Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 1993

Tornado Warning 15, NWS Des Moines, IA

June 29, 1993Calhoun County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this tornado warning at Jun 29, 1993, 8:44 PM CDT for Calhoun County, Iowa. It was in force for 31 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued: Jun 29, 1993, 8:44 PM CDT (01:44 UTC)
Expired: Jun 29, 1993, 9:15 PM CDT
In force: 31 min
Issued by: NWS Des Moines, IA
Area: Whole counties

County Calhoun County, IA

The nearest sounding before it

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 00:00Z, 1.7 hours before the alert went out and 186 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 3751 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -4 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1148 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 43 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 111 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 207 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 2.6
Supercell composite: 16.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KDSM 300145
TORDSM
IAC025-300215-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
844 PM CDT TUE JUN 29 1993
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  915 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION(S)...
 
IN WEST CENTRAL IOWA
 
   ...CALHOUN COUNTY
 
AT 840 PM CDT...THE CALHOUN COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT REPORTED NUMEROUS
FUNNEL CLOUDS 15 TO 25 MILES WEST OF FORT DODGE IN NORTHERN CALHOUN
COUNDY. THE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING THESE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST
AT 35 MILES AN HOUR. IF YOU ARE IN MANSON...JOLLEY...ROCKWELL
CITY...KNIERIM...OR SOMERS...YOU SHOULD TAKE SHELTER NOW.
 
IF YOU LIVE IN A HOME OR APARTMENT...SEEK SHELTER IN THE
INNERMOST PORTION OF THE BUILDING ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.  GET TO
A BASEMENT IF ONE IS AVAILABLE.  AVOID WINDOWS AND PROTECT YOUR
BODY FROM FLYING DEBRIS WITH CUSHIONS...BLANKETS...OR PILLOWS.
 
SULLIVAN
 
&

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 29, 8:04 PM CDT, 40 minutes before

IAZ006-007-008-009-010-011-016-017-018-019-026-027-028-029-038-
039-040-300200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA
803 PM CDT TUE JUN 29 1993

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE GOING TO SPREAD THROUGH NORTHEAST IOWA...

AT 8 PM A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS OCCURRING FROM 30 MILES SOUTH
OF MASON CITY AND EXTENDING NORTHEAST TO THE MINNESOTA BORDER 35 MILES
NORTHEAST OF MASON CITY. THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY
HEAVY RAINFALL...SMALL HAIL AND WINDS OF 40 MPH.

PEOPLE IN THE CITIES OF NEW HAMPTON...NASHUA...CLARKSVILLE AND DUMONT
SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER AND SEEK APPROPRIATE
SHELTER AS THESE STORMS MOVE IN BY 830 PM.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM CDT.

COLLAR/GOODSON

Special weather statement, Jun 29, 8:20 PM CDT, 24 minutes before

IAZ006-007-008-009-010-011-016-017-018-019-026-027-028-029-038-
039-040-300200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA
820 PM CDT TUE JUN 29 1993

...REPORTS OF STRONG WINDS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED...

AT 810 PM 45 TO 50 MPH WINDS WERE REPORTED AT CHARLES CITY...30 MILES
EAST OF MASON CITY. IN ADDITION VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WAS REPORTED.

WITH THE ALREADY SATURATED GROUND IT WILL TAKE LITTLE WIND TO UPROOT
TREES.

AT 815 THE STORMS WERE FROM 25 MILES WEST OF WATERLOO TO 25 MILES
NORTHWEST OF DECORAH. OTHER STORMS WERE SCATTERED ABOUT NORTHEAST IOWA.

THE CITIES IN THE PATH OF THE STRONGER STORMS ARE ALLISON...NEW
HAMPTON...AND NASHUA AND SHOULD BE AFFECTED THROUGH 845 PM.

THE POTENTIAL FOR URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING EXISTS AND THIS
SITUATION WILL BE MONITORED AS THE STORMS APPROACH.

