Alert archive / Iowa / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2004

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 341, NWS Des Moines, IA

August 3, 2004Butler County, Grundy County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 3, 2004, 4:38 PM CDT for Butler County, Grundy County, Iowa. It was in force for 52 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: Aug 3, 2004, 4:38 PM CDT (21:38 UTC)
Expired: Aug 3, 2004, 5:30 PM CDT
In force: 52 min
Issued by: NWS Des Moines, IA
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

Counties Butler County, IA, Grundy County, IA

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 108 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:38 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Aug 3, 5:37 PM CDT	TSTM WND GST 70	Dike, IA

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Aug 3, 11:05 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	6 hr
Aug 3, 2:25 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	5 hr
Aug 3, 4:25 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Davenport, (KDVN), launched 12:00Z, 9.6 hours before the alert went out and 216 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: 760 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -200 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1021 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -1 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 16 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: -0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS53 KDMX 032138
SVRDMX
IAC023-075-032230-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
436 PM CDT TUE AUG 3 2004

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  GRUNDY COUNTY IN CENTRAL IOWA
  SOUTHERN BUTLER COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL IOWA

* UNTIL 530 PM CDT

* AT 433 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM DUMONT TO 21 MILES WEST OF
  WHITTEN...OR FROM 33 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MASON CITY TO 42 MILES
  SOUTHEAST OF FORT DODGE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE...

  NEAR APLINGTON AROUND 440 PM CDT...
  NEAR WELLSBURG AROUND 445 PM CDT...
  NEAR PARKERSBURG AROUND 455 PM CDT...
  NEAR HOLLAND AROUND 500 PM CDT...
  NEAR GRUNDY CENTER AROUND 505 PM CDT AND
  NEAR NEW HARTFORD AROUND 510 PM CDT.

AT 424 PM CDT...A WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTED 65 MPH WINDS NEAR IOWA FALLS.

HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS IS LIKELY IN THE WARNED AREA.

DAMAGING WINDS OF 60 TO 70 MILES AN HOUR ARE LIKELY IN THE WARNED
AREA.

MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF YOU LIVE IN A
MOBILE HOME...SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING.

LAT...LON 4278 9300 4271 9256 4231 9256 4229 9265
      4229 9278 4226 9279 4221 9296 4226 9301
      4246 9300 4247 9303 4272 9303

$$

GRAMS

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.

NWS Des Moines, IA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Aug 2, 9:40 PM CDT, 18 hours 58 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 2, 9:40 PM CDT, 18 hours 58 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
940 PM CDT MON AUG 2 2004

.DISCUSSION
SENT UPDATED ZONES SEVERAL MINUTES AGO.  ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE TO
TEMP AND CLOUD TRENDS.  STORMS OVER SDKTA APPEAR ELEVATED ATTM AND
LOOK TO BE WEAKING BUT THESE WILL DROP INTO IA AFT 08Z PER
EXTRAPOLATION AND FOLLOWING THE CORFIDI VECTORS.  LOOKING AT MAINLY
A WIND EVENT BY THE TIME IT ROLLS INTO OUR CWA THOUGH A REPORT OR
TWO OF HAIL IS ALSO EXPECTED.  NO OTHER CHANGES TO THE FCST WERE
MADE.

.DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE

&&

FAB

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 3, 10:35 AM CDT, 6 hours 3 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1035 AM CDT TUE AUG 3 2004

IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>050-058>062-072>075-084>086-
096-097-041100-
APPANOOSE-BLACK HAWK-BOONE-BREMER-BUTLER-CALHOUN-CARROLL-CERRO GORDO-
CRAWFORD-DALLAS-DAVIS-EMMET-FRANKLIN-GREENE-GRUNDY-GUTHRIE-HAMILTON-
HANCOCK-HARDIN-HUMBOLDT-JASPER-KOSSUTH-LUCAS-MADISON-MAHASKA-MARION-
MARSHALL-MONROE-PALO ALTO-POCAHONTAS-POLK-POWESHIEK-SAC-STORY-TAMA-
WAPELLO-WARREN-WEBSTER-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-WRIGHT-
1035 AM CDT TUE AUG 3 2004

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MUCH OF NORTH CENTRAL
AND CENTRAL IOWA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT
A COMPLEX OF THUNDERSTORMS NEAR SIOUX FALLS IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE
SOUTHEASTWARD INTO IOWA THIS AFTERNOON. THE STORMS SHOULD APPROACH
ESTHERVILLE TO POCAHONTAS BY 2 PM...FORT DODGE AND MASON CITY BY 4
PM...AND THE REST OF CENTRAL IOWA BETWEEN 4 PM AND 6 PM.
AS THE ATMOSPHERE WARMS THIS AFTERNOON...THE THUNDERSTORM COMPLEX
COULD TURN INTO A SIGNIFICANT PRODUCER OF WIND DAMAGE. LARGE HAIL
AND TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. ANOTHER ROUND OF STORMS
IS FORECAST OVERNIGHT...WITH HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND STRONG WINDS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE LIKELY LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

