Alert archive / Iowa / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1996

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 3, NWS Des Moines, IA

March 24, 1996Adair County, Madison County, Union County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 24, 1996, 4:48 PM CST for Adair County, Madison County, Union County, Iowa. It was in force for 32 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Mar 24, 1996, 4:48 PM CST (22:48 UTC)
Expired
Mar 24, 1996, 5:20 PM CST
In force
32 min
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Whole counties

Counties Adair County, IA, Madison County, IA, Union County, IA

The nearest sounding before it

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 12:00Z, 10.8 hours before the alert went out and 178 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 1996-03-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 6 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 1996-03-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 172 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
6 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-377 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
844 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
48 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
172 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
171 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS1 KDSM 242246 RRA
SVRDSM
IAC001-121-175-242320-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
448 PM CST SUN MAR 24 1996

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR
  EASTERN ADAIR COUNTY - SOUTHWEST IOWA
  MADISON COUNTY - SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA
  NORTHERN UNION COUNTY - SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA

* UNTIL 520 PM CST
 
* SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED
    GREENFIELD
    WINTERSET
    MACKSBURG

* AT 442 PM CST RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 10 MILES NORTH
  OF CRESTON TO NEAR THAY OR 40 MILES SOUTHWEST OF  DES MOINES
  MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

* THE STORM WILL BE THROUGH GREENFIELD AND MACKSBURG BY 455 PM AND
  THROUGH WINTERSENT BY 500 PM.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM.  DO NOT GO OUTDOORS.




JOHNSON

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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, Mar 24, 1:01 PM CST, 3 hours 47 minutes before
IAZALL-242110-

IOWA SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
103 PM CST SUN MAR 24 1996

HAZARD...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...SOME PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND HIGH
WINDS.

AREA OF CONCERN...GENERALLY THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE STATE.

TIMING DETAILS...BETWEEN 1 AND 3 PM...THE RISK OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS WILL EXTEND ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST PART OF IOWA SOUTH OF
I80 AND WEST OF I35. BETWEEN 3 AND 6 PM...THE RISK WILL PUSH MORE
INTO SOUTH CENTRAL AND CENTRAL IOWA.

METEOROLOGICAL COMMENTS...A STRONG SOUTHERLY JET CONTINUES TO PUSH
HIGHER MOISTURE WELL INTO IOWA.  DEW POINTS IN THE MID 50S NOW
EXTEND ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF THE STATE. RADAR SHOWS A SLOW
INCREASE IN THUNDERSTORM INTENSITY IN THIS AREA
WITH THE IMMEDIATE AREA OF CONCERN THE OMAHA VICINITY MOVING RAPIDLY
NORTHEAST. SATELLITE SHOWS SOME BREAKS IN THE OVERCAST WHICH WAS
INCREASING THE INSTABILITY. WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT
EXPECTED...MORE ISOLATEDD SEVERE IS ANTICIPATED.

PRECAUTIONS...CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION AND LISTEN
FOR POSSIBLE WATCHES.

FELDT
Special weather statement, Mar 24, 1:03 PM CST, 3 hours 45 minutes before
IAZALL-242110-

IOWA SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
103 PM CST SUN MAR 24 1996

HAZARD...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...SOME PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND HIGH
WINDS.

AREA OF CONCERN...GENERALLY THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE STATE.

TIMING DETAILS...BETWEEN 1 AND 3 PM...THE RISK OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS WILL EXTEND ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST PART OF IOWA SOUTH OF
I80 AND WEST OF I35. BETWEEN 3 AND 6 PM...THE RISK WILL PUSH MORE
INTO SOUTH CENTRAL AND CENTRAL IOWA.

METEOROLOGICAL COMMENTS...A STRONG SOUTHERLY JET CONTINUES TO PUSH
HIGHER MOISTURE WELL INTO IOWA.  DEW POINTS IN THE MID 50S NOW
EXTEND ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF THE STATE. RADAR SHOWS A SLOW
INCREASE IN THUNDERSTORM INTENSITY IN THIS AREA
WITH THE IMMEDIATE AREA OF CONCERN THE OMAHA VICINITY MOVING RAPIDLY
NORTHEAST. SATELLITE SHOWS SOME BREAKS IN THE OVERCAST WHICH WAS
INCREASING THE INSTABILITY. WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT
EXPECTED...MORE ISOLATED SEVERE IS ANTICIPATED.

PRECAUTIONS...CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION AND LISTEN
FOR POSSIBLE WATCHES.

FELDT
Special weather statement, Mar 24, 2:09 PM CST, 2 hours 39 minutes before
IAZALL-242215-

CENTRAL IOWA THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
210 PM CST SUN MAR 24 1996

HAZARD...ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL AND GUSTY
WINDS.

AREA OF CONCERN...BETWEEN 2 AND 4 PM...THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF THE
STATE...AFTER 4 PM THROUGH EARLY EVENING....THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE
STATE ESPECIALLY SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA.

TIMING DETAILS...THE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER WEST CENTRAL IOWA
WILL CONTINUE STRONG THROUGH 4 PM WITH ISOLATED HAIL. STRONG STORMS
DEVELOPING OVER MISSOURI WILL SPREAD INTO SOUTHERN IOWA AFTER 4 PM.