COLLAR

Special weather statement, Jun 29, 8:21 PM CDT, 23 minutes before

IAZ006-007-008-009-010-011-016-017-018-019-026-027-028-029-038-
039-040-300200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA
820 PM CDT TUE JUN 29 1993

...REPORTS OF STRONG WINDS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED...

AT 810 PM 45 TO 50 MPH WINDS WERE REPORTED AT CHARLES CITY...30 MILES
EAST OF MASON CITY. IN ADDITION VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WAS REPORTED.

WITH THE ALREADY SATURATED GROUND IT WILL TAKE LITTLE WIND TO UPROOT
TREES.

AT 815 THE STORMS WERE FROM 25 MILES WEST OF WATERLOO TO 25 MILES
NORTHWEST OF DECORAH. OTHER STORMS WERE SCATTERED ABOUT NORTHEAST IOWA.

THE CITIES IN THE PATH OF THE STRONGER STORMS ARE ALLISON...NEW
HAMPTON...AND NASHUA AND SHOULD BE AFFECTED THROUGH 845 PM.

THE POTENTIAL FOR URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING EXISTS AND THIS
SITUATION WILL BE MONITORED AS THE STORMS APPROACH.

COLLAR

Local storm report, Jun 29, 8:30 PM CDT, 14 minutes before

LOCAL STORM REPORT...PRELIMINARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
830 PM CDT TUE JUN 29 1993

    TIME              EVENT              LOCATION -CITY AND COUNTY

426 PM CDT     WIND GUST TO 60 MPH     5W OF SPIRIT LAKE-DICKINSON CO.

430 PM CDT     61 MPH WIND             4W OF SPIRIT LAKE-DICKINSON CO.

445 PM CDT     58 MPH WIND             3E OF ESTHERVILLE-EMMET CO.

500 PM CDT     QUARTER SIZE HAIL       ESTHERVILLE-EMMET CO.

515 PM CDT     3/4 INCH HAIL           ESTHERVILLE AIRPORT-EMMET CO.

535 PM CDT     GOLFBALL TO 3 1/2       RINGSTED-EMMET CO.
               INCH HAIL BROKE WINDOWS

540 PM CDT     60 MPH WIND             SPENCER-CLAY CO.
/
542 PM CDT     81 MPH WIND             SPENCER-CLAY CO.

543 PM CDT     GOLFBALL HAIL BROKE     WEST OF FENTON-KOSSUTH CO.
               WINDOWS...40 MPH WIND

548 PM CDT     61 MPH WIND AND         SPIRIT LAKE-DICKINSON CO.
               GOLFBALL HAIL

610 PM CDT     BARN DESTROYED          5W OF BANCROFT-KOSSUTH CO.

617 PM CDT     GOLFBALL HAIL AND       TITONKA-KOSSUTH CO.
               STRONG WINDS DAMAGED
               WINDOWS AND TREE LIMBS

