Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 44, NWS Des Moines, IA

June 21, 2011Grundy County, Hardin County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this tornado warning at Jun 21, 2011, 12:14 AM CDT for Grundy County, Hardin County, Iowa. It was in force for 31 min. 2 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
Jun 21, 2011, 12:14 AM CDT (05:14 UTC)
Expired
Jun 21, 2011, 12:45 AM CDT
In force
31 min
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Grundy County, IA, Hardin County, IA

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 84 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:15 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
Jun 21, 12:21 AM CDTFUNNEL CLOUD7 Sw Eldora, IA
Jun 21, 12:22 AM CDTTORNADO4 S Eldora, IATOUCHDOWN DIFFICULT TO SEE BUT IS VISIBLE THROUGH LIGHTNING

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
Jun 20, 10:58 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC4 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Davenport, (KDVN), launched 00:00Z, 5.2 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, Davenport, at 00:00Z on 2011-06-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2585 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, Davenport, at 00:00Z on 2011-06-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 184 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
2585 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-110 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
699 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
184 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
218 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.0
Supercell composite
12.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

987 
WFUS53 KDMX 210514
TORDMX
IAC075-083-210545-
/O.NEW.KDMX.TO.W.0044.110621T0514Z-110621T0545Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1214 AM CDT TUE JUN 21 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  WESTERN GRUNDY COUNTY IN CENTRAL IOWA...
  SOUTHEASTERN HARDIN COUNTY IN CENTRAL IOWA...

* UNTIL 1245 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 11 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ELDORA...OR 20 MILES SOUTH
  OF IOWA FALLS...AND MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  ELDORA...GRUNDY CENTER...NEW PROVIDENCE...UNION...WHITTEN...
  STEAMBOAT ROCK...WELLSBURG AND HOLLAND.

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 4221 9303 4221 9327 4227 9331 4252 9295
      4234 9272
TIME...MOT...LOC 0515Z 248DEG 31KT 4225 9319

$$

DONAVON
3 follow-up statements
427 
WWUS53 KDMX 210525
SVSDMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1225 AM CDT TUE JUN 21 2011

IAC075-083-210545-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0044.000000T0000Z-110621T0545Z/
HARDIN IA-GRUNDY IA-
1225 AM CDT TUE JUN 21 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN GRUNDY AND
SOUTHEASTERN HARDIN COUNTIES UNTIL 1245 AM CDT...

AT 1225 AM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO.  THIS
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR ELDORA...OR 18 MILES SOUTHEAST OF IOWA
FALLS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  GRUNDY CENTER...STEAMBOAT ROCK...WELLSBURG AND HOLLAND.

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 4221 9303 4234 9321 4252 9295 4234 9272
TIME...MOT...LOC 0526Z 238DEG 44KT 4233 9302

$$

DONAVON
774 
WWUS53 KDMX 210536
SVSDMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1236 AM CDT TUE JUN 21 2011

IAC083-210546-
/O.CAN.KDMX.TO.W.0044.000000T0000Z-110621T0545Z/
HARDIN IA-
1236 AM CDT TUE JUN 21 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN HARDIN COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

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

LAT...LON 4234 9272 4222 9300 4247 9300 4247 9302
      4252 9295
TIME...MOT...LOC 0536Z 235DEG 40KT 4237 9290

$$

IAC075-210545-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0044.000000T0000Z-110621T0545Z/
GRUNDY IA-
1236 AM CDT TUE JUN 21 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN GRUNDY COUNTY
UNTIL 1245 AM CDT...

AT 1234 AM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO.  THIS
TORNADO WAS LOCATED 8 MILES WEST OF GRUNDY CENTER...OR 21 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF IOWA FALLS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  GRUNDY CENTER...WELLSBURG AND HOLLAND.

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 4234 9272 4222 9300 4247 9300 4247 9302
      4252 9295
TIME...MOT...LOC 0536Z 235DEG 40KT 4237 9290

$$

DONAVON
202 
WWUS53 KDMX 210546 RRA
SVSDMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1246 AM CDT TUE JUN 21 2011

IAC075-210557-
/O.EXP.KDMX.TO.W.0044.000000T0000Z-110621T0545Z/
GRUNDY IA-
1246 AM CDT TUE JUN 21 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR WESTERN GRUNDY COUNTY HAS EXPIRED...

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

ADDITIONAL STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE STILL POSSIBLE...AND A TORNADO 
WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT!

LAT...LON 4234 9272 4222 9300 4247 9300 4247 9302
      4252 9295
TIME...MOT...LOC 0536Z 235DEG 40KT 4237 9290

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 20, 8:32 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningDMXMahaska, Marion7 hr
Jun 20, 8:32 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningDMXLucas, Wayne11 hr
Jun 20, 8:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXCrawford47 min
Jun 20, 9:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXAdair, Audubon, Cass, Guthrie45 min
Jun 20, 9:33 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXCalhoun, Carroll, Crawford, Greene, Sac42 min
Jun 20, 10:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXAdair, Adams, Cass, Taylor30 min
Jun 20, 10:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXAdair, Audubon, Boone, Carroll, Cass, Dallas and 3 more44 min
Jun 20, 10:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXCalhoun, Carroll, Greene, Pocahontas, Sac, Webster41 min
Jun 20, 10:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXAdair, Adams, Cass, Madison, Taylor, Union29 min
Jun 20, 10:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXEmmet, Humboldt, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Pocahontas48 min
Jun 20, 11:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXBoone, Hamilton, Hardin, Marshall, Story49 min
Jun 20, 11:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXDallas, Madison, Polk, Warren26 min
Jun 20, 11:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXEmmet, Hancock, Kossuth, Winnebago23 min
Jun 20, 11:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXJasper, Marshall, Polk, Story41 min
Jun 20, 11:52 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXJasper, Marshall, Polk, Story23 min
Jun 21, 12:13 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXHancock, Winnebago, Worth47 min
Jun 21, 12:22 AM CDTTornado WarningDMXGrundy, Marshall23 min
Jun 21, 12:35 AM CDTTornado WarningDMXJasper, Marshall, Tama25 min
Jun 21, 12:39 AM CDTTornado WarningDMXGrundy, Marshall, Tama36 min
Jun 21, 12:41 AM CDTTornado WarningDMXButler34 min
Jun 21, 1:02 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXButler, Franklin28 min
Jun 21, 1:04 AM CDTTornado WarningDMXTama27 min
Jun 21, 11:15 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDMXPalo Alto7 days
Jun 21, 11:15 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDMXBoone, Hamilton, Webster11 days

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.