Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 1993

Tornado Warning 11, NWS Des Moines, IA

June 17, 19934 counties in Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this tornado warning at Jun 17, 1993, 2:48 PM CDT for 4 counties in Iowa. It was in force for 42 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jun 17, 1993, 2:48 PM CDT (19:48 UTC)
Expired
Jun 17, 1993, 3:30 PM CDT
In force
42 min
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Whole counties

Counties Chickasaw County, IA, Floyd County, IA, Howard County, IA, Mitchell County, IA

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KSTC), launched 12:00Z, 7.8 hours before the alert went out and 201 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 12:00Z on 1993-06-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 13 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 12:00Z on 1993-06-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 81 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
13 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-45 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
540 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
59 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
81 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-16 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 KALO 171950
TORALO
IAC067-131-037-089-172030-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA
248 PM CDT THU JUN 17 1993
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WATERLOO HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  330 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN NORTH CENTRAL IOWA
 
   ...FLOYD COUNTY...EASTERN MITCHELL COUNTY
 
IN NORTHEAST IOWA
 
   ...WESTERN CHICKASAW COUNTY...HOWARD COUNTY
 
AT 243 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN WATERLOO INDICATED A
POSSIBLE TORNADO PRODUCING THUNDERSTORM 3 MILES NORTHWEST OF CHARLES
CITY OR 55 MILES EAST OF MASON CITY MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. SOME
CITIES AND TOWNS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM ARE COLWELL...ALTA VISTA...
ELMA AND CHARLES CITY.
 
DURING A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IS IN 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.  AVOID WINDOWS.
 
 
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM SITUATION.  ACT QUICKLY.  YOU SHOULD
SEEK SHELTER BELOW GROUND LEVEL IF POSSIBLE.  OTHERWISE...GO TO A
SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR POSSIBLE AND AVOID WINDOWS.
 
 
 
GOODSON/LINDENBER<G

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 17, 1:40 PM CDT, 1 hour 8 minutes before
IAZALL-171940-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
140 PM CDT THU JUN 17 1993

AT 130 PM CDT...ISOLATED VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING OVER
NORTH CENTRAL IOWA.  THE STORMS WERE LOCATED 10 MILES NORTH OF FORT
DODGE NEAR HUMBOLDT...AND 25 MILES NORTHEAST OF FORT DODGE.  THESE
STORMS WERE PRODUCING EXTREMELY HEAVY RAIN...HAIL...GUSTY WINDS AND
FREQUENT LIGHTNING.

THE STORMS WERE PART OF AN AREA OF SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRING OVER THE NORTHWEST THIRD OF IOWA.
THE PRECIPITATION WAS NORTHWEST OF A LINE FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS...TO
15 MILES SOUTHEAST OF FORT DODGE NEAR WEBSTER CITY...TO MASON CITY.

ISOLATED SHOWERS WERE ALSO IN SOUTHERN IOWA AROUND GREENFIELD...BEDFORD
AND OSCEOLA.

THE STORMS AND SHOWERS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

KALLMAN
Special weather statement, Jun 17, 1:41 PM CDT, 1 hour 7 minutes before
IAZALL-171940-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
140 PM CDT THU JUN 17 1993

AT 130 PM CDT...ISOLATED VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING OVER
NORTH CENTRAL IOWA.  THE STORMS WERE LOCATED 10 MILES NORTH OF FORT
DODGE NEAR HUMBOLDT...AND 25 MILES NORTHEAST OF FORT DODGE.  THESE
STORMS WERE PRODUCING EXTREMELY HEAVY RAIN...HAIL...GUSTY WINDS AND
FREQUENT LIGHTNING.

THE STORMS WERE PART OF AN AREA OF SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRING OVER THE NORTHWEST THIRD OF IOWA.
THE PRECIPITATION WAS NORTHWEST OF A LINE FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS...TO
15 MILES SOUTHEAST OF FORT DODGE NEAR WEBSTER CITY...TO MASON CITY.