IAZ057-070-071-081>083-092>095-041100-
ADAIR-ADAMS-AUDUBON-CASS-CLARKE-DECATUR-RINGGOLD-TAYLOR-UNION-WAYNE-
1035 AM CDT TUE AUG 3 2004

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PART OF SOUTHWEST IOWA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT
MOST STORMS SHOULD STAY NORTH OF AUDUBON...CRESTON AND CORYDON FOR
THIS AFTERNOON...BUT AN ISOLATED SEVERE STORM COULD OCCUR AFTER 5
PM. STORMS OVERNIGHT COULD PRODUCE ONE TO TWO INCH HAIL AND WINDS
OVER 65 MPH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT.

JUNGBLUTH

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 3, 3:41 PM CDT, 57 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
341 PM CDT TUE AUG 03 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0330 PM     HAIL             ROCKWELL CITY           42.40N 94.63W
08/03/2004  0.75 INCH        CALHOUN            IA   BROADCAST MEDIA

0330 PM     TSTM WND GST     ROCKWELL CITY           42.40N 94.63W
08/03/2004  60 MPH           CALHOUN            IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

&&

FAB

Local storm report, Aug 3, 4:05 PM CDT, 33 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
405 PM CDT TUE AUG 03 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0403 PM     HAIL             CHURDAN                 42.15N 94.48W
08/03/2004  0.75 INCH        GREENE             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

GRAMS

Local storm report, Aug 3, 4:14 PM CDT, 24 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
414 PM CDT TUE AUG 03 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0410 PM     HAIL             CHURDAN                 42.15N 94.48W
08/03/2004  1.00 INCH        GREENE             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

ST

Local storm report, Aug 3, 4:22 PM CDT, 16 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
422 PM CDT TUE AUG 03 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0415 PM     HAIL             DANA                    42.11N 94.24W
08/03/2004  0.88 INCH        GREENE             IA   BROADCAST MEDIA

            WOI

&&

ST

Local storm report, Aug 3, 4:28 PM CDT, 10 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
428 PM CDT TUE AUG 03 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0424 PM     TSTM WND GST     IOWA FALLS              42.52N 93.27W
08/03/2004  65 MPH           HARDIN             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

ST

Local storm report, Aug 3, 4:32 PM CDT, 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
432 PM CDT TUE AUG 03 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0430 PM     TSTM WND GST     PILOT MOUND             42.16N 94.02W
08/03/2004  60 MPH           BOONE              IA   EMERGENCY MNGR

&&

ST

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Aug 3, 1:51 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Greene	54 min
Aug 3, 2:11 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Calhoun	34 min
Aug 3, 2:42 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Greene	58 min
Aug 3, 3:03 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Boone	57 min
Aug 3, 3:55 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Polk	60 min
Aug 3, 4:29 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Marion, Warren	61 min
Aug 3, 4:31 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Jasper	59 min
Aug 3, 4:43 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Boone	57 min
Aug 3, 5:11 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Polk	49 min
Aug 3, 5:29 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Marion	61 min
Aug 3, 5:35 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Monroe	55 min
Aug 3, 6:58 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Davis, Wapello	47 min
Aug 3, 1:12 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Emmet	63 min
Aug 3, 1:53 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Kossuth	52 min
Aug 3, 2:34 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Winnebago	56 min
Aug 3, 2:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Kossuth	31 min
Aug 3, 3:02 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Worth	58 min
Aug 3, 3:05 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Calhoun, Sac	55 min
Aug 3, 3:34 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Webster	56 min
Aug 3, 3:48 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Greene	42 min
Aug 3, 3:56 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Calhoun	34 min
Aug 3, 4:17 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Boone, Hamilton	43 min
Aug 3, 4:19 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Franklin	41 min
Aug 3, 4:27 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Hardin	48 min
Aug 3, 4:42 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Story	33 min
Aug 3, 4:52 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Marshall	53 min
Aug 3, 4:57 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Boone	33 min
Aug 3, 5:02 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Marshall	43 min
Aug 3, 5:16 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Hardin	29 min
Aug 3, 5:23 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Tama	52 min
Aug 3, 5:27 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Polk, Story	48 min
Aug 3, 5:28 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Carroll	47 min
Aug 3, 5:32 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Black Hawk, Grundy	58 min
Aug 3, 5:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Jasper	31 min
Aug 3, 6:38 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Guthrie	52 min
Aug 3, 6:53 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Audubon	37 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Iowa, 2004 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2004

Sources

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