Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 1993

Tornado Warning 4, NWS Des Moines, IA

June 8, 1993Winneshiek County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this tornado warning at Jun 8, 1993, 11:52 AM CDT for Winneshiek County, Iowa. It was in force for 38 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jun 8, 1993, 11:52 AM CDT (16:52 UTC)
Expired
Jun 8, 1993, 12:30 PM CDT
In force
38 min
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Whole counties

County Winneshiek County, IA

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KSTC), launched 12:00Z, 4.9 hours before the alert went out and 223 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 1993-06-08Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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 1993-06-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 500 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
NaN m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
81 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
500 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
604 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 081653
TORALO
IAC191-081730-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA
1152 AM CDT TUE JUN 8 1993
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WATERLOO HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1230 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN NORTHEAST IOWA
 
   ...WINNESHIEK COUNTY
 
AT 1149 AM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN WATERLOO WAS SHOWING A
RADAR SIGNATURE INDICATIVE OF A TORNADO OVER SPILLVILLE. THIS STORM WAS
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 TO 40 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL BE AFFECTING THE
TOWNS OF DECORAH.
 
AT  1137 GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED IN RIDGEWAY.
 
 
 
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.
 
 
 
LINDENBERG
&

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 8, 10:47 AM CDT, 1 hour 5 minutes before
IAZALL-081635-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY.STRONG GUSTY WINDS...AND SMALL HAIL MAY BE
EXPECTED WITH THE PASSAGE OF THESE STORMS.

OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO LOCATED IN NORTH CENTRAL IOWA BETWEEN SAC
CITY AND ALGONA...AND NEAR OGDEN AND JEWELL...ABOUT 40 MILES NORTH OF
DES MOINES.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE G ACROSS NORTHEAST
INDIANA AND EXTREME NORTHWEST OHIO TO THE NORTH OF A LINE EXTENDING
FROM 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF NORTH MANCHESTER OR 30 MILES NORTHWEST OF
MARION INDIANA TO 15 MILES NORTH OF FORT WAYNE TO 20 MILES NORTH OF
DEFIANCE OHIO.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH AND CONTAINED BRIEF HEAVY
RAIN...SMALL HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

BY 1140 AM EST/ 1240 PM EDT THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NORTH OF A LINE
EXTENDING FROM JUST WEST OF WABASH OR 40 MILES SOUTHWEST OF FORT WAYNE
TO FORT WAYNE TO 15 MILES NORTH OF DEFIANCE OHIO.

REMAIN INDOORS WHILE THUNDERSTORMS MOVE THROUGH YOUR AREA AND STAY AWAY
FROM WINDOWS.

KOPSKY
Special weather statement, Jun 8, 10:47 AM CDT, 1 hour 5 minutes before
IAZALL-081635-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY.STRONG GUSTY WINDS...AND SMALL HAIL MAY BE
EXPECTED WITH THE PASSAGE OF THESE STORMS.

OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO LOCATED IN NORTH CENTRAL IOWA BETWEEN SAC
CITY AND ALGONA...AND NEAR OGDEN AND JEWELL...ABOUT 40 MILES NORTH OF
DES MOINES.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE G ACROSS NORTHEAST
INDIANA AND EXTREME NORTHWEST OHIO TO THE NORTH OF A LINE EXTENDING
FROM 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF NORTH MANCHESTER OR 30 MILES NORTHWEST OF
MARION INDIANA TO 15 MILES NORTH OF FORT WAYNE TO 20 MILES NORTH OF
DEFIANCE OHIO.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH AND CONTAINED BRIEF HEAVY
RAIN...SMALL HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

BY 1140 AM EST/ 1240 PM EDT THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NORTH OF A LINE
EXTENDING FROM JUST WEST OF WABASH OR 40 MILES SOUTHWEST OF FORT WAYNE
TO FORT WAYNE TO 15 MILES NORTH OF DEFIANCE OHIO.

REMAIN INDOORS WHILE THUNDERSTORMS MOVE THROUGH YOUR AREA AND STAY AWAY
FROM WINDOWS.

KOPSKY
Special weather statement, Jun 8, 11:10 AM CDT, 42 minutes before
IAZ006-007-008-009-010-011-016-017-018-019-026-027-028-029-038-
039-040-081700-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA
1110 AM CDT TUE JUN 8 1993

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 5 PM ...

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHEAST AND NORTH CENTRAL
IOWA THROUGH 5 PM. AT 1110 AM WEATHER RADAR INDICATED RAPIDLY
INTENSIFYING STORMS LOCATED ON A LINE FROM WATERLOO TO MASON CITY.
THESE STORMS WERE PRODUCING SMALL HAIL...BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS...AND
STRONG WINDS. THESE STORMS ARE MOVING NORTH AT 35 TO 40 MILES AN
HOUR AND WILL AFFECT THE WAVERLY...CHARLES CITY...OSAGE...NEW HAMPTON
AND DECORAH AREAS BETWEEN 1115 AM AND NOON. THUNDERSTORMS ARE RAPIDLY
DEVELOPING ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL IOWA AND WILL BE A THREAT ACROSS THE
ENTIRE AREA THROUGH EARLY EVENING.

THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER IN NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST IOWA
IS VERY HIGH TODAY. STAY TUNED TO YOUR LOCAL RADIO...LOCAL TELEVISION
AND NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR ADDITIONAL UPDATES AND WARNINGS.

DP
Special weather statement, Jun 8, 11:17 AM CDT, 35 minutes before
IAZ006-007-008-009-010-011-016-017-018-019-026-027-028-029-038-
039-040-081700-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA
1110 AM CDT TUE JUN 8 1993

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 5 PM ...

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHEAST AND NORTH CENTRAL
IOWA THROUGH 5 PM. AT 1110 AM WEATHER RADAR INDICATED RAPIDLY
INTENSIFYING STORMS LOCATED ON A LINE FROM WATERLOO TO MASON CITY.
THESE STORMS WERE PRODUCING SMALL HAIL...BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS...AND
STRONG WINDS. THESE STORMS ARE MOVING NORTH AT 35 TO 40 MILES AN
HOUR AND WILL AFFECT THE WAVERLY...CHARLES CITY...OSAGE...NEW HAMPTON
AND DECORAH AREAS BETWEEN 1115 AM AND NOON. THUNDERSTORMS ARE RAPIDLY
DEVELOPING ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL IOWA AND WILL BE A THREAT ACROSS THE
ENTIRE AREA THROUGH EARLY EVENING.

THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER IN NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST IOWA
IS VERY HIGH TODAY. STAY TUNED TO YOUR LOCAL RADIO...LOCAL TELEVISION
AND NOAA zWEATHER RADIO FOR ADDITIONAL UPDATES AND WARNINGS.

DP
Special weather statement, Jun 8, 11:45 AM CDT, 7 minutes before
IAZALL-081735-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1145 AM CDT TUE JUN 8 1993

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL AND EASTERN IOWA UNTIL 5 PM...
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR NORTH CENTRAL AND EASTERN IOWA
   THIS AFTERNOON...

AT 1135 AM CDT...AN INTENSE THUNDERSTORM WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WAS LOCATED
IN NORTHEAST IOWA ABOUT 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DECORAH...AND IN NORTH
CENTRAL IOWA ABOUT 10 MILES NORTHEAST OF ALGONA.  VERY HEAVY RAIN...STRONG
GUSTY WINDS...AND SMALL HAIL MAY BE EXPECTED WITH THE PASSAGE OF THESE
STORMS.

SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSHOWERS WERE ALSO LOCATED IN CENTRAL AND
NORTH CENTRAL IOWA.  THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE NORTHWEST OF A
LINE FROM PELLA TO LACROSSE...AND NORTHEAST OF A LINE FROM PELLA TO
ESTERVILLE.
THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

SCOTT
Special weather statement, Jun 8, 11:51 AM CDT, 1 minute before
IAZALL-081735-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1145 AM CDT TUE JUN 8 1993

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL AND EASTERN IOWA UNTIL 5 PM...
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR NORTH CENTRAL AND EASTERN IOWA
   THIS AFTERNOON...

AT 1135 AM CDT...AN INTENSE THUNDERSTORM WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WAS LOCATED
IN NORTHEAST IOWA ABOUT 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DECORAH...AND IN NORTH
CENTRAL IOWA ABOUT 10 MILES NORTHEAST OF ALGONA.  VERY HEAVY RAIN...STRONG
GUSTY WINDS...AND SMALL HAIL MAY BE EXPECTED WITH THE PASSAGE OF THESE
STORMS.

SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSHOWERS WERE ALSO LOCATED IN CENTRAL AND
NORTH CENTRAL IOWA.  THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE NORTHWEST OF A
LINE FROM PELLA TO LACROSSE...AND NORTHEAST OF A LINE FROM PELLA TO
ESTERVILLE.
THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

SCOTT

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 7, 7:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXAppanoose27 min
Jun 7, 7:14 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXDickinson26 min
Jun 7, 7:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXWapello43 min
Jun 7, 8:09 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXAppanoose, Monroe, Wayne3 hr
Jun 7, 8:09 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXWapello3 hr
Jun 7, 8:37 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXKeokuk2 hr
Jun 7, 8:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXAppanoose, Davis25 min
Jun 7, 9:02 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXDavis118 min
Jun 7, 9:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXJohnson, Washington42 min
Jun 7, 10:53 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXAppanoose, Davis97 min
Jun 8, 11:31 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXWinneshiek29 min
Jun 8, 12:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXAllamakee44 min
Jun 8, 1:11 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXWorth49 min
Jun 8, 1:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXMitchell42 min
Jun 8, 1:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXHoward, Winneshiek26 min
Jun 8, 1:48 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXWright27 min
Jun 8, 6:01 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXWashington29 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.