Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 6, NWS Des Moines, IA

May 2, 2012Boone County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this tornado warning at May 2, 2012, 1:24 AM CDT for Boone County, Iowa. It was in force for 36 min. 1 report 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 2, 2012, 1:24 AM CDT (06:24 UTC)
Expired
May 2, 2012, 2:00 AM CDT
In force
36 min
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Boone County, IA

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 50 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 06:26 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 2, 1:40 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG1 S Fraser, IASEVERAL LARGE LIMBS DOWN AND DAMAGE TO FENCES. DAMAGE BEGAN ABOUT 1 MILE SOUTH OF FRASER AND CONTINUED SPORADICALLY FOR ABOUT THE NEXT 2 MILES

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 1, 9:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 00:00Z, 6.4 hours before the alert went out and 218 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 00:00Z on 2012-05-02Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1502 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, Omaha, NE at 00:00Z on 2012-05-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 75 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
1502 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-30 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1477 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
75 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
122 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.4
Supercell composite
5.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

209 
WFUS53 KDMX 020624
TORDMX
IAC015-020700-
/O.NEW.KDMX.TO.W.0006.120502T0624Z-120502T0700Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
124 AM CDT WED MAY 2 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN BOONE COUNTY IN CENTRAL IOWA...

* UNTIL 200 AM CDT

* AT 122 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS
  STORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF OGDEN...OR 24 MILES WEST OF
  AMES...AND MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  BOONE...PILOT MOUND...FRASER AND BOONE AIRPORT.

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 9416 4221 9371 4203 9371 4205 9416
TIME...MOT...LOC 0624Z 268DEG 45KT 4212 9405

$$

BEERENDS
3 follow-up statements
973 
WFUS53 KDMX 020633 CCA
TORDMX
IAC015-020700-
/O.COR.KDMX.TO.W.0006.120502T0624Z-120502T0700Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
124 AM CDT WED MAY 2 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN BOONE COUNTY IN CENTRAL IOWA...

* UNTIL 200 AM CDT

* AT 122 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS
  STORM WAS LOCATED 7 MILES NORTH OF OGDEN...OR 25 MILES WEST OF
  AMