Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 1993

Tornado Warning 10, NWS Des Moines, IA

June 16, 1993Webster County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this tornado warning at Jun 16, 1993, 7:22 AM CDT for Webster County, Iowa. It was in force for 23 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jun 16, 1993, 7:22 AM CDT (12:22 UTC)
Expired
Jun 16, 1993, 7:45 AM CDT
In force
23 min
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Whole counties

County Webster County, IA

The nearest sounding before it

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 12:00Z, 0.4 hours before the alert went out and 219 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, Omaha, NE at 12:00Z on 1993-06-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 901 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, Omaha, NE at 12:00Z on 1993-06-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 166 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
901 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-327 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1130 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
166 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
239 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KDSM 161222
TORDSM
IAC187-161245-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
722 AM CDT WED JUN 16 1993

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  745 AM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION(S)...

IN CENTRAL IOWA

   ...SOUTHERN WEBSTER COUNTY

AT 718 AM CDT...A TORNADO WAS REPORTED ON THE GROUND 2 MILES SOUTH OF
THE FORT DODGE AIRPORT.  IT WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 40 MPH.  THE STORM
WILL AFFECT AREAS JUST SOUTH OF FORT DODGE...AS WELL AS THE TOWNS OF
MOORLAND...OTHO...LEHIGH...AND HARCOURT BETWEEN NOW AND 745 AM.

PEOPLE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM SHOULD SEEK SHELTER IMEDIATLY.
GO TO AN INTERIOR ROOM OR BASEMENT IF AVAILABLE.  DO NOT TRY
TO OUTRUN A TORNADO IN YOUR CAR...ABANDON IT AND SEEK SHELTER IN
A DITCH.

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, Jun 16, 4:46 AM CDT, 2 hours 36 minutes before
IAZALL-161035-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
445 AM CDT WED JUN 16 1993

AT 425 AM CDT...THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN AND SMALL HAIL WERE
LOCATED IN NORTHWEST IOWA...10 MILES EAST OF EMMETSBURG...5 MILES WEST
OF ESTHERVILLE AND 10 MILES EAST OF SIBLEY.

THESE STORMS WERE PART OF A LARGER AREA OF SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WHICH
CONTINUED ACROSS NORTHERN AND WESTERN IOWA. THIS THUNDERSTORM AREA WAS
LOCATED NORTHWEST OF A LINE EXTENDING FROM THE MINNESOTA BORDER 60 MILES
NORTH OF WATERLOO...TO CHARLES CITY...TO ALGONA...25 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
COUNCIL BLUFFS. MOVEMENT WAS EAST-NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.

THE STORMS ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST IOWA WERE PRODUCING VERY
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. RESIDENTS SHOULD TAKE LIGHTNING
SAFETY PRECUATIONS...STAY INSIDE YOUR HOME OR INSIDE THE ENCLOSED CAB OF
YOUR VEHICHLE. STAY AWAY FROM METAL OBJECTS WHICH COULD CONDUCT
ELzECTRICITY AND DO NOT TALK ON THE TELEPHONE.

R A PRENTICE
Special weather statement, Jun 16, 6:07 AM CDT, 1 hour 15 minutes before
IAZ006-007-008-009-010-011-016-017-018-019-026-027-028-029-038-
039-040-161200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA
6 AM CDT SUN JUN 13 1993

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO HANCOCK AND WINNEBEGO COUNTIES...

AT 6 AM RADAR INDICATED VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO WESTERN
HANCOCK COUNTY...5 MILES WEST OF BRITT...25 MILES WEST OF NASON CITY.
THIS STORM WAS MOVING EAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL LIKELY PRODUCE
HEAVY DOWNPOURS...SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS TO 40 MILES AN HOUR.

THESE STORMS ARE PART OF A LARGER AREA OF STORMS WHICH HAVE PRODUCED
LARGE HAIL EARLIER IN CLAY COUNTY. STAY TUNED TO LOCAL RADIO...TELEVISION
AND NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR STATEMENTSl AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

DP
Special weather statement, Jun 16, 6:40 AM CDT, 42 minutes before
IAZ006-007-008-009-010-011-016-017-018-019-026-027-028-029-038-
039-040-161245-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA
640 AM CDT WED JUN 16 1993

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTH CENTRAL IOWA...

A LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDS FROM 10 MILES NORTHWEST
OF MASON CITY NEAR MANLY... SOUTHWEST TO EAGLE GROVE...40 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF MASON CITY. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 35 TO 40 MILES AN HOUR
AND WILL AFFECT THE MASON CITY AND GARNER AREAS THROUGH 7 AM.

THESE STORMS SHOULD AFFECT THE NORA SPRINGS...ROCKFORD AND HAMPTON
AREAS BTWEEN 7 AND 730 AM CDT. THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
SMALL HAIL...WIND GUSTS TO 40 MILES AN HOUR AND BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS.

STAY TUNED TO LOCAL RADIO...TELEVISION AND NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR
ADITIONAL STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
DP
Special weather statement, Jun 16, 6:44 AM CDT, 38 minutes before
IAZ006-007-008-009-010-011-016-017-018-019-026-027-028-029-038-
039-040-161245-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA
640 AM CDT WED JUN 16 1993

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTH CENTRAL IOWA...

A LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDS FROM 10 MILES NORTHWEST
OF MASON CITY NEAR MANLY... SOUTHWEST TO EAGLE GROVE...40 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF MASON CITY. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 35 TO 40 MILES AN HOUR
AND WILL AFFECT THE MASON CITY AND GARNER AREAS THROUGH 7 AM.

THESE STORMS SHOULD AFFECT THE NORA SPRINGS...ROCKFORD AND HAMPTON
AREAS BTWEEN 7 AND 730 AM CDT. THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
SMALL HAIL...WIND GUSTS TO 40 MILES AN HOUR AND BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS.

STAY TUNED TO LOCAL RADIO...TELEVISION AND NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR
ADITIONAL STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
DP
Special weather statement, Jun 16, 7:15 AM CDT, 7 minutes before
IAZ006-007-008-009-010-011-016-017-018-019-026-027-028-029-038-
039-040-161320-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA
715 AM CDT WED JUN 16 1993

...LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING THROUGH NORTH CENTRAL IOWA...

A LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDS FROM 10 MILES WEST OF OSAGE
OR 20 MILES NORTHEAST OF MASON CITY TO 5 MILES WEST OF ROCKWELL CITY...
65 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MASON CITY.  THESE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST
AT 25 MILES AN HOUR AND HAVE PRODUCED WIND GUSTS TO 40 MILES AN HOUR...
PEA SIZED HAIL...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS.

THESE STORMS SHOULD AFFECT THE NORA SPRINGS...ROCKFORD...SHEFFIELD...
AND HAMPTON AREAS FROM 730 THROOUGH 8AM. THE STORMS WILL MOVE INTO THE
CLARKSVILLE AND PARKERSBURG AREAS BETWEEN 8 AND 830 AM.

DP
Special weather statement, Jun 16, 7:22 AM CDT, 0 minutes before
IAZ006-007-008-009-010-011-016-017-018-019-026-027-028-029-038-
039-040-161320-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA
715 AM CDT WED JUN 16 1993

...LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING THROUGH NORTH CENTRAL IOWA...

A LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDS FROM 10 MILES WEST OF OSAGE
OR 20 MILES NORTHEAST OF MASON CITY TO 5 MILES WEST OF ROCKWELL CITY...
65 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MASON CITY.  THESE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST
AT 25 MILES AN HOUR AND HAVE PRODUCED WIND GUSTS TO 40 MILES AN HOUR...
PEA SIZED HAIL...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS.

THESE STORMS SHOULD AFFECT THE NORA SPRINGS...ROCKFORD...SHEFFIELD...
AND HAMPTON AREAS FROM 730 THROOUGH 8AM. THE STORMS WIL
L MOVE INTO THE
CLARKSVILLE AND PARKERSBURG AREAS BETWEEN 8 AND 830 AM.

DP

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 15, 10:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXClay, Dickinson45 min
Jun 16, 5:39 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXPalo Alto36 min
Jun 16, 6:02 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXPocahontas12 hr
Jun 16, 6:35 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXHumboldt, Webster35 min
Jun 16, 7:18 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXWebster27 min
Jun 16, 7:34 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXHamilton, Wright26 min
Jun 16, 7:35 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXFranklin35 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Iowa, 1993Every tornado warning in 1993Tornadoes in 1993

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.