Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 123, NWS Des Moines, IA

July 27, 2008Jasper County, Polk County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this tornado warning at Jul 27, 2008, 4:43 PM CDT for Jasper County, Polk County, Iowa. It was in force for 32 min. 8 reports 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: Jul 27, 2008, 4:43 PM CDT (21:43 UTC)
Expired: Jul 27, 2008, 5:15 PM CDT
In force: 32 min
Issued by: NWS Des Moines, IA
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Jasper County, IA, Polk County, IA

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 35 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:46 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
Jul 27, 4:45 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	1 E Altoona, IA	14 INCH TREE DOWN.
Jul 27, 4:45 PM CDT	TORNADO	6 Ne Ankeny, IA	NUMEROUS TREES DOWN. HOUSE DAMAGE WITH PART OF HOUSE IN THE TREES. SEVERAL SIGNS BLOWN DOWN.
Jul 27, 4:48 PM CDT	TSTM WND GST 0	4 N Bondurant, IA	TREES DOWN WITH ESTIMATED 60 MPH WINDS.
Jul 27, 4:55 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	Elkhart, IA	8-12 INCH DIAMETER TREES DOWN WEST OF ELKHART ON NE 126TH AVE.
Jul 27, 4:56 PM CDT	TORNADO	Valeria, IA	FUNNEL VISIBLE NEARLY TO THE GROUND. CIRCULATION.
Jul 27, 5:00 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	Altoona, IA	TREES DOWN.
Jul 27, 5:00 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	Ssw Prairie City, IA	SEVERAL TREE LIMBS DOWN. 1 FOOT DIAMETER TREE LIMB DOWN ON SOUTH STREET BETWEEN SOUTH MONROE AND SOUTH MAIN STREET.
Jul 27, 5:15 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	1 Ne Bondurant, IA	3 FOOT DIAMETER TREE FELL ON A HOUSE.

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

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 2 storm reports to this tornado warning; the first came 2 minutes after it went out.

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
Jul 27, 2:29 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Davenport, (KDVN), launched 12:00Z, 9.7 hours before the alert went out and 236 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: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL: 1405 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 42 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -26 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 155 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 
WFUS53 KDMX 272143
TORDMX
IAC099-153-272215-
/O.NEW.KDMX.TO.W.0123.080727T2143Z-080727T2215Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
443 PM CDT SUN JUL 27 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHWESTERN JASPER COUNTY IN CENTRAL IOWA...
  EASTERN POLK COUNTY IN CENTRAL IOWA...

* UNTIL 515 PM CDT.

* AT 442 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO NEAR
  ELKHART...OR 14 MILES NORTHEAST OF DES MOINES...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT
  43 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  BONDURANT...ALTOONA AND VALERIA BY 450 PM CDT...
  MITCHELLVILLE BY 455 PM CDT...
  COLFAX BY 500 PM CDT...
  PRAIRIE CITY AND RUNNELLS BY 505 PM CDT...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 80 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 141 AND 161.

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 35 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 93 AND 99.

THIS IS A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. SEEK SHELTER IN A BASEMENT...OR IN AN
INTERIOR ROOM. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE OR IN A
CAR...SEEK SHELTER IN A REINFORCED BUILDING.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT
SUNDAY EVENING FOR IOWA.

LAT...LON 4151 9328 4151 9330 4151 9331 4151 9333
      4149 9333 4149 9337 4180 9363 4186 9351
      4166 9309
TIME...MOT...LOC 2143Z 321DEG 38KT 4174 9348

$$

LEE

1 follow-up statement

000 
WWUS53 KDMX 272155
SVSDMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
454 PM CDT SUN JUL 27 2008

IAC099-153-272215-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0123.000000T0000Z-080727T2215Z/
JASPER IA-POLK IA-
454 PM CDT SUN JUL 27 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM CDT FOR EASTERN
POLK AND SOUTHWESTERN JASPER COUNTIES...

AT 451 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR VALERIA...OR 18
MILES NORTHEAST OF DES MOINES...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 41 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  COLFAX BY 500 PM CDT...
  PRAIRIE CITY BY 505 PM CDT...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 80 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 141 AND 161.

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 35 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 93 AND 100.

AT 434 PM...TRAINED SPOTTERS REPORTED A BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHDOWN NEAR 
ELKHART. 

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW IF YOU WAIT
TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT
SUNDAY EVENING FOR IOWA.

LAT...LON 4151 9328 4151 9330 4151 9331 4151 9333
      4149 9333 4149 9337 4180 9363 4186 9351
      4166 9309
TIME...MOT...LOC 2154Z 296DEG 36KT 4171 9330

$$

LEE

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.

