Alert archive / Iowa / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 172, NWS Des Moines, IA

June 18, 1998Marion County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 18, 1998, 10:41 AM CDT for Marion County, Iowa. It was in force for 34 min. 3 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Jun 18, 1998, 10:41 AM CDT (15:41 UTC)
Expired
Jun 18, 1998, 11:15 AM CDT
In force
34 min
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Whole counties

County Marion County, IA

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 68 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:44 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jun 18, 10:52 AM CDTThunderstorm Wind 50Melcher, IA
Jun 18, 10:55 AM CDTThunderstorm Wind 50Melcher, IA
Jun 18, 11:03 AM CDTHail 0.75Knoxville, IA

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in.

The nearest sounding before it

Davenport, (KDVN), launched 12:00Z, 3.7 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, Davenport, at 12:00Z on 1998-06-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2000 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, Davenport, at 12:00Z on 1998-06-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 112 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
2000 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-220 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1205 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
25 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
112 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
81 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 181541 RRA
SVRDSM
IAC125-181615-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1041 AM CDT THU JUN 18 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  MARION COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA

* UNTIL 1115 AM CDT

* AT 1040 AM CDT... DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 37
  MILES SOUTHEAST OF DES MOINES OR 7 MILES WEST SOUTHWEST OF HARVEY
  MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

* THIS STORM CAN BE EXPECTED NEAR...
   RED ROCK RESERVOIR NOW
   KNOXVILLE          NOW
   PELLA              BY 1050 AM CDT

DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL ARE LIKELY. GO INSIDE A STURDY
BUILDING AND STAY AWAY FROM >WINDOWS!

JJ/BS

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, Jun 18, 5:10 AM CDT, 5 hours 31 minutes before
IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>050-057>062-070>075-081>086-
092>097-182100-

CENTRAL IOWA THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
510 AM CDT THU JUN 18 1998

HAZARD--SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAINFALL OF 2 TO 3
INCHES IN A FEW LOCATIONS...LARGE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH.

TIMING AND AREA OF CONCERN--THIS MORNING ALONG AND EAST OF A LINE
FROM FOREST CITY...TO WEBSTER CITY...TO DES MOINES...TO CRESTON.
THIS AFTERNOON OVER ALL OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN IOWA.

METEOROLOGICAL COMMENTS--EARLY THIS MORNING...A LINE OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM NORTH-CENTRAL IOWA THROUGH CENTRAL IOWA
INTO SOUTHEAST IOWA WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AROUND 35 MPH.  THIS LINE
WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DOWNBURST WINDS TO 70 MPH...HAIL TO ONE
INCH IN DIAMETER AND VERY HEAVY RAIN IN LOCALIZED AREAS.  ADDITIONAL
THUNDERSTORM REDEVELOPMENT IS LIKELY THIS AFTERNOON AS A COLD FRONT
OVER CENTRAL NEBRASKA MOVES INTO IOWA.  ABUNDANT LOW LEVEL MOISTURE
WILL STILL BE IN PLACE FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT.  ADDITIONALLY...
RIVERS CONTINUE TO RUN HIGH OVER THE STATE AND THE GROUND IS NEARLY
SATURATED.  SO ALTHOUGH THE STORMS SHOULD MOVE QUICKLY TO THE EAST
THIS MORNING AND AFTERNOON...LOCALIZED HEAVY RAINS COULD CAUSE STREET
FLOODING...SMALL STREAMS AND DITCHES WILL QUICKLY RISE SINCE COPIOUS
QUANTITIES OF WATER HAVE RECENTLY FALLEN OVER IOWA.  A FLASH FLOOD
WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN IOWA TODAY.

PRECAUTIONS--SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED LATER THIS MORNING
AND AFTERNOON TO REPORT WIND SPEEDS...HAIL SIZE...AND RAINFALL
AMOUNTS.  A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS RAPIDLY RISING WATER OR FLOODING
IS POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA.  IF YOU ARE IN THE WATCH
AREA...CHECK PREPAREDNESS REQUIREMENTS...KEEP INFORMED...AND BE READY
FOR QUICK ACTION IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED OR IF A WARNING IS
ISSUED.

SEARCY
Special weather statement, Jun 18, 5:21 AM CDT, 5 hours 20 minutes before
IAZ044-181125-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
521 AM CDT THU JUN 18 1998

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 602 HAS BEEN CANCELLED...

