Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 9, NWS Quad Cities, IA

May 25, 2011Hancock County, Illinois; Des Moines County, Henry County, Lee County, Iowa

NWS Quad Cities, IA issued this tornado warning at May 25, 2011, 4:35 PM CDT for Hancock County, Illinois; Des Moines County, Henry County, Lee County, Iowa. It was in force for 40 min. 4 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
May 25, 2011, 4:35 PM CDT (21:35 UTC)
Expired
May 25, 2011, 5:15 PM CDT
In force
40 min
Issued by
NWS Quad Cities, IA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Des Moines County, IA, Henry County, IA, Lee County, IA, Hancock County, IL

The radar

The Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 115 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:38 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
May 25, 4:52 PM CDTTORNADO5 Wnw Burlington, IADEBRIS FLYING IN SKY JUST EAST OF HIGHWAY 34 TRUCKSTOP
May 25, 4:58 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 605 Nw Burlington, IA
May 25, 4:59 PM CDTHAIL 0.755 Nw Burlington, IALOCATED AT HIGHWAY 34 TRUCKSTOP
May 25, 5:08 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGDodgeville, IAENTIRE ROOF BLOWN OFF OF A BARN.

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
May 25, 2:31 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 12:00Z, 9.6 hours before the alert went out and 248 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, Lincoln, IL at 12:00Z on 2011-05-25Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1832 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, Lincoln, IL at 12:00Z on 2011-05-25The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 253 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
1832 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-18 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
561 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
253 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
222 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.6
Supercell composite
10.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

491 
WFUS53 KDVN 252135
TORDVN
IAC057-087-111-ILC067-252215-
/O.NEW.KDVN.TO.W.0009.110525T2135Z-110525T2215Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
435 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN THE QUAD CITIES HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHWESTERN DES MOINES COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST IOWA...
  SOUTHEASTERN HENRY COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST IOWA...
  EASTERN LEE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST IOWA...
  NORTH CENTRAL HANCOCK COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS...

* UNTIL 515 PM CDT.

* AT 433 PM CDT...TRAINED SPOTTERS AND DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A   
TORNADO NEAR FORT MADISON...MOVING NORTH AT 40 MPH. AT 430 PM A 
TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED A ROTATING FUNNEL CLOUD JUST EAST OF FORT 
MADISON. 

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  FORT MADISON AND NIOTA AROUND 435 PM CDT...
  SAWYER...FORT MADISON MUNICIPAL ARPT AND FRANKLIN AROUND 440 PM
  CDT...
  DENMARK...WEST POINT AND SOUTH AUGUSTA AROUND 445 PM CDT...
  AUGUSTA AND ST. PAUL AROUND 450 PM CDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE IN A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT OR INTERIOR ROOM
OR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A BUILDING.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHEAST IOWA AND NORTHWESTERN ILLINOIS AND NORTHEAST MISSOURI.

&&

LAT...LON 4097 9161 4095 9110 4052 9124 4052 9149
TIME...MOT...LOC 2134Z 179DEG 36KT 4062 9138

$$

12
3 follow-up statements
709 
WWUS53 KDVN 252151
SVSDVN

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
451 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2011

IAC057-087-111-ILC067-252215-
/O.CON.KDVN.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-110525T2215Z/
LEE IA-HENRY IA-DES MOINES IA-HANCOCK IL-
451 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM CDT FOR NORTH
CENTRAL HANCOCK...SOUTHWESTERN DES MOINES...SOUTHEASTERN HENRY AND
EASTERN LEE COUNTIES...

AT 447 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY NEAR
AUGUSTA...OR 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BURLINGTON...MOVING NORTH AT 40
MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  PRAIRIE GROVE AROUND 500 PM CDT...
  DODGEVILLE AND 9 MILES EAST OF NEW LONDON AROUND 505 PM CDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE IN A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT OR INTERIOR ROOM
OR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A BUILDING.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHEAST IOWA AND NORTHWESTERN ILLINOIS AND NORTHEAST MISSOURI.