NWS Des Moines, IA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Jul 27, 3:28 PM CDT, 1 hour 15 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 27, 3:28 PM CDT, 1 hour 15 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
328 PM CDT SUN JUL 27 2008

.DISCUSSION...
WILL KEEP DISCUSSION BRIEF TODAY WITH ONGOING ACTIVE WEATHER. STRONG
TO SEVERE STORMS CURRENTLY FIRING ALONG CONVECTIVE OUTFLOW IN
NORTHERN IOWA AND WILL KEEP PROGRESSING SOUTHWARD INTO CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN IOWA THROUGH LATE AFTERNOON/EVENING. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
WATCH CONTINUES FOR MOST OF THE CWA UNTIL 10 PM. ALREADY GETTING
SIGNIFICANT STRAIGHT LINE WIND REPORTS...CAN/T RULE OUT ISOLATED TOR
THREAT INVOF BOUNDARY FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS. SOME QUESTION
ABOUT CONVECTIVE EVOLUTION BEYOND THE FIRST SHOT...AS THE GFS/ECMWF
BOTH SUGGESTING ADDITIONAL MCS POTENTIAL ESPECIALLY EASTERN HALF
LATE TONIGHT. WILL HAVE TO WATCH HEAVY RAIN THREAT CLOSELY AS
CONVECTION MOVES INTO SOUTHERN IOWA...AREAS THAT CANNOT TAKE MUCH
ADDITIONAL RAIN BEFORE FLASH FLOODING OCCURS. NO FLASH FLOOD WATCH
PLANNED AT THIS TIME WITH UNCERTAINTY ABOUT AMOUNTS/LOCATION...BUT
MAY HAVE TO ISSUE LATER ONCE EVENT SHOWS ITS HAND.

BEYOND THE OVERNIGHT...SIGNIFICANT HEAVY RAIN/SVR WEATHER AGAIN
EXPECTED MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY AS DOLLY MOISTURE REMNANTS BEGIN
TO IMPACT THE REGION. ACTIVE WEATHER LIKELY TO CONTINUE LATE
WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY WITH NEXT SHORT WAVE TOPPING THE RIDGE
FOLLOWED BY UPPER RIDGING AND MAINLY DRY AND HOT WEATHER FROM FRIDAY
THROUGH SUNDAY.

&&

.AVIATION...27/18Z
CURRENT CONVECTIVE COMPLEX OVER NRN IA WILL CONTINUE MOVING ESE
EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. THE FORECAST BEYOND THE NEXT FEW HOURS IS
STILL UNCERTAIN AS FAR AS EXACTLY WHERE ADDITIONAL STORMS WILL
DEVELOP. THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP DURING PEAK HEATING ALONG AND
SOUTH OF HWY 30...AND/OR REDEVELOP ACROSS NRN IA OVERNIGHT...OR
BOTH. THIS UNCERTAINTY IN TIMING...AS WELL AS LOCATION...HAS LEAD TO
NO MENTION OF THUNDER BEYOND DEALING WITH STORMS THAT ARE ONGOING.
HAVE INCLUDED CB WORDING AFTER 00Z WITH FURTHER DETAILS ADDED ONCE
TIMING AND LOCATION BECOMES MORE CLEAR RATHER THAN ADDING THUNDER
FOR PROLONGED PERIODS WITH LOW CONFIDENCE.

&&

.DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN
EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM FOR ENTIRE CWA EXCEPT NORTHERN 2 TIERS OF
COUNTIES.

&&

AVIATION...MOYER
PUBLIC...KINNEY

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 27, 4:25 PM CDT, 18 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
425 PM CDT SUN JUL 27 2008

IAZ023>028-033>039-044>050-057>062-070>075-081>086-092>097-281100-
POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-BUTLER-BREMER-SAC-CALHOUN-
WEBSTER-HAMILTON-HARDIN-GRUNDY-BLACK HAWK-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-
BOONE-STORY-MARSHALL-TAMA-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK-JASPER-
POWESHIEK-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-WARREN-MARION-MAHASKA-ADAMS-UNION-
CLARKE-LUCAS-MONROE-WAPELLO-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD-DECATUR-WAYNE-
APPANOOSE-DAVIS-
425 PM CDT SUN JUL 27 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN IOWA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

SCATTERED TO WIDESPREAD THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THIS EVENING
AND OVERNIGHT. THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE
WINDS TO 90 MPH...AND QUARTER SIZE HAIL. AN ISOLATED TORNADO IS
NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION THROUGH EARLY EVENING. LOCALLY HEAVY
RAINFALL COULD LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING...ESPECIALLY OVER SOUTHERN
IOWA...WHERE HEAVY RAIN FELL RECENTLY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

THERE ARE VARIABLE CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS THROUGHOUT MANY OF
THE NEXT 7 DAYS. AT THIS TIME THE GREATER CHANCES FOR
THUNDERSTORMS LOOK TO BE LATE MONDAY NIGHT...AND AGAIN TUESDAY.
CURRENTLY THE AREA IS IN A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER AGAIN
MONDAY NIGHT....WITH THE CHANCES FOR SEVERE WEATHER UNCERTAIN AT
THIS TIME FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT.

IAZ004>007-015>017-281100-
EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO-
425 PM CDT SUN JUL 27 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN IOWA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE WITH AN ISOLATED SEVERE STORM
NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION. THE MAIN THREAT WOULD BE STRAIGHT LINE
WINDS TO 60 MPH AND QUARTER SIZE HAIL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

THERE ARE VARIABLE CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS THROUGHOUT MANY OF
THE NEXT 7 DAYS. AT THIS TIME THE GREATER CHANCES FOR
THUNDERSTORMS LOOK TO BE LATE MONDAY NIGHT...AND AGAIN TUESDAY.
CURRENTLY THE AREA IS IN A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER AGAIN
MONDAY NIGHT....WITH THE CHANCES FOR SEVERE WEATHER UNCERTAIN AT
THIS TIME FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED ON AN ISOLATED BASIS TONIGHT.

ALBRECHT/KINNEY

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 27, 4:23 PM CDT, 20 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
423 PM CDT SUN JUL 27 2008

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

0423 PM     TSTM WND GST     SHELDAHL                41.86N 93.70W
07/27/2008  E65 MPH          STORY              IA   AMATEUR RADIO

&&

BMOYER

Local storm report, Jul 27, 4:24 PM CDT, 19 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
424 PM CDT SUN JUL 27 2008

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

0424 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 N LUTHER              42.00N 93.82W
07/27/2008  E60 MPH          BOONE              IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

MS JUL 08

Local storm report, Jul 27, 4:28 PM CDT, 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
428 PM CDT SUN JUL 27 2008

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

0426 PM     HAIL             5 SE REASNOR            41.54N 92.94W
07/27/2008  E1.00 INCH       JASPER             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

MS JUL 08

Local storm report, Jul 27, 4:39 PM CDT, 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
439 PM CDT SUN JUL 27 2008

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

0434 PM     TORNADO          1 N ELKHART             41.81N 93.51W
07/27/2008                   POLK               IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            BRIEF TOUCHDOWN HAS NOW LIFTED. VERY HEAVY RAIN

&&

MS JUL 08

Local storm report, Jul 27, 4:40 PM CDT, 3 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
440 PM CDT SUN JUL 27 2008

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

0437 PM     TSTM WND GST     JOHNSTON                41.69N 93.70W
07/27/2008  E60 MPH          POLK               IA   NWS EMPLOYEE

&&

RUSSELL

Local storm report, Jul 27, 4:43 PM CDT, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
443 PM CDT SUN JUL 27 2008

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

0430 PM     TSTM WND GST     HUXLEY                  41.90N 93.60W
07/27/2008  E70 MPH          STORY              IA   STORM CHASER

            CONSIDERABLE TREE DAMAGE.

&&

MS JUL 08

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 27, 12:18 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Palo Alto	42 min
Jul 27, 1:59 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Cerro Gordo, Franklin	46 min
Jul 27, 2:12 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Butler	48 min
Jul 27, 2:49 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Calhoun, Humboldt, Pocahontas, Webster	41 min
Jul 27, 3:28 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Boone, Greene, Hamilton, Story, Webster	47 min
Jul 27, 3:46 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Grundy, Hardin, Marshall, Tama	44 min
Jul 27, 4:07 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Boone, Dallas, Polk, Story	38 min
Jul 27, 4:11 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Boone, Polk, Story	34 min
Jul 27, 4:30 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Boone, Dallas, Jasper, Marion, Polk, Story and 1 more	45 min
Jul 27, 4:31 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Clarke, Madison, Union, Warren	44 min
Jul 27, 4:50 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Jasper, Mahaska, Marion, Polk, Poweshiek	40 min
Jul 27, 4:57 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Clarke, Lucas, Warren	48 min
Jul 27, 5:09 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Jasper, Mahaska, Marion, Poweshiek	36 min
Jul 27, 5:13 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Clarke, Jasper, Lucas, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe and 2 more	47 min
Jul 27, 5:14 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Boone, Dallas, Greene, Webster	46 min
Jul 27, 5:17 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Jasper	13 min
Jul 27, 5:28 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Jasper, Mahaska, Marion, Poweshiek	47 min
Jul 27, 5:52 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Appanoose, Davis, Lucas, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe and 1 more	38 min
Jul 27, 5:54 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Appanoose, Davis, Monroe, Wapello	36 min
Jul 27, 5:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Appanoose, Decatur, Lucas, Wayne	50 min
Jul 27, 5:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Boone, Dallas, Polk, Story	47 min
Jul 27, 6:27 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Appanoose, Davis, Monroe, Wapello	48 min
Jul 27, 6:30 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Davis	15 min
Jul 27, 6:38 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Wayne	23 min
Jul 27, 6:43 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	DMX	Wayne	3 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Iowa, 2008 Every tornado warning in 2008 Tornadoes in 2008

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.