SEVERE WEATHER WAS NO LONGER EXPECTED OVER WESTERN IOWA THROUGH 600
AM.  THEREFORE THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH THAT WAS IN EFFECT
UNTIL 600 AM HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

HOWEVER...ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY REDEVELOP LATER
TODAY AHEAD OF AN EASTWARD MOVING COLD FRONT THAT IS OVER CENTRAL
AND EASTERN NEBRASKA EARLY THIS MORNING.

ADDITIONALLY...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR OF CENTRAL
AND EASTERN IOWA...INCLUDING CRAWFORD COUNTY.

KEEP AN EYE TO THE SKY TODAY AS THE WEATHER COULD BECOME ACTIVE
ONCE AGAIN.

SEARCY
Special weather statement, Jun 18, 5:34 AM CDT, 5 hours 7 minutes before
IAZ016-017-025-026-036-037-048-181234-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
534 AM CDT THU JUN 18 1998

DOPPLER RADAR IS INDICATING AN AREA OF STRONG WINDS FROM NORTH OF
AMES TOWARDS MASON CITY ASSOCIATED WITH A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS.
WIND GUSTS COULD REACH JUST BELOW SEVERE LIMITS...WITH GUSTS TO 50
MPH POSSIBLE. THE STRONG WINDS WILL PUSH TOWARDS A CHARLES CITY TO
WATERLOO LINE OVER THE NEXT HOUR.

MYERS
Special weather statement, Jun 18, 9:31 AM CDT, 1 hour 10 minutes before
IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>050-057>062-070>075-081>086-
092>097-182200-

CENTRAL IOWA THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
931 AM CDT THU JUN 18 1998

HAZARD--SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL 1 INCH OR LARGER...
HEAVY RAINS AND DAMAGING WINDS.  AN ISOLATED TORNADO IS ALSO
POSSIBLE.

AREA OF CONCERN AND TIMING DETAILS--

THROUGH NOON--ALONG AND EAST OF A FORT DODGE-ATLANTIC LINE.
NOON TO 800 PM--MAINLY SOUTHEAST OF A FORT DODGE--CRESTON LINE.

METEOROLOGICAL COMMENTS--A COLD FRONT WILL BE THE FOCUS OF
THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE DAY.  AT 900 AM...THE
FRONT WAS LOCATED FROM NEAR SIOUX CITY TO JUST SOUTH OF OMAHA
INTO SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS.  A WARM FRONT LOCATED NEAR I-80 WILL
ALSO MOVE NORTH TODAY PROVIDING ANOTHER FOCUS FOR CONVERGENCE.
WARM...UNSTABLE AND VERY MOIST AIR SOUTH OF THIS FRONT AND IS
EXPECTED TO PROVIDE PLENTY OF BUOYANCY FOR STRONG UPDRAFTS FOR
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY.  A 100 KNOT SOUTHWESTERLY JET STREAM
WILL BE PUSHING NORTHEAST FROM THE TEXAS PANHANDLE TODAY
INTERSECTING 40 KNOT SOUTHERLY FLOW IN THE LOWEST 5000 FEET.  THIS
WILL CREATE FAVORABLE SHEAR FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF ROTATING
UPDRAFTS AND SEVERE STORMS.  ISOLATED SUPERCELLS ARE POSSIBLE...BUT
AT THIS TIME A SQUALL LINE IS EXPECTED TO FORM EVENTUALLY ALONG THE
COLD FRONT THIS AFTERNOON...SPREADING EASTWARD TOWARD EVENING.

PRECAUTIONS--EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SHOULD PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO
SHORT TERM FORECASTS AND FURTHER STATEMENTS TODAY.  SEVERE WEATHER
WATCHES MAY BE ISSUED LATER THIS MORNING OR EARLY AFTERNOON. SPOTTER
ACTIVATION WILL BE REQUIRED IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS. REPORT RAINFALL
AMOUNTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IF AVAILABLE.  A FLASH FLOOD
WATCH IS IN EFFECT TODAY.

KULA
Special weather statement, Jun 18, 9:31 AM CDT, 1 hour 10 minutes before
IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>050-057>062-070>075-081>086-
092>097-182200-

CENTRAL IOWA THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
931 AM CDT THU JUN 18 1998

HAZARD--SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL 1 INCH OR LARGER...
HEAVY RAINS AND DAMAGING WINDS.  AN ISOLATED TORNADO IS ALSO
POSSIBLE.

