Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 7, NWS Des Moines, IA

March 22, 20114 counties in Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this tornado warning at Mar 22, 2011, 5:47 PM CDT for 4 counties in Iowa. It was in force for 43 min. 11 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, 5:47 PM CDT (22:47 UTC)
Expired
Mar 22, 2011, 6:30 PM CDT
In force
43 min
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Adams County, IA, Ringgold County, IA, Taylor County, IA, Union County, IA

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 97 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:47 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, 5:55 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG4 Se Corning, IAWIND DAMAGE TO A MACHINE SHED FROM THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS.
Mar 22, 6:03 PM CDTHAIL 1.75Prescott, IA
Mar 22, 6:11 PM CDTFUNNEL CLOUDCreston, IALARGE FUNNEL CLOUD OVER CRESTON.
Mar 22, 6:15 PM CDTTORNADO1 E Creston, IA
Mar 22, 6:16 PM CDTTORNADO1 Sw Creston, IADEBRIS OBSERVED
Mar 22, 6:16 PM CDTTORNADO3 Ne Creston Airport, IA
Mar 22, 6:17 PM CDTTORNADO3 E Cromwell, IATORNADO WITH DEBRIS.
Mar 22, 6:17 PM CDTTORNADOW Cromwell, IA
Mar 22, 6:18 PM CDTTORNADO2 Sw Creston, IA
Mar 22, 6:18 PM CDTTORNADO3 Ne Creston, IA
Mar 22, 6:36 PM CDTFUNNEL CLOUD4 Wnw Lorimor, 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
Mar 22, 2:03 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 12:00Z, 10.8 hours before the alert went out and 164 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.

994 
WFUS53 KDMX 222247
TORDMX
IAC003-159-173-175-222330-
/O.NEW.KDMX.TO.W.0007.110322T2247Z-110322T2330Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN ADAMS COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST IOWA...
  NORTHWESTERN RINGGOLD COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA...
  NORTHERN TAYLOR COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST IOWA...
  UNION COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA...

* UNTIL 630 PM CDT

* AT 543 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS
  STORM WAS LOCATED 11 MILES NORTH OF BEDFORD...OR 15 MILES NORTHEAST
  OF CLARINDA...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CRESTON...CORNING...LENOX...SHARPSBURG...PRESCOTT...KENT...
  CROMWELL...CRESTON AIRPORT...ARISPE...AFTON...THAYER AND LORIMOR.

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 4092 9489 4116 9456 4116 9425 4116 9396
      4116 9402 4099 9402 4075 9479
TIME...MOT...LOC 2247Z 239DEG 36KT 4085 9472

$$

DONAVON
3 follow-up statements
899 
WWUS53 KDMX 222258
SVSDMX

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

IAC159-173-222308-
/O.CAN.KDMX.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-110322T2330Z/
RINGGOLD IA-TAYLOR IA-
558 PM CDT TUE MAR 22 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHERN TAYLOR AND NORTHWESTERN RINGGOLD
COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

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

LAT...LON 4091 9443 4091 9472 4102 9473 4116 9456
      4116 9396 4116 9402 4099 9402 4091 9431
      4090 9442
TIME...MOT...LOC 2258Z 233DEG 43KT 4095 9457

$$

IAC003-175-222330-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-110322T2330Z/
UNION IA-ADAMS IA-
558 PM CDT TUE MAR 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN ADAMS AND UNION
COUNTIES UNTIL 630 PM CDT...

AT 556 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR LENOX...OR 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CRESTON...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CRESTON...PRESCOTT...KENT...CROMWELL...CRESTON AIRPORT...ARISPE...
  AFTON...THAYER AND LORIMOR.

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 4091 9443 4091 9472 4102 9473 4116 9456
      4116 9396 4116 9402 4099 9402 4091 9431
      4090 9442
TIME...MOT...LOC 2258Z 233DEG 43KT 4095 9457

$$

DONAVON
141 
WWUS53 KDMX 222311
SVSDMX

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

IAC003-175-222330-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-110322T2330Z/
UNION IA-ADAMS IA-
611 PM CDT TUE MAR 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN ADAMS AND UNION
COUNTIES UNTIL 630 PM CDT...

AT 610 PM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO.  THIS
TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CRESTON...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 55 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CRESTON...CRESTON AIRPORT...ARISPE...AFTON...LORIMOR AND THAYER.

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 4092 9442 4092 9459 4116 9456 4116 9396
      4116 9402 4099 9402 4093 9430
TIME...MOT...LOC 2311Z 247DEG 48KT 4100 9442

$$

BEERENDS
591 
WWUS53 KDMX 222317
SVSDMX

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

IAC003-222327-
/O.CAN.KDMX.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-110322T2330Z/
ADAMS IA-
617 PM CDT TUE MAR 22 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EASTERN ADAMS COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

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

LAT...LON 4093 9448 4116 9448 4116 9402 4099 9402
      4093 9430
TIME...MOT...LOC 2317Z 247DEG 48KT 4104 9432

$$

IAC175-222330-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-110322T2330Z/
UNION IA-
617 PM CDT TUE MAR 22 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR UNION COUNTY UNTIL 630 PM
CDT...

AT 614 PM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO.  THIS 
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR CRESTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  ARISPE...AFTON...LORIMOR AND THAYER.

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 4093 9448 4116 9448 4116 9402 4099 9402
      4093 9430
TIME...MOT...LOC 2317Z 247DEG 48KT 4104 9432

$$

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, 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
Mar 22, 6:57 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXAdair, Madison, Union33 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.