645 PM CDT     BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHDOWN 2W OF POCAHONTAS-POCAHONTAS CO.

645 PM CDT     BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHDOWN 2W OF HAVELOCK-POCAHONTAS CO.

ETP/JAK

Local storm report, Jun 29, 8:33 PM CDT, 11 minutes before

LOCAL STORM REPORT...PRELIMINARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
830 PM CDT TUE JUN 29 1993

    TIME              EVENT              LOCATION -CITY AND COUNTY

426 PM CDT     WIND GUST TO 60 MPH     5W OF SPIRIT LAKE-DICKINSON CO.

430 PM CDT     61 MPH WIND             4W OF SPIRIT LAKE-DICKINSON CO.

445 PM CDT     58 MPH WIND             3E OF ESTHERVILLE-EMMET CO.

500 PM CDT     QUARTER SIZE HAIL       ESTHERVILLE-EMMET CO.

515 PM CDT     3/4 INCH HAIL           ESTHERVILLE AIRPORT-EMMET CO.

535 PM CDT     GOLFBALL TO 3 1/2       RINGSTED-EMMET CO.
               INCH HAIL BROKE WINDOWS

540 PM CDT     60 MPH WIND             SPENCER-CLAY CO.
/
542 PM CDT     81 MPH WIND             SPENCER-CLAY CO.

543 PM CDT     GOLFBALL HAIL BROKE     WEST OF FENTON-KOSSUTH CO.
               WINDOWS...40 MPH WIND

548 PM CDT     61 MPH WIND AND         SPIRIT LAKE-DICKINSON CO.
               GOLFBALL HAIL

610 PM CDT     BARN DESTROYED          5W OF BANCROFT-KOSSUTH CO.

617 PM CDT     GOLFBALL HAIL AND       TITONKA-KOSSUTH CO.
               STRONG WINDS DAMAGED
               WINDOWS AND TREE LIMBS

645 PM CDT     BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHDOWN 2W OF POCAHONTAS-POCAHONTAS CO.

645 PM CDT     BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHDOWN 2W OF HAVELOCK-POCAHONTAS CO.

ETP/JAK

Special weather statement, Jun 29, 8:40 PM CDT, 4 minutes before

IAZALL-300240-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
840 PM CDT TUE JUN 29 1993

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF THE NORTH HALF OF IOWA
   UNTIL 11 PM.
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWEST IOWA UNTIL MIDNIGHT...
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR A SMALL PART OF EXTREME
   NORTHEAST IOWA TONIGHT...

AT 835 PM...A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...FREQUENTLY PRODUCING
LARGE DAMAGING HAIL...HIGH WINDS...AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...EXTENDED
IN A 40 MILE WIND BAND ACROSS CENTRAL IOWA.

THE LEADING EDGE OF THIS LINE EXTENDED FROM NEAR DUBUQUE...TO JUST NORTH
OF AMES...TO 30 MILES SOUTH OF SIOUX CITY.

BETWEEN 840 AND 930 PM...VERY STRONG...AND POSSIBLY SEVERE...
THUNDERSTORMS...WILL MOVE ACROSS CENTRAL IOWA...INCLUDING GREENE...
BOONE...STORY...AND HARDIN COUNTIES.  SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE
POSSIBLE IN THE AMES AREA BETWEEN 9 AND 945 PM.

IF YOU ARE IN THESE AREAS...BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO SAFETY IF A
WARNING IS ISSUED OR SEVERE WEATHER IS SIGHTED.

...OUTLOOK FOR DES MOINES...

THESE STORMS COULD NEAR THE DES MOINES METRO AREA BETWEEN 930 AND 1030
PM.

FELDT

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jun 29, 7:05 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Humboldt, Pocahontas	25 min
Jun 29, 7:18 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	DMX	Kossuth, Palo Alto, Pocahontas	3 hr
Jun 29, 7:26 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Winnebago	24 min
Jun 29, 7:27 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Webster	33 min
Jun 29, 7:34 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Humboldt	26 min
Jun 29, 8:01 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Hamilton, Humboldt, Webster, Wright	29 min
Jun 29, 8:17 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Calhoun, Greene	28 min
Jun 29, 8:23 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Butler	52 min
Jun 29, 8:38 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Boone	37 min
Jun 29, 8:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Black Hawk, Bremer, Grundy	46 min
Jun 29, 8:50 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Boone, Greene	25 min
Jun 29, 8:53 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Marshall, Story	52 min
Jun 29, 8:57 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Crawford	33 min
Jun 29, 9:01 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Carroll, Sac	29 min
Jun 29, 9:20 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Jasper, Polk, Story	25 min
Jun 29, 9:25 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Buchanan, Fayette	65 min
Jun 29, 9:28 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Black Hawk	32 min
Jun 29, 9:36 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Benton, Tama	54 min
Jun 29, 9:37 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Dallas, Jasper, Polk	68 min
Jun 29, 9:49 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Marshall	26 min
Jun 29, 10:00 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Jasper, Polk	26 min
Jun 29, 10:15 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	DMX	Boone	96 min
Jun 30, 12:21 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	DMX	Decatur, Ringgold	66 min
Jun 30, 3:01 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Cass	29 min

Nearby

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