AREA OF CONCERN AND TIMING DETAILS--

THROUGH NOON--ALONG AND EAST OF A FORT DODGE-ATLANTIC LINE.
NOON TO 800 PM--MAINLY SOUTHEAST OF A FORT DODGE--CRESTON LINE.

METEOROLOGICAL COMMENTS--A COLD FRONT WILL BE THE FOCUS OF
THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE DAY.  AT 900 AM...THE
FRONT WAS LOCATED FROM NEAR SIOUX CITY TO JUST SOUTH OF OMAHA
INTO SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS.  A WARM FRONT LOCATED NEAR I-80 WILL
ALSO MOVE NORTH TODAY PROVIDING ANOTHER FOCUS FOR CONVERGENCE.
WARM...UNSTABLE AND VERY MOIST AIR SOUTH OF THIS FRONT AND IS
EXPECTED TO PROVIDE PLENTY OF BUOYANCY FOR STRONG UPDRAFTS FOR
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY.  A 100 KNOT SOUTHWESTERLY JET STREAM
WILL BE PUSHING NORTHEAST FROM THE TEXAS PANHANDLE TODAY
INTERSECTING 40 KNOT SOUTHERLY FLOW IN THE LOWEST 5000 FEET.  THIS
WILL CREATE FAVORABLE SHEAR FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF ROTATING
UPDRAFTS AND SEVERE STORMS.  ISOLATED SUPERCELLS ARE POSSIBLE...BUT
AT THIS TIME A SQUALL LINE IS EXPECTED TO FORM EVENTUALLY ALONG THE
COLD FRONT THIS AFTERNOON...SPREADING EASTWARD TOWARD EVENING.

PRECAUTIONS--EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SHOULD PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO
SHORT TERM FORECASTS AND FURTHER STATEMENTS TODAY.  SEVERE WEATHER
WATCHES MAY BE ISSUED LATER THIS MORNING OR EARLY AFTERNOON. SPOTTER
ACTIVATION WILL BE REQUIRED IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS. REPORT RAINFALL
AMOUNTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IF AVAILABLE.  A FLASH FLOOD
WATCH IS IN EFFECT TODAY.

KULA
Local storm report, Jun 18, 9:57 AM CDT, 44 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
957 AM CDT THU JUN 18 1998

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0800 AM    CORYDON                   IA   WIND DAMAGE
06/18/98   WAYNE                          UTILITY POLES AND TREES
                                          DOWN, STRONG WINDS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 18, 3:35 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXEmmet30 min
Jun 18, 9:12 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXAdair, Cass, Guthrie33 min
Jun 18, 10:05 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXWebster35 min
Jun 18, 10:45 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXBoone, Webster35 min
Jun 18, 10:54 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXPolk31 min
Jun 18, 11:06 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXJasper34 min
Jun 18, 11:12 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXWarren33 min
Jun 18, 11:15 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXMarshall, Story35 min
Jun 18, 11:21 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXMarion34 min
Jun 18, 11:22 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXPolk33 min
Jun 18, 11:36 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXJasper34 min
Jun 18, 11:40 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXBoone35 min
Jun 18, 11:43 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXHardin32 min
Jun 18, 11:50 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXMarshall, Story30 min
Jun 18, 12:01 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXHamilton, Webster34 min
Jun 18, 12:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXWinnebago, Worth30 min
Jun 18, 1:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXDallas, Polk35 min
Jun 18, 1:33 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXUnion32 min
Jun 18, 1:56 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXWarren34 min
Jun 18, 1:59 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXDallas3 hr
Jun 18, 2:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXPolk31 min
Jun 18, 2:16 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXPolk3 hr
Jun 18, 2:16 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXPolk34 min
Jun 18, 2:19 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXStory3 hr
Jun 18, 2:35 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXMadison3 hr
Jun 18, 3:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXMahaska, Marion32 min
Jun 18, 3:12 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXPoweshiek28 min
Jun 18, 3:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXBlack Hawk, Tama34 min
Jun 18, 3:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXDavis, Wapello31 min
Jun 18, 5:04 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXPolk, Story2 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Iowa, 1998Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1998

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.