Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 11, NWS Des Moines, IA

March 22, 2011Adair County, Madison County, Union County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this tornado warning at Mar 22, 2011, 6:57 PM CDT for Adair County, Madison County, Union County, Iowa. It was in force for 33 min. 3 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
Mar 22, 2011, 6:57 PM CDT (23:57 UTC)
Expired
Mar 22, 2011, 7:30 PM CDT
In force
33 min
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Storm-based polygon

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

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 58 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:56 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
Mar 22, 7:14 PM CDTTORNADO5 W Winterset, IABRIEF TOUCHDOWN.
Mar 22, 7:17 PM CDTHAIL 16 S Earlham, IA
Mar 22, 7:26 PM CDTHAIL 1.753 N Winterset, IAQUARTER TO GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL.

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
Mar 22, 2:03 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 12:00Z, 12.0 hours before the alert went out and 187 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 2011-03-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 486 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 2011-03-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 477 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
486 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-475 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
777 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
50 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
477 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
501 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.

806 
WFUS53 KDMX 222357
TORDMX
IAC001-121-175-230030-
/O.NEW.KDMX.TO.W.0011.110322T2357Z-110323T0030Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
657 PM CDT TUE MAR 22 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN ADAIR COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST IOWA...
  MADISON COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA...
  NORTH CENTRAL UNION COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA...

* UNTIL 730 PM CDT

* AT 656 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS
  STORM WAS LOCATED 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GREENFIELD...OR 12 MILES
  NORTH OF CRESTON...AND MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  WINTERSET...MACKSBURG...EAST PERU AND PATTERSON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IMMEDIATELY SEEK SHELTER IN A BASEMENT...
OR IN AN INTERIOR ROOM OF A REINFORCED BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.

IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE...IN A MOBILE HOME...OR IN A VEHICLE...SEEK
SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...FIND THE
LOWEST SPOT AVAILABLE AND COVER YOUR HEAD.

&&

LAT...LON 4129 9448 4151 9399 4150 9398 4123 9380
      4122 9380 4112 9441
TIME...MOT...LOC 2357Z 251DEG 44KT 4123 9432

$$

DONAVON
3 follow-up statements
535 
WWUS53 KDMX 230010
SVSDMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
710 PM CDT TUE MAR 22 2011

IAC001-121-175-230030-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-110323T0030Z/
UNION IA-ADAIR IA-MADISON IA-
710 PM CDT TUE MAR 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MADISON...SOUTHEASTERN
ADAIR AND NORTH CENTRAL UNION COUNTIES UNTIL 730 PM CDT...

AT 710 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES WEST OF WINTERSET...OR 21 MILES NORTHEAST
OF CRESTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  WINTERSET...EAST PERU AND PATTERSON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IMMEDIATELY SEEK SHELTER IN A BASEMENT...
OR IN AN INTERIOR ROOM OF A REINFORCED BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.

IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE...IN A MOBILE HOME...OR IN A VEHICLE...SEEK
SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...FIND THE
LOWEST SPOT AVAILABLE AND COVER YOUR HEAD.

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS ALSO EXPECTED TO PRODUCE 
GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AND WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTIVE WINDS.

&&

LAT...LON 4133 9438 4151 9400 4150 9398 4123 9380
      4122 9380 4112 9441
TIME...MOT...LOC 0011Z 246DEG 52KT 4132 9411

$$

DONAVON
035 
WWUS53 KDMX 230017
SVSDMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
717 PM CDT TUE MAR 22 2011

IAC001-121-175-230030-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-110323T0030Z/
UNION IA-ADAIR IA-MADISON IA-
717 PM CDT TUE MAR 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MADISON...SOUTHEASTERN
ADAIR AND NORTH CENTRAL UNION COUNTIES UNTIL 730 PM CDT...

AT 714 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADOJUST 
SOUTHWEST OF WINTERSET.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR
WINTERSET...OR 23 MILES NORTHEAST OF CRESTON...MOVING EAST
AT 55 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  EAST PERU.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IMMEDIATELY SEEK SHELTER IN A BASEMENT...
OR IN AN INTERIOR ROOM OF A REINFORCED BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.

IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE...IN A MOBILE HOME...OR IN A VEHICLE...SEEK
SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...FIND THE
LOWEST SPOT AVAILABLE AND COVER YOUR HEAD.

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS ALSO EXPECTED TO PRODUCE 
GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AND WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTIVE WINDS.

&&

LAT...LON 4139 9425 4151 9401 4150 9399 4123 9380
      4122 9380 4112 9441
TIME...MOT...LOC 0017Z 249DEG 47KT 4133 9403

$$

DONAVON
319 
WWUS53 KDMX 230026
SVSDMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
726 PM CDT TUE MAR 22 2011

IAC001-175-230036-
/O.CAN.KDMX.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-110323T0030Z/
UNION IA-ADAIR IA-
726 PM CDT TUE MAR 22 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN ADAIR AND NORTH CENTRAL UNION
COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

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

LAT...LON 4118 9425 4145 9409 4148 9400 4147 9396
      4122 9380 4116 9415 4116 9424 4116 9425
TIME...MOT...LOC 0026Z 254DEG 28KT 4134 9396

$$

IAC121-230030-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-110323T0030Z/
MADISON IA-
726 PM CDT TUE MAR 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MADISON COUNTY UNTIL 730
PM CDT...

AT 723 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR WINTERSET...OR 22 MILES WEST OF INDIANOLA...
MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF CENTRAL MADISON COUNTY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IMMEDIATELY SEEK SHELTER IN A BASEMENT...
OR IN AN INTERIOR ROOM OF A REINFORCED BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.

IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE...IN A MOBILE HOME...OR IN A VEHICLE...SEEK
SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...FIND THE
LOWEST SPOT AVAILABLE AND COVER YOUR HEAD.

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS ALSO EXPECTED TO PRODUCE 
GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AND WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTIVE WINDS.

&&

LAT...LON 4118 9425 4145 9409 4148 9400 4147 9396
      4122 9380 4116 9415 4116 9424 4116 9425
TIME...MOT...LOC 0026Z 254DEG 28KT 4134 9396

$$

DONAVON

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 22, 6:30 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDMXBlack Hawk, Bremer, Butler4 days
Mar 22, 10:52 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDMXPalo Alto16 days
Mar 22, 10:52 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDMXHumboldt25 days
Mar 22, 4:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXHancock, Humboldt, Kossuth, Wright13 min
Mar 22, 4:55 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXCarroll, Crawford35 min
Mar 22, 5:02 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXAdair, Adams, Cass43 min
Mar 22, 5:07 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXAudubon, Cass, Guthrie23 min
Mar 22, 5:18 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXAudubon, Cass, Guthrie27 min
Mar 22, 5:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXAudubon, Carroll, Greene33 min
Mar 22, 5:29 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXCrawford35 min
Mar 22, 5:43 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXAudubon, Cass, Greene, Guthrie15 min
Mar 22, 5:44 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXAdair, Madison46 min
Mar 22, 5:47 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXAdams, Ringgold, Taylor, Union43 min
Mar 22, 6:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXDallas, Madison, Polk44 min
Mar 22, 6:26 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXDallas, Madison, Polk, Warren49 min
Mar 22, 6:27 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXAdair, Clarke, Madison, Union, Warren39 min
Mar 22, 6:32 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXCerro Gordo, Hancock, Worth, Wright28 min
Mar 22, 6:45 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXClarke, Decatur, Ringgold30 min
Mar 22, 6:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXAdair, Dallas, Madison25 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Iowa, 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.