Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 12, NWS La Crosse, WI

May 22, 2011Howard County, Iowa; Fillmore County, Minnesota

NWS La Crosse, WI issued this tornado warning at May 22, 2011, 2:43 PM CDT for Howard County, Iowa; Fillmore County, Minnesota. It was in force for 62 min. 9 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
May 22, 2011, 2:43 PM CDT (19:43 UTC)
Expired
May 22, 2011, 3:45 PM CDT
In force
62 min
Issued by
NWS La Crosse, WI
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Howard County, IA, Fillmore County, MN

The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 101 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:43 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
May 22, 2:45 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG5 E Mcintire, IASEVERE DAMAGE TO A HOME
May 22, 2:59 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG3 Ssw Chester, IAPOWER LINES DOWN
May 22, 3:02 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG2 S Chester, IASIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO HOME/FARM
May 22, 3:02 PM CDTTORNADOYork, MNTORNADO ON GROUND.
May 22, 3:04 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG3 N Granger, MNBARN DAMAGED 3 MILES NORTH OF GRANGER
May 22, 3:20 PM CDTTORNADO5 W Harmony, MNCOUNTY RD 44/15. TORNADO ON GROUND
May 22, 3:21 PM CDTTORNADO6 N Granger, MNTORNADO ON GROUND.
May 22, 3:25 PM CDTHAIL 0.25Preston, MNIN ADDITION TO THE HAIL 1.21 INCHES OF RAIN FELL
May 22, 3:27 PM CDTTORNADON Harmony, MNDAMAGE TO SILOS...ROOFS. 1/2 N OF HARMONY

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

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 22, 12:07 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 7.7 hours before the alert went out and 179 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 2011-05-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 20 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, Minneapolis, MN at 12:00Z on 2011-05-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 207 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
20 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-103 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
981 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
33 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
207 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
243 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

225 
WFUS53 KARX 221943
TORARX
IAC089-MNC045-222045-
/O.NEW.KARX.TO.W.0012.110522T1943Z-110522T2045Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
243 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LA CROSSE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHWESTERN HOWARD COUNTY IN NORTHEAST IOWA...
  FILLMORE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...

* UNTIL 345 PM CDT

* AT 239 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  TORNADO 4 MILES SOUTH OF COUNTY V 10 AND 40TH STREET...OR 17 MILES
  NORTHEAST OF OSAGE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. THIS TORNADO
  WARNING UPGRADES THE PREVIOUS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR
  HOWARD AND FILLMORE COUNTIES.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  HAYDEN PRAIRIE AROUND 250 PM...
  LIME SPRINGS AND CHESTER AROUND 255 PM...
  YORK AND CHERRY GROVE AROUND 305 PM...
  GREENLEAFTON AND BRISTOL AROUND 310 PM...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER IN A BASEMENT OR IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS! CARS AND MOBILE HOMES SHOULD BE ABANDONED
FOR A STURDY BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...LAY FLAT IN A DITCH AND
COVER YOUR HEAD.

&&

LAT...LON 4350 9248 4350 9245 4352 9245 4379 9203
      4367 9182 4335 9233 4335 9253 4341 9256
      4345 9255
TIME...MOT...LOC 1943Z 233DEG 31KT 4343 9247

$$

BOYNE
6 follow-up statements
494 
WWUS53 KARX 221950
SVSARX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
250 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

IAC089-MNC045-222045-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-110522T2045Z/
HOWARD IA-FILLMORE MN-
250 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR FILLMORE AND NORTHWESTERN
HOWARD COUNTIES UNTIL 345 PM CDT...

AT 248 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
TORNADO LOCATED NEAR HAYDEN PRAIRIE...OR 16 MILES WEST OF CRESCO...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  LIME SPRINGS AND CHESTER AROUND 255 PM...
  YORK AND CHERRY GROVE AROUND 305 PM...
  GREENLEAFTON AND BRISTOL AROUND 310 PM...
  FORESTVILLE STATE PARK AND GRANGER AROUND 315 PM...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER IN A BASEMENT OR IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS! CARS AND MOBILE HOMES SHOULD BE ABANDONED
FOR A STURDY BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...LAY FLAT IN A DITCH AND
COVER YOUR HEAD.

&&

LAT...LON 4350 9248 4350 9245 4352 9245 4379 9203
      4367 9182 4335 9233 4335 9253 4341 9256
      4345 9255
TIME...MOT...LOC 1950Z 233DEG 31KT 4347 9240

$$

BOYNE
185 
WWUS53 KARX 221956
SVSARX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
256 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

IAC089-MNC045-222045-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-110522T2045Z/
HOWARD IA-FILLMORE MN-
256 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR FILLMORE AND NORTHEASTERN
HOWARD COUNTIES UNTIL 345 PM CDT...

AT 252 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
TORNADO LOCATED NEAR CHESTER...OR 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF CRESCO...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  YORK AND CHERRY GROVE AROUND 305 PM...
  GREENLEAFTON AND BRISTOL AROUND 310 PM...
  FORESTVILLE STATE PARK AND GRANGER AROUND 315 PM...  
  CARIMONA AROUND 320 PM...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER IN A BASEMENT OR IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS! CARS AND MOBILE HOMES SHOULD BE ABANDONED
FOR A STURDY BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...LAY FLAT IN A DITCH AND
COVER YOUR HEAD.

&&

LAT...LON 4348 9249 4350 9245 4379 9203 4367 9182
      4339 9227
TIME...MOT...LOC 1956Z 233DEG 31KT 4350 9235

$$

BOYNE
123 
WWUS53 KARX 222000
SVSARX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
300 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

IAC089-MNC045-222045-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-110522T2045Z/
HOWARD IA-FILLMORE MN-
300 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR FILLMORE AND NORTHWESTERN
HOWARD COUNTIES UNTIL 345 PM CDT...

AT 245 PM CDT...SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO ON THE GROUND 3 MILES 
EAST OF RICEVILLE.

AT 257 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
TORNADO LOCATED NEAR CHESTER...OR 13 MILES NORTHWEST OF CRESCO...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  YORK AND CHERRY GROVE AROUND 305 PM...
  BRISTOL AND GREENLEAFTON AROUND 310 PM...
  GRANGER AND FORESTVILLE STATE PARK AROUND 315 PM...  
  CARIMONA AROUND 320 PM...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER IN A BASEMENT OR IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS! CARS AND MOBILE HOMES SHOULD BE ABANDONED
FOR A STURDY BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...LAY FLAT IN A DITCH AND
COVER YOUR HEAD.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM SUNDAY EVENING FOR
NORTHEASTERN IOWA AND SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND WESTERN WISCONSIN.

&&

LAT...LON 4350 9248 4350 9245 4352 9245 4379 9203
      4367 9182 4335 9233 4335 9253 4341 9256
      4345 9255
TIME...MOT...LOC 1959Z 240DEG 32KT 4350 9230

$$

BOYNE
441 
WWUS53 KARX 222007
SVSARX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
307 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

IAC089-MNC045-222045-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-110522T2045Z/
HOWARD IA-FILLMORE MN-
307 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR FILLMORE AND NORTHWESTERN
HOWARD COUNTIES UNTIL 345 PM CDT...

AT 300 PM CDT...TORNADO DAMAGED A HOUSE AND FARM NEAR CHESTER IOWA.

AT 302 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
TORNADO LOCATED NEAR YORK...OR 12 MILES NORTHWEST OF CRESCO...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  GRANGER AND FORESTVILLE STATE PARK AROUND 315 PM...
  CARIMONA AROUND 320 PM...
  PRESTON AND HARMONY AROUND 325 PM...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER IN A BASEMENT OR IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS! CARS AND MOBILE HOMES SHOULD BE ABANDONED
FOR A STURDY BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...LAY FLAT IN A DITCH AND
COVER YOUR HEAD.

&&

LAT...LON 4350 9248 4350 9245 4352 9245 4379 9203
      4367 9182 4335 9233 4335 9253 4341 9256
      4345 9255
TIME...MOT...LOC 2006Z 240DEG 32KT 4353 9222

$$

BOYNE
856 
WWUS53 KARX 222010
SVSARX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
310 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

IAC089-MNC045-222045-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-110522T2045Z/
HOWARD IA-FILLMORE MN-
310 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR FILLMORE AND NORTH CENTRAL
HOWARD COUNTIES UNTIL 345 PM CDT...

AT 300 PM CDT...TORNADO DAMAGED A HOUSE AND FARM NEAR CHESTER IOWA.

AT 306 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
TORNADO LOCATED NEAR YORK...OR 12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF PRESTON...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  CARIMONA AROUND 320 PM...
  PRESTON AND HARMONY AROUND 325 PM...
  AMHERST AND OLD BARN CAMPGROUND AROUND 330 PM...
  LANESBORO AROUND 335 PM...
  HIGHLAND AND WHALAN AROUND 340 PM...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER IN A BASEMENT OR IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS! CARS AND MOBILE HOMES SHOULD BE ABANDONED
FOR A STURDY BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...LAY FLAT IN A DITCH AND
COVER YOUR HEAD.

&&

LAT...LON 4367 9182 4345 9218 4352 9245 4379 9203
TIME...MOT...LOC 2009Z 240DEG 32KT 4354 9219

$$

BOYNE
335 
WWUS53 KARX 222015
SVSARX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
315 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

IAC089-222024-
/O.CAN.KARX.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-110522T2045Z/
HOWARD IA-
315 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL HOWARD COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE WARNED 
AREA.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT SUNDAY EVENING FOR
NORTHEASTERN IOWA AND SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND WESTERN WISCONSIN.

LAT...LON 4373 9192 4367 9182 4350 9211 4350 9224
      4354 9229
TIME...MOT...LOC 2014Z 240DEG 32KT 4356 9214

$$

MNC045-222045-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-110522T2045Z/
FILLMORE MN-
315 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL FILLMORE COUNTY
UNTIL 345 PM CDT...

AT 305 PM CDT...A TORNADO WAS REPORTED BY SPOTTERS NEAR YORK 
MINNESOTA IN SOUTHERN FILLMORE COUNTY.

AT 311 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
TORNADO LOCATED NEAR BRISTOL...OR 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF PRESTON...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  HUTTON AROUND 325 PM...
  AMHERST AROUND 330 PM...
  HIGHLAND AROUND 340 PM...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER IN A BASEMENT OR IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS! CARS AND MOBILE HOMES SHOULD BE ABANDONED
FOR A STURDY BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...LAY FLAT IN A DITCH AND
COVER YOUR HEAD.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM SUNDAY EVENING FOR
NORTHEASTERN IOWA AND SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND WESTERN WISCONSIN.

&&

LAT...LON 4373 9192 4367 9182 4350 9211 4350 9224
      4354 9229
TIME...MOT...LOC 2014Z 240DEG 32KT 4356 9214

$$

BOYNE

The office that day

Everything else NWS La Crosse, WI issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 22, 2:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXFloyd, Howard, Mitchell57 min
May 22, 3:22 PM CDTTornado WarningARXFayette38 min
May 22, 4:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXAllamakee, Clayton, Fayette56 min
May 22, 1:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXDodge, Mower, Olmsted57 min
May 22, 2:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXDodge, Olmsted, Wabasha45 min
May 22, 3:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXOlmsted, Winona37 min
May 22, 3:21 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyARXFillmore24 min
May 22, 3:46 PM CDTTornado WarningARXFillmore, Houston29 min
May 22, 4:16 PM CDTTornado WarningARXHouston29 min
May 22, 4:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXHouston, Winona66 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Iowa, 2011Tornado Warnings in Minnesota, 2011Every tornado warning in 2011Tornadoes in 2011

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.