Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 1991
Tornado Warning 18, NWS Des Moines, IA
NWS Des Moines, IA issued this tornado warning at May 14, 1991, 1:40 PM CDT for Linn County, Iowa. It was in force for 35 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
- May 14, 1991, 1:40 PM CDT (18:40 UTC)
- Expired
- May 14, 1991, 2:15 PM CDT
- In force
- 35 min
- Issued by
- NWS Des Moines, IA
- Area
- Whole counties
County Linn County, IA
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 14, 1:58 PM CDT | Tornado F1 | Linn, 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 12:00Z, 6.7 hours before the alert went out and 348 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
- 3158 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 40 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 120 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 111 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 141841 TORDSM IAC113-141915- BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 140 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 1991 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 215 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION... IN EAST CENTRAL IOWA ...SOUTHERN LINN COUNTY AT 135 PM CEDAR RAPIDS POLICE INDCATED THAT A FUNNELL CLOUD WAS OCCURRING IN THE NORTHWEST SECTIONS OF CEDAR RAPIDS. AT 135 PM RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM ASSOCIATED WITH THE FUNNELL CLOUD WAS BUILDING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL BE GOING THROUGH THE CEDAR RAPIDS AREA BETWEEN 140 PM AND 2 PM. WEINBRECHT IF YOU ARE QCAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.
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
Special weather statement, May 14, 11:23 AM CDT, 2 hours 17 minutes before
IAZALL-141740- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND IOWA WEATHER UPDATE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 1115 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 1991 AT 11 10 AM...INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINS AND HAIL WERE LOCATED IN NORTHEAST IOWA IN THE WATERLOO AREA. THE MOST INTENSE STORMS WERE LOCATED BETWEEN GRUNDY CENTER AND WATERLOO...AND ALSO NEAR WALKER ...ABOUT 30 MILES SOUTHEAST OF WATERLOO VERY HEAVY RAINS...HAIL...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR. THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINS AND HAIL CONTINUED IN SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED NEAR SEYMOUR...CENTERVILLE AND MYSTIC ...25 THROUGH 50 MILES SOUTHWEST OF OTTUMWA. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR. SCOTT
Special weather statement, May 14, 11:47 AM CDT, 1 hour 53 minutes before
IAZALL-141740- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 1145 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 1991 AT 11 40 AM...INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINS AND HAIL WERE LOCATED IN NORTHEAST IOWA IN THE WATERLOO AREA. THE MOST INTENSE STORMS WERE LOCATED ABOUT 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WATERLOO. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR. VERY HEAVY RAINS...HAIL... NAD DANGEROUS LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR. THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINS AND HAIL CONTINUED IN SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA. THE HEAVIEST OF THESE STORMS WAS LOCATED OVER RATHBUN RESERVOIR ...ABOUT 40 MILES SOUTHLEAST OF OTTUMWA. VERY HEAVY RAINS...LIGHTNING... AND HAIL CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR. SCOTT
Special weather statement, May 14, 11:53 AM CDT, 1 hour 47 minutes before
IAZALL-141740- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 1145 AM CDT TUE MAY 14 1991 AT 11 40 AM...INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINS AND HAIL WERE LOCATED IN NORTHEAST IOWA IN THE WATERLOO AREA. THE MOST INTENSE STORMS WERE LOCATED ABOUT 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WATERLOO. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR. VERY HEAVY RAINS...HAIL... NAD DANGEROUS LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR. THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINS AND HAIL CONTINUED IN SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA. THE HEAVIEST OF THESE STORMS WAS LOCATED OVER RATHBUN RESERVOIR ...ABOUT 40 MILES S[OUTHWEST OF OTTUMWA. VERY HEAVY RAINS...LIGHTNING... AND HAIL CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR. SCOTT
Special weather statement, May 14, 12:18 PM CDT, 1 hour 22 minutes before
IAZALL-141840- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 1220 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 1991 AT 12 15 PM...INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINS AND HAIL WERE LOCATED IN NORTHEAST IOWA IN THE WATERLOO AREA. THE MOST INTENSE STORMS WERE LOCATED ABOUT 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF WATERLOO. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR. VERY HEAVY RAINS...HAIL... NAD DANGEROUS LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINS AND HAIL CONTINUED IN SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA. THE HEAVIEST OF THESE STORMS WAS LOCATED ABOUT 15 MILES WEST OF OTTUMWA...NEAR ALBIA. VERY HEAVY RAINS AND HAIL CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. THESE STORMS WERE ALSO MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR. SCOTT
Special weather statement, May 14, 12:48 PM CDT, 52 minutes before
IAZALL-141840- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 1245 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 1991 AT 12 40 PM...INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINS WERE LOCATED IN NORTHEAST IOWA IN THE WATERLOO AREA. THE MOST INTENSE STORMS WERE LOCATED ABOUT 15 MILES SOUTH THROUGH EAST OF WATERLOO. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR. VERY HEAVY RAINS... HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAINS WERE ALSO LOCATED IN EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA. THE THUNDERSTORMS IN SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA HAD DECREASED IN INTENSITY. HEAVY RAINS WERE ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH THE THUNDERSTORMS IN EAST CENTRAL IOWA. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED JUST EAST OF CEDAR RAPIDS NEAR TIPTON...AND ALSO NEAR DEWITT AND MAQUOKETA...MIDWAY BETWEEN DAVENPORT AND DUBUQUE. THESE STORMS WERE ALSO MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, May 14, 1:22 PM CDT, 18 minutes before
IAZALL-141920- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 1 15 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 1991 AT 1 10 PM...INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINS WERE LOCATED IN EAST CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST IOWA. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED IN AN AREA ABOUT 35 MILES WIDE AND EXTENDING FROM 10 MILES NORTH OF WATERLOO TO 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF DAVENPORT. THE MOST INTENSE STORMS WERE LOCATED ABOUT 25 MILES SOUTHEAST OF WATERLOO NEAR CENTRAL CITY AND VINTON. ONE INCH HAIL WAS REPORTED WITH THESE STORMS VERY HEAVY RAINS ...HAIL...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MILES AN HOUR CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO LOCATED IN SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST IOWA NEAR OTTUMWA AND OSKALOOSA. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR. SCOTT
The office that day
Everything else NWS Des Moines, IA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 14, 8:33 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Lucas | 42 min |
| May 14, 8:44 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Jasper, Polk, Story | 46 min |
| May 14, 9:03 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Boone | 42 min |
| May 14, 9:15 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Lucas | 45 min |
| May 14, 9:43 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Marshall | 47 min |
| May 14, 10:00 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Wayne | 45 min |
| May 14, 10:36 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Grundy | 69 min |
| May 14, 10:50 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Wayne | 40 min |
| May 14, 11:05 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Appanoose | 40 min |
| May 14, 11:17 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Buchanan | 58 min |
| May 14, 11:26 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Black Hawk | 64 min |
| May 14, 12:04 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Fayette | 38 min |
| May 14, 12:34 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Black Hawk | 41 min |
| May 14, 12:43 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Benton | 47 min |
| May 14, 1:01 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Linn | 44 min |
| May 14, 1:12 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Buchanan | 33 min |
| May 14, 1:30 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Linn | 45 min |
| May 14, 1:52 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Benton | 21 min |
| May 14, 2:24 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Benton | 66 min |
| May 14, 5:05 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Wright | 40 min |
| May 14, 5:22 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Cerro Gordo, Hancock | 68 min |
| May 14, 5:49 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Wright | 41 min |
| May 14, 6:42 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Polk, Warren | 63 min |
| May 14, 6:56 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Polk | 34 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.