ISOLATED SHOWERS WERE ALSO IN SOUTHERN IOWA AROUND GREENFIELD...BEDFORD
AND OSCEOLA.

THE STORMS AND SHOWERS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

KALLMAN
Special weather statement, Jun 17, 1:45 PM CDT, 1 hour 3 minutes before
IAZALL-180000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
145 PM CDT THU JUN 17 1993

...A DANGEROUS RAIN EVENT IS EXPECTED ACROSS PARTS OF IOWA...

OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS...RAINFALL AMOUNTS CLOSE TO FIVE INCHES
ARE EXPECTED ACROSS PARTS OF THE STATE...WITH ISOLATED SPOTS RECEIVING
EVEN MORE.  A FLOOD WATCH IS POSTED FOR THE NORTHWEST TWO THIRDS OF
THE STATE THROUGH TONIGHT.

MANY RIVERS...ESPECIALLY ACROSS NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL IOWA...ARE
NEAR OR ABOVE FLOOD STAGE.  THIS HEAVY RAINFALL WILL FURTHER INCREASE
THE FLOODING OR FLOODING THREAT.  ALSO...THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL
PRODUCE FLASH FLOODING OF SMALLER CREEKS AND STREAMS.

INITIALLY...THROUGH TONIGHT...HEAVIEST RAINFALL IS EXPECTED ALONG AND
ABOUT 40 MILES EITHER SIDE OF A LINE FROM NORTH OF OMAHA...TO FORT DODGE
TO MASON CITY.

SOME RIVER BASINS IN THIS AREA INCLUDE THE LITTLE SIOUX...RACCOON...
...BOYER...NISHNABOTNA...DES MOINES...CEDAR...IOWA...WASPSIPINICON
AND SKUNK.

THIS HEAVY RAIN IS CAUSED BY A NEARLY STATIONARY FRONT.
HEADING INTO FRIDAY AND THEN THE WEEKEND...THIS FRONT WILL VERY SLOWLY
DROP SOUTHEAST...SPREADING THE HEAVIEST RAIN INTO SOUTHEAST IOWA.

IF YOU LIVE ALONG A RIVER...KEEP ALERT FOR RAPIDLY RISING WATER AND
BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IF FLOODING IS OBSERVED OR A
WARNING IS ISSUED.  CAMPERS AND OTHER RECREATIONAL USERS SHOULD REMAIN
AWAY FROM STREAM BEDS...CREEKS AND LOW DRAINAGE AREAS.

JOHN FELDT
METEOROLOGIST IN CHANGE
Special weather statement, Jun 17, 1:47 PM CDT, 1 hour 1 minute before
IAZALL-180000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
145 PM CDT THU JUN 17 1993

...A DANGEROUS RAIN EVENT IS EXPECTED ACROSS PARTS OF IOWA...

OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS...RAINFALL AMOUNTS CLOSE TO FIVE INCHES
ARE EXPECTED ACROSS PARTS OF THE STATE...WITH ISOLATED SPOTS RECEIVING
EVEN MORE.  A FLOOD WATCH IS POSTED FOR THE NORTHWEST TWO THIRDS OF
THE STATE THROUGH TONIGHT.

MANY RIVERS...ESPECIALLY ACROSS NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL IOWA...ARE
NEAR OR ABOVE FLOOD STAGE.  THIS HEAVY RAINFALL WILL FURTHER INCREASE
THE FLOODING OR FLOODING THREAT.  ALSO...THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL
PRODUCE FLASH FLOODING OF SMALLER CREEKS AND STREAMS.

INITIALLY...THROUGH TONIGHT...HEAVIEST RAINFALL IS EXPECTED ALONG AND
ABOUT 40 MILES EITHER SIDE OF A LINE FROM NORTH OF OMAHA...TO FORT DODGE
TO MASON CITY.

SOME RIVER BASINS IN THIS AREA INCLUDE THE LITTLE SIOUX...RACCOON...
...BOYER...NISHNABOTNA...DES MOINES...CEDAR...IOWA...WASPSIPINICON
AND SKUNK.

THIS HEAVY RAIN IS CAUSED BY A NEARLY STATIONARY FRONT.
HEADING INTO FRIDAY AND THEN THE WEEKEND...THIS FRONT WILL VERY SLOWLY
DROP SOUTHEAST...SPREADING THE HEAVIEST RAIN INTO SOUTHEAST IOWA.

IF YOU LIVE ALONG A RIVER...KEEP ALERT FOR RAPIDLY RISING WATER AND
BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IF FLOODING IS OBSERVED OR A
WARNING IS ISSUED.  CAMPERS AND OTHER RECREATIONAL USERS SHOULD REMAIN
AWAY FROM STREAM BEDS...CREEKS AND LOW DRAINAGE AREAS.

JOHN FELDT
METEOROLOGIST IN CHANGE
Special weather statement, Jun 17, 2:45 PM CDT, 3 minutes before
IAZALL-172040-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
245 PM CDT THU JUN 17 1993

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL AND EASTERN IOWA
   UNTIL 8 PM THIS EVENING...

...A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHWEST TWO/THIRDS OF IOWA THIS
   AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

AT 230 PM CDT...WIDELY SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER
NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST IOWA.  THE STRONG STORMS WERE IN A 20 MILE
WIDE BAND LOCATED FROM 25 MILES SOUTHWEST OF FORT DODGE...TO 20 MILES
EAST OF MASON CITY.  ISOLATED STRONG STORMS WERE ALSO OCCURRING IN
SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA BETWEEN MOUNT AYR AND CORYDON...OR FROM 60 MILES
SOUTHWEST TO 50 MILES SOUTH OF DES MOINES.

IN ADDITION TO PRODUCING EXTREMELY HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING...
PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THESE
THUNDERSTORMS.

THE STORMS AND SHOWERS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT AROUND 25 MILES AN HOUR.

KALLMAN
Special weather statement, Jun 17, 2:45 PM CDT, 3 minutes before
IAZALL-172040-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
245 PM CDT THU JUN 17 1993

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL AND EASTERN IOWA
   UNTIL 8 PM THIS EVENING...

...A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHWEST TWO/THIRDS OF IOWA THIS
   AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

AT 230 PM CDT...WIDELY SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER
NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST IOWA.  THE STRONG STORMS WERE IN A 20 MILE
WIDE BAND LOCATED FROM 25 MILES SOUTHWEST OF FORT DODGE...TO 20 MILES
EAST OF MASON CITY.  ISOLATED STRONG STORMS WERE ALSO OCCURRING IN
SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA BETWEEN MOUNT AYR AND CORYDON...OR FROM 60 MILES
SOUTHWEST TO 50 MILES SOUTH OF DES MOINES.

IN ADDITION TO PRODUCING EXTREMELY HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING...
PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THESE
THUNDERSTORMS.

THE STORMS AND SHOWERS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT AROUND 25 MILES AN HOUR.

KALLMAN

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 17, 1:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXWright29 min
Jun 17, 1:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXCerro Gordo, Hancock48 min
Jun 17, 1:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXWright43 min
Jun 17, 3:01 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXWebster18 min
Jun 17, 3:01 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXHamilton44 min
Jun 17, 3:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXChickasaw, Howard, Winneshiek45 min
Jun 17, 3:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXAppanoose, Monroe29 min
Jun 17, 4:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXGreene, Webster25 min
Jun 17, 4:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXDavis, Wapello34 min
Jun 17, 4:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXJefferson, Van Buren32 min
Jun 17, 4:32 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXKeokuk28 min
Jun 17, 4:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXWashington31 min
Jun 17, 5:01 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXWashington14 min
Jun 17, 5:47 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXBlack Hawk2 hr

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.