Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 31, NWS Des Moines, IA

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

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this tornado warning at Apr 9, 2011, 11:55 PM CDT for Kossuth County, Palo Alto County, Iowa. It was in force for 35 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
Apr 9, 2011, 11:55 PM CDT (04:55 UTC)
Expired
Apr 10, 2011, 12:30 AM CDT
In force
35 min
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Kossuth County, IA, Palo Alto County, IA

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 170 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:54 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 10, 12:10 AM CDTHAIL 11 Ese Lone Rock, IA
Apr 10, 12:10 AM CDTHAIL 21 Ese Lone Rock, IA
Apr 10, 12:21 AM CDTHAIL 1Bancroft, IA

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
Apr 9, 11:01 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 00:00Z, 4.9 hours before the alert went out and 194 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 00:00Z on 2011-04-10Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 2011-04-10The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 355 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
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.

394 
WFUS53 KDMX 100455
TORDMX
IAC109-147-100530-
/O.NEW.KDMX.TO.W.0031.110410T0455Z-110410T0530Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1155 PM CDT SAT APR 9 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  CENTRAL KOSSUTH COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL IOWA...
  EAST CENTRAL PALO ALTO COUNTY IN NORTHWEST IOWA...

* UNTIL 1230 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 EAST OF EMMETSBURG...OR 14 MILES WEST OF
  ALGONA...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  BANCROFT...FENTON...ALGONA AIRPORT...LONE ROCK AND BURT.

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 4335 9427 4312 9406 4301 9453 4312 9462
TIME...MOT...LOC 0455Z 239DEG 34KT 4309 9445

$$

BEERENDS
5 follow-up statements
892 
WWUS53 KDMX 100500
SVSDMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1200 AM CDT SUN APR 10 2011

IAC109-147-100530-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0031.000000T0000Z-110410T0530Z/
PALO ALTO IA-KOSSUTH IA-
1200 AM CDT SUN APR 10 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL KOSSUTH AND EAST
CENTRAL PALO ALTO COUNTIES UNTIL 1230 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 10 MILES WEST OF ALGONA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40
MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  BANCROFT...FENTON...ALGONA AIRPORT...LONE ROCK AND BURT.

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 4317 9454 4335 9427 4312 9406 4302 9448
TIME...MOT...LOC 0500Z 240DEG 35KT 4312 9440

$$

BEERENDS
786 
WWUS53 KDMX 100507
SVSDMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1207 AM CDT SUN APR 10 2011

IAC147-100517-
/O.CAN.KDMX.TO.W.0031.000000T0000Z-110410T0530Z/
PALO ALTO IA-
1207 AM CDT SUN APR 10 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL PALO ALTO COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE WARNED 
AREA. A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF 
NORTHEASTERN PALO ALTO COUNTY.

LAT...LON 4314 9408 4303 9442 4304 9443 4322 9445
      4333 9426
TIME...MOT...LOC 0507Z 237DEG 32KT 4316 9434

$$

IAC109-100530-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0031.000000T0000Z-110410T0530Z/
KOSSUTH IA-
1207 AM CDT SUN APR 10 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL KOSSUTH COUNTY
UNTIL 1230 AM CDT...

AT 1203 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF ALGONA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
35 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  LONE ROCK AND BURT.

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 4314 9408 4303 9442 4304 9443 4322 9445
      4333 9426
TIME...MOT...LOC 0507Z 237DEG 32KT 4316 9434

$$

BEERENDS
926 
WWUS53 KDMX 100510
SVSDMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1210 AM CDT SUN APR 10 2011

IAC109-100530-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0031.000000T0000Z-110410T0530Z/
KOSSUTH IA-
1210 AM CDT SUN APR 10 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL KOSSUTH COUNTY
UNTIL 1230 AM CDT...

AT 1207 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF ALGONA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
35 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  LONE ROCK AND BURT.

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.

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

&&

LAT...LON 4314 9408 4303 9442 4304 9443 4322 9445
      4333 9426
TIME...MOT...LOC 0510Z 237DEG 32KT 4317 9431

$$

BEERENDS
905 
WWUS53 KDMX 100516
SVSDMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1216 AM CDT SUN APR 10 2011

IAC109-100530-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0031.000000T0000Z-110410T0530Z/
KOSSUTH IA-
1216 AM CDT SUN APR 10 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL KOSSUTH COUNTY
UNTIL 1230 AM CDT...

AT 1211 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED 8 MILES NORTH OF ALGONA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50
MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF CENTRAL KOSSUTH 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 SIZED HAIL AND WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTIVE WINDS.

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

&&

LAT...LON 4316 9410 4310 9427 4314 9436 4326 9439
      4333 9426
TIME...MOT...LOC 0516Z 239DEG 43KT 4321 9420

$$

BEERENDS
651 
WWUS53 KDMX 100526
SVSDMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1226 AM CDT SUN APR 10 2011

IAC109-100535-
/O.EXP.KDMX.TO.W.0031.000000T0000Z-110410T0530Z/
KOSSUTH IA-
1226 AM CDT SUN APR 10 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL KOSSUTH COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 1230
AM CDT...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED. HOWEVER SMALL 
HAIL IS STILL POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. 

IN ADDITION...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MAY REDEVELOP...AND A TORNADO 
WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM.

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR 
NORTHEASTERN KOSSUTH COUNTY UNTIL 115 AM.

LAT...LON 4316 9410 4310 9427 4314 9436 4326 9439
      4333 9426
TIME...MOT...LOC 0525Z 239DEG 43KT 4324 9405

$$

BEERENDS

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, 9:55 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXPalo Alto, Pocahontas35 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, 11:58 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.