Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 30, NWS Des Moines, IA

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

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this tornado warning at Apr 9, 2011, 11:36 PM CDT for Emmet County, Palo Alto County, Iowa. It was in force for 39 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: Apr 9, 2011, 11:36 PM CDT (04:36 UTC)
Expired: Apr 10, 2011, 12:15 AM CDT
In force: 39 min
Issued by: NWS Des Moines, IA
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Emmet County, IA, Palo Alto County, IA

The radar

The Sioux Falls radar (KFSD), 174 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:36 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.

The watch it was issued in

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

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Apr 9, 5:48 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr
Apr 9, 11:01 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 00:00Z, 4.6 hours before the alert went out and 205 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: 612 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 54 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 355 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 550 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 5.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

057 
WFUS53 KDMX 100436
TORDMX
IAC063-147-100515-
/O.NEW.KDMX.TO.W.0030.110410T0436Z-110410T0515Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1136 PM CDT SAT APR 9 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHERN EMMET COUNTY IN NORTHWEST IOWA...
  PALO ALTO COUNTY IN NORTHWEST IOWA...

* UNTIL 1215 AM CDT

* AT 1133 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS
  STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR WEBB...OR 13 MILES SOUTH OF SPENCER...AND
  MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  EMMETSBURG...AYRSHIRE...RUTHVEN...CURLEW...GRAETTINGER...CYLINDER
  AND RINGSTED.

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.

THIS TORNADO WARNING REPLACES THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING THAT
WAS IN EFFECT FOR THE SAME AREA. IMMEDIATELY SEEK SHELTER IN A
BASEMENT...OR IN AN INTERIOR ROOM OF A REINFORCED BUILDING. STAY AWAY
FROM WINDOWS.

TORNADOES ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT...ACT QUICKLY. TAKE COVER
NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 4333 9444 4307 9444 4291 9490 4291 9492
      4326 9492 4339 9454
TIME...MOT...LOC 0436Z 235DEG 48KT 4299 9505

$$

BEERENDS

4 follow-up statements

885 
WWUS53 KDMX 100450
SVSDMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1150 PM CDT SAT APR 9 2011

IAC063-147-100515-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0030.000000T0000Z-110410T0515Z/
PALO ALTO IA-EMMET IA-
1150 PM CDT SAT APR 9 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN EMMET AND PALO
ALTO COUNTIES UNTIL 1215 AM CDT...

AT 1146 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED 8 MILES NORTHEAST OF WEBB...OR 13 MILES SOUTHEAST
OF SPENCER...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  EMMETSBURG...GRAETTINGER...CYLINDER AND RINGSTED.

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.

TORNADOES ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT...ACT QUICKLY. TAKE COVER
NOW.

&&

LAT...LON 4333 9444 4307 9444 4294 9489 4294 9491
      4326 9492 4339 9454
TIME...MOT...LOC 0450Z 235DEG 48KT 4307 9486

$$

BEERENDS

667 
WWUS53 KDMX 100452
SVSDMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1152 PM CDT SAT APR 9 2011

IAC063-147-100515-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0030.000000T0000Z-110410T0515Z/
PALO ALTO IA-EMMET IA-
1152 PM CDT SAT APR 9 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEASTERN EMMET AND
PALO ALTO COUNTIES UNTIL 1215 AM CDT...

AT 1150 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED 9 MILES WEST OF EMMETSBURG...OR 16 MILES EAST OF
SPENCER...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  EMMETSBURG...GRAETTINGER...CYLINDER AND RINGSTED.

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.

TORNADOES ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT...ACT QUICKLY. TAKE COVER
NOW.

&&

LAT...LON 4333 9444 4307 9444 4294 9489 4294 9491
      4319 9492 4335 9455
TIME...MOT...LOC 0453Z 235DEG 48KT 4309 9481

$$

BEERENDS

501 
WWUS53 KDMX 100501
SVSDMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1201 AM CDT SUN APR 10 2011

IAC063-147-100515-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0030.000000T0000Z-110410T0515Z/
PALO ALTO IA-EMMET IA-
1201 AM CDT SUN APR 10 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEASTERN EMMET AND
NORTHERN PALO ALTO COUNTIES UNTIL 1215 AM CDT...

AT 1159 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR EMMETSBURG...OR 20 MILES SOUTH OF
ESTHERVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CYLINDER AND RINGSTED.

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.

TORNADOES ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT...ACT QUICKLY. TAKE COVER
NOW.

&&

LAT...LON 4330 9444 4307 9444 4301 9474 4304 9483
      4316 9488 4331 9460 4333 9444
TIME...MOT...LOC 0501Z 235DEG 48KT 4313 9470

$$

BEERENDS

174 
WWUS53 KDMX 100514
SVSDMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1214 AM CDT SUN APR 10 2011

IAC063-147-100525-
/O.EXP.KDMX.TO.W.0030.000000T0000Z-110410T0515Z/
PALO ALTO IA-EMMET IA-
1214 AM CDT SUN APR 10 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN EMMET AND NORTHERN PALO ALTO
COUNTIES HAS EXPIRED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED BELOW SEVERE
LIMITS...AND NO LONGER POSES AN IMMEDIATE THREAT TO LIFE OR PROPERTY.

ADDITIONAL STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE STILL POSSIBLE...AND A TORNADO 
WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM.

LAT...LON 4330 9444 4307 9444 4301 9474 4304 9483
      4316 9488 4331 9460 4333 9444
TIME...MOT...LOC 0515Z 235DEG 48KT 4321 9447

$$

BEERENDS

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 9, 7:09 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Crawford	51 min
Apr 9, 7:58 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Sac	47 min
Apr 9, 8:23 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Sac	22 min
Apr 9, 8:41 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Sac	34 min
Apr 9, 8:57 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Kossuth, Palo Alto	33 min
Apr 9, 9:11 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Calhoun, Pocahontas, Sac	49 min
Apr 9, 9:19 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Sac	26 min
Apr 9, 9:48 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Hancock, Kossuth, Winnebago	42 min
Apr 9, 9:55 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Palo Alto, Pocahontas	35 min
Apr 9, 10:12 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Hancock, Kossuth	33 min
Apr 9, 10:18 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Winnebago, Worth	42 min
Apr 9, 10:22 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Pocahontas	38 min
Apr 9, 10:28 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Humboldt, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Pocahontas	47 min
Apr 9, 10:54 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Humboldt, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Pocahontas	51 min
Apr 9, 10:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Cerro Gordo, Worth	25 min
Apr 9, 11:11 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Kossuth, Palo Alto	12 min
Apr 9, 11:24 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Emmet, Kossuth, Palo Alto	36 min
Apr 9, 11:29 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Hancock, Kossuth, Winnebago	33 min
Apr 9, 11:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Kossuth, Winnebago	49 min
Apr 9, 11:55 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Kossuth, Palo Alto	35 min
Apr 9, 11:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Winnebago, Worth	32 min
Apr 10, 12:24 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Hancock, Kossuth, Winnebago, Worth	31 min
Apr 10, 12:53 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Worth	22 min
Apr 10, 1:07 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Sac	38 min
Apr 10, 1:38 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Calhoun, Humboldt, Pocahontas, Webster	52 min
Apr 10, 3:54 AM CDT	Wind Advisory	DMX	Adair, Adams, Appanoose, Audubon, Black Hawk, Boone and 33 more	15 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Iowa, 2011 Every tornado warning in 2011 Tornadoes 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.