METEOROLOGICAL COMMENTS...CLUSTER OF STRONG STORMS OVER WEST CENTRAL
IOWA ASSOCIATED WITH CONVERGENCE NEAR INTERSECTION OF LOW AND WARM
FRONT. ISOLATED HAIL POSSIBLE WITH THESE CELLS. GREATER CONCERN
WILL BE CONVECTION IN KANSAS AND MISSOURI.  THESE STORMS WILL
RAPIDLY MOVE NORTHEAST TOWARDS IOWA BY LATE AFTERNOON INTO AREA OF
GREATEST MOISTURE AND HIGHEST TEMPERATURE. ALSO...SOME SIGN OF A
WEAK BOUNDRY OVER SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA. EXPECT ONLY ISOLATED SEVERE
IN FAR WEST IOWA...WITH GREATER CHANCE LATER TODAY IN SOUTH
CENTRAL PORTIONS. ALTHOUGH THE GREATEST INSTABILITY WILL BE SOUTH OF
IOWA...IF THE STORMS CONTINUE STRONG* SOUTH OF THE STATE...A WATCH IS
POSSIBLE AFTER 4 PM.

PRECAUTIONS...CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION AND LISTEN FOR
POSSIBLE WATCHES. .

FELDT
Special weather statement, Mar 24, 2:10 PM CST, 2 hours 38 minutes before
IAZALL-242215-

CENTRAL IOWA THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
210 PM CST SUN MAR 24 1996

HAZARD...ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL AND GUSTY
WINDS.

AREA OF CONCERN...BETWEEN 2 AND 4 PM...THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF THE
STATE...AFTER 4 PM THROUGH EARLY EVENING....THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE
STATE ESPECIALLY SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA.

TIMING DETAILS...THE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER WEST CENTRAL IOWA
WILL CONTINUE STRONG THROUGH 4 PM WITH ISOLATED HAIL. STRONG STORMS
DEVELOPING OVER MISSOURI WILL SPREAD INTO SOUTHERN IOWA AFTER 4 PM.

METEOROLOGICAL COMMENTS...CLUSTER OF STRONG STORMS OVER WEST CENTRAL
IOWA ASSOCIATED WITH CONVERGENCE NEAR INTERSECTION OF LOW AND WARM
FRONT. ISOLATED HAIL POSSIBLE WITH THESE CELLS. GREATER CONCERN
WILL BE CONVECTION IN KANSAS AND MISSOURI.  THESE STORMS WILL
RAPIDLY MOVE NORTHEAST TOWARDS IOWA BY LATE AFTERNOON INTO AREA OF
GREATEST MOISTURE AND HIGHEST TEMPERATURE. ALSO...SOME SIGN OF A
WEAK BOUNDRY OVER SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA. EXPECT ONLY ISOLATED SEVERE
IN FAR WEST IOWA...WITH GREATER CHANCE LATER TODAY IN SOUTH
CENTRAL PORTIONS. ALTHOUGH THE GREATEST INSTABILITY WILL BE SOUTH OF
IOWA...IF THE STORMS CONTINUE STRONG SOUTH OF THE STATE...A WATCH IS
POSSIBLE AFTER 4 PM.

PRECAUTIONS...CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION AND LISTEN FOR
POSSIBLE WATCHES. .

FELDT
Special weather statement, Mar 24, 3:40 PM CST, 1 hour 8 minutes before
IAZALL-242315-

CENTRAL IOWA THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
340 PM CST SUN MAR 24 1996

HAZARD...ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL AND GUSTY
WINDS.

AREA OF CONCERN...BETWEEN 4 AND 7 PM...SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST
IOWA...SOUTH OF DES MOINES TO OTTUMWA.

TIMING DETAILS...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...OVER WESTERN MISSOURI...MAY
MOVE INTO SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA IN THE VICINITY OF LAMONI BETWEEN 4 AND 6
PM.  OTHERWISE...ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP IN THE AREA OF
CONCERN.

METEOROLOGICAL COMMENTS...AIRMASS OVER SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA IS
MODERATELY UNSTABLE WITH LIFTED INDICES AROUND -5 AT 3 PM.
THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTH CENTRAL IOWA SHOULD REMAIN BELOW SEVERE
LIMITS PRODUCING BRIEF HEAVY RAIN AND POSSIBLY SMALL HAIL.

PRECAUTIONS...INTERESTS IN SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA SHOULD MONITOR THE
SITUATION.

JOHNSON
Special weather statement, Mar 24, 3:42 PM CST, 1 hour 6 minutes before
IAZALL-242315-

CENTRAL IOWA THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
340 PM CST SUN MAR 24 1996

HAZARD...ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL AND GUSTY
WINDS.

AREA OF CONCERN...BETWEEN 4 AND 7 PM...SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST
IOWA...SOUTH OF DES MOINES TO OTTUMWA.

TIMING DETAILS...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...OVER WESTERN MISSOURI...MAY
MOVE INTO SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA IN THE VICINITY OF LAMONI BETWEEN 4 AND 6
PM.  OTHERWISE...ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP IN THE AREA OF
CONCERN.

METEOROLOGICAL COMMENTS...AIRMASS OVER SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA IS
MODERATELY UNSTABLE WITH LIFTED INDICES AROUND -5 AT 3 PM.
THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTH CENTRAL IOWA SHOULD REMAIN BELOWv SEVERE
LIMITS PRODUCING BRIEF HEAVY RAIN AND POSSIBLY SMALL HAIL.

PRECAUTIONS...INTERESTS IN SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA SHOULD MONITOR THE
SITUATION.

JOHNSON

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 24, 4:07 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXAdams, Ringgold, Union33 min
Mar 24, 4:20 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXClarke, Decatur35 min
Mar 24, 5:28 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXLucas, Marion27 min
Mar 24, 5:28 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXWayne27 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Iowa, 1996Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1996

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.