 ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PARTS OF NORTHEAST IOWA UNITL 4AM CDT... AT 110 AM CDT AN AREA OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM ABOUT 10 MILES EAST OF WATERLOO TO ABOUT 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WATERLOO. THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE PART OF A LARGER AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTHEAST AND NORTH CENTRAL IOWA THAT WERE GENERALLY WEST OF A LINE FROM THE MINNESOTA BORDER NORTHWEST OF DECORAH TO NEAR INDEPENDENCE. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AS THEY MOVE NORTHEAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, Apr 27, 1:45 AM CDT, 19 minutes before
IAZALL-270745- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 144 AM CDT SAT APR 27 1991 ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF IOWA UNTIL 4 AM... AT 133 AM...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED MAINLY OVER THE EAST HALF OF IOWA. MOST OF THE PRECIPITATION WAS EAST OF A LINE FROM 30 MILES EAST OF LAMONI...TO FORT DODGE...TO 15 MILES WEST OF MASON CITY. WITHIN THIS AREA...SCATTERED INTENSE STORMS WERE LOCATED IN A 20 MILE BAND EXTENDING FROM 15 MILES WEST OF OTTUMWA NEAR ALBIA...TO JUST EAST OF WATERLOO. THESE INTENSE STORMS WERE PRODUCING BRIEF HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DEADLY LIGHTNING...ALONG WITH PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL AND STRONG WINDS GUSTING TO 40 MILES AN HOUR. . THE SHOWERS AND STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MILES AN HOUR. PEOPLE IN THE PATH OF THESE INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING CONDITIONS...AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER SHOULD THREATENING WEATHER APPROACH. DM/JAK
Special weather statement, Apr 27, 2:02 AM CDT, 2 minutes before
IAZ007-010-011-014-013-015-270730- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 200 AM CDT SAT APR 27 1991 AT 200 AM...A PORTION OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA HAS BEEN CLEARED FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 199. COUNTIES CLEARED FROM THE WATCH ARE... ...CENTRAL... BOONE DALLAS JASPER MARSHALL POLK STORY ...SOUTH CENTRAL... CLARKE DECATUR LUCAS MADISON MARION RINGGOLD UNION WARREN WAYNE SOME CITIES NO LONGER IN THE WATCH AREA ARE... / AMES BOONE CRESTON DES MOINES INDIANOLA KNOXVILLE MARSHALLTOWN NEWTON PERRY ................................................................. A LARGE PART OF THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER AND PART OF NORTHEAST IOWA REMAIN IN WATCH 199 HOWEVER UNTIL 4 AM. THESE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... ...NORTH CENTRAL... BUTLER ...NORTHEAST... BLACK HAWK BREMER BUCHANAN FAYETTE ...CENTRAL... GRUNDY POWESHIEK TAMA ...EAST CENTRAL... BENTON IOWA JOHNSON LINN / ...SOUTH CENTRAL... APPANOOSE MAHASKA MONROE ...SOUTHEAST... DAVIS DES MOINES HENRY JEFFERSON KEOKUK LEE LOUISA VAN BUREN WAPELLO WASHINGTON SOME CITIES STILL INCLUDED IN THE WATCH AREA ARE... BURLINGTON CEDAR 0RAPIDS CENTERVILLE FAIRFIELD GRINNELL INDEPENDENCE IOWA CITY KEOKUK MT.PLEASANT OELWEIN OSKALOOSA OTTUMWA TAMA-TOLEDO WASHINGTON WATERLOO WAVERLY MYERS
The office that day
Everything else NWS Des Moines, IA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 7:43 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Crawford | 32 min |
| Apr 26, 7:49 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Crawford | 26 min |
| Apr 26, 8:19 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Sac | 56 min |
| Apr 26, 8:36 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Buena Vista | 29 min |
| Apr 26, 8:55 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Ringgold | 30 min |
| Apr 26, 9:19 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Decatur | 35 min |
| Apr 26, 9:19 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Clarke | 41 min |
| Apr 26, 9:46 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Polk, Warren | 44 min |
| Apr 26, 10:59 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Lucas, Wayne | 31 min |
| Apr 26, 11:18 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Wayne | 27 min |
| Apr 26, 11:23 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Lucas | 37 min |
| Apr 27, 12:02 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Mahaska, Marion, Monroe | 28 min |
| Apr 27, 1:30 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Mahaska | 45 min |
| Apr 27, 2:04 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Keokuk | 15 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Iowa, 1991Every tornado warning in 1991Tornadoes in 1991
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.