&&

LAT...LON 4097 9161 4095 9110 4052 9124 4052 9149
TIME...MOT...LOC 2151Z 179DEG 36KT 4080 9123

$$

12
076 
WWUS53 KDVN 252200
SVSDVN

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
500 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2011

IAC111-ILC067-252209-
/O.CAN.KDVN.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-110525T2215Z/
LEE IA-HANCOCK IL-
500 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL HANCOCK AND EASTERN LEE
COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THAT WAS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A SEVERE 
WEATHER HAS WEAKENED. THEREFORE THE TORNADO WARNING HAS BEEN 
CANCELLED.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHEAST IOWA AND NORTHWESTERN ILLINOIS AND NORTHEAST MISSOURI.

LAT...LON 4076 9129 4077 9130 4077 9131 4080 9135
      4079 9137 4081 9140 4096 9140 4095 9110
      4080 9115 4074 9117
TIME...MOT...LOC 2159Z 199DEG 35KT 4086 9119

$$

IAC057-087-252215-
/O.CON.KDVN.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-110525T2215Z/
HENRY IA-DES MOINES IA-
500 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN DES MOINES AND SOUTHEASTERN HENRY COUNTIES...

AT 456 PM CDT...A TORNADO WAS REPORTED.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED
APPROXIMATELY NEAR BEAVERDALE...OR NEAR BURLINGTON...MOVING NORTH AT 
40 MPH. LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED DEBRIS FLYING IN THE AIR. THIS IS A 
DANGEROUS SITUATION.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  DODGEVILLE AROUND 505 PM CDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE IN A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT OR INTERIOR ROOM
OR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A BUILDING.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHEAST IOWA AND NORTHWESTERN ILLINOIS AND NORTHEAST MISSOURI.

&&

LAT...LON 4076 9129 4077 9130 4077 9131 4080 9135
      4079 9137 4081 9140 4096 9140 4095 9110
      4080 9115 4074 9117
TIME...MOT...LOC 2159Z 199DEG 35KT 4086 9119

$$
729 
WWUS53 KDVN 252214
SVSDVN

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
514 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2011

IAC057-087-252224-
/O.EXP.KDVN.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-110525T2215Z/
HENRY IA-DES MOINES IA-
514 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN DES MOINES AND SOUTHEASTERN
HENRY COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 515 PM CDT...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THAT WAS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO HAS
MOVED OUT OF THE WARNED AREA. THEREFORE THE TORNADO WARNING HAS BEEN
ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHEAST IOWA AND NORTHWESTERN ILLINOIS AND NORTHEAST MISSOURI.

LAT...LON 4076 9129 4077 9130 4077 9131 4080 9135
      4079 9137 4081 9140 4096 9140 4095 9110
      4080 9115 4074 9117
TIME...MOT...LOC 2214Z 199DEG 35KT 4100 9113

$$

12

The office that day

Everything else NWS Quad Cities, IA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 25, 2:20 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDVNHancock, McDonough70 min
May 25, 2:38 AM CDTFlash Flood WatchDVNBureau, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, McDonough, Mercer and 2 more20 hr
May 25, 3:46 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDVNHenderson, Mercer, Warren59 min
May 25, 5:34 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDVNBureau, Putnam56 min
May 25, 7:08 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDVNBureau, Putnam52 min
May 25, 9:27 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNHancock, McDonough5 days
May 25, 11:46 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNHenderson13 days
May 25, 11:46 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNHancock, Henderson14 days
May 25, 11:46 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNHancock13 days
May 25, 2:31 PM CDTWind AdvisoryDVNJo Daviess, Rock Island7 hr
May 25, 5:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNHenderson, Mercer40 min
May 25, 5:11 PM CDTTornado WarningDVNMercer23 min
May 25, 5:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNHenderson, Henry, Mercer, Warren45 min
May 25, 5:34 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDVNHenderson, Mercer, Warren4 hr
May 25, 6:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNBureau, Putnam44 min
May 25, 6:37 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNIowa, Johnson7 days
May 25, 6:37 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNLee52 hr
May 25, 9:27 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNClinton, Scott12 hr
May 25, 9:27 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNKeokuk12 hr
May 25, 9:27 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNDes Moines, Henry, Lee6 days
May 25, 11:46 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNJohnson, Washington34 hr
May 25, 3:41 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNLee, Van Buren20 hr
May 25, 4:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNVan Buren52 min
May 25, 4:55 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDVNDes Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Lee, Van Buren5 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Iowa, 2011Tornado Warnings in Illinois, 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.