Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 22, NWS Des Moines, IA

April 9, 2011Palo Alto County, Pocahontas County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this tornado warning at Apr 9, 2011, 9:55 PM CDT for Palo Alto County, Pocahontas County, Iowa. It was in force for 35 min. 5 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
Apr 9, 2011, 9:55 PM CDT (02:55 UTC)
Expired
Apr 9, 2011, 10:30 PM CDT
In force
35 min
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Palo Alto County, IA, Pocahontas County, IA

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 144 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:55 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
Apr 9, 9:55 PM CDTTORNADOVarina, IALOCATION APPROXIMATE. NEAR VARINA TOWARD THE POCAHONTAS/BUENA VISTA COUNTY LINE.
Apr 9, 10:03 PM CDTHAIL 12 Ese Laurens, IA
Apr 9, 10:09 PM CDTHAIL 1.51 Nw Pocahontas, IA
Apr 9, 10:17 PM CDTTORNADO1 W Pocahontas, IALARGE WEDGE TORNADO IN PROGRESS.
Apr 9, 10:35 PM CDTHAIL 2.75Laurens, IAPUBLIC REPORTED BASEBALL SIZE HAIL AND URBAN FLOODING

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
Apr 9, 5:48 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 00:00Z, 2.9 hours before the alert went out and 224 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 00:00Z on 2011-04-10Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 3327 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Omaha, NE at 00:00Z on 2011-04-10The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 270 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
3327 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-24 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1533 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
56 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
270 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
403 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
3.7
Supercell composite
19.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

386 
WFUS53 KDMX 100255
TORDMX
IAC147-151-100330-
/O.NEW.KDMX.TO.W.0022.110410T0255Z-110410T0330Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
955 PM CDT SAT APR 9 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN PALO ALTO COUNTY IN NORTHWEST IOWA...
  POCAHONTAS COUNTY IN NORTHWEST IOWA...

* UNTIL 1030 PM CDT

* AT 951 PM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO 7 MILES
  SOUTHEAST OF ALBERT CITY...OR 18 MILES EAST OF STORM LAKE. DOPPLER
  RADAR SHOWED THIS TORNADO MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  LAURENS...POCAHONTAS...HAVELOCK...MALLARD...PLOVER...ROLFE...WEST
  BEND AND RODMAN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. 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 4306 9445 4280 9444 4275 9445 4257 9492
      4286 9492
TIME...MOT...LOC 0255Z 237DEG 22KT 4273 9482

$$
3 follow-up statements
329 
WWUS53 KDMX 100305
SVSDMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1005 PM CDT SAT APR 9 2011

IAC147-151-100330-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0022.000000T0000Z-110410T0330Z/
POCAHONTAS IA-PALO ALTO IA-
1005 PM CDT SAT APR 9 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEASTERN PALO ALTO AND
POCAHONTAS COUNTIES UNTIL 1030 PM CDT...

AT 1004 PM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO.  THIS
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR POCAHONTAS...OR 24 MILES EAST OF STORM
LAKE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF TORNADO DAMAGE...AND MULTIPLE REPORTS OF 
A CONFIRMED TORNADO. 

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  POCAHONTAS...HAVELOCK...MALLARD...PLOVER...ROLFE...WEST BEND AND
  RODMAN.

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 4306 9445 4280 9444 4275 9445 4257 9492
      4286 9492
TIME...MOT...LOC 0305Z 237DEG 22KT 4276 9475

$$
060 
WWUS53 KDMX 100315
SVSDMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1015 PM CDT SAT APR 9 2011

IAC147-151-100330-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0022.000000T0000Z-110410T0330Z/
POCAHONTAS IA-PALO ALTO IA-
1015 PM CDT SAT APR 9 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEASTERN PALO ALTO AND
NORTHERN POCAHONTAS COUNTIES UNTIL 1030 PM CDT...

AT 1012 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF POCAHONTAS...OR 27 MILES
NORTHEAST OF STORM LAKE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  HAVELOCK...PLOVER...MALLARD...ROLFE...WEST BEND AND RODMAN.

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 4306 9445 4280 9444 4275 9445 4266 9469
      4286 9491
TIME...MOT...LOC 0316Z 229DEG 21KT 4282 9470

$$
630 
WWUS53 KDMX 100320
SVSDMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1020 PM CDT SAT APR 9 2011

IAC147-151-100330-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0022.000000T0000Z-110410T0330Z/
POCAHONTAS IA-PALO ALTO IA-
1020 PM CDT SAT APR 9 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEASTERN PALO ALTO AND
NORTHEASTERN POCAHONTAS COUNTIES UNTIL 1030 PM CDT...

AT 1017 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES NORTH OF POCAHONTAS...OR 28 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF ALGONA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  MALLARD...PLOVER...ROLFE...WEST BEND AND RODMAN.

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 4306 9445 4280 9444 4275 9445 4270 9459
      4291 9478
TIME...MOT...LOC 0320Z 246DEG 27KT 4282 9464

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 9, 7:09 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXCrawford51 min
Apr 9, 7:58 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXSac47 min
Apr 9, 8:23 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXSac22 min
Apr 9, 8:41 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXSac34 min
Apr 9, 8:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXKossuth, Palo Alto33 min
Apr 9, 9:11 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXCalhoun, Pocahontas, Sac49 min
Apr 9, 9:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXSac26 min
Apr 9, 9:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXHancock, Kossuth, Winnebago42 min
Apr 9, 10:12 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXHancock, Kossuth33 min
Apr 9, 10:18 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXCerro Gordo, Hancock, Winnebago, Worth42 min
Apr 9, 10:22 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXPocahontas38 min
Apr 9, 10:28 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXHumboldt, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Pocahontas47 min
Apr 9, 10:54 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXHumboldt, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Pocahontas51 min
Apr 9, 10:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXCerro Gordo, Worth25 min
Apr 9, 11:11 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXKossuth, Palo Alto12 min
Apr 9, 11:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXEmmet, Kossuth, Palo Alto36 min
Apr 9, 11:29 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXHancock, Kossuth, Winnebago33 min
Apr 9, 11:36 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXEmmet, Palo Alto39 min
Apr 9, 11:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXKossuth, Winnebago49 min
Apr 9, 11:55 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXKossuth, Palo Alto35 min
Apr 9, 11:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXWinnebago, Worth32 min
Apr 10, 12:24 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXHancock, Kossuth, Winnebago, Worth31 min
Apr 10, 12:53 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXWorth22 min
Apr 10, 1:07 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXSac38 min
Apr 10, 1:38 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXCalhoun, Humboldt, Pocahontas, Webster52 min
Apr 10, 3:54 AM CDTWind AdvisoryDMXAdair, Adams, Appanoose, Audubon, Black Hawk, Boone and 33 more15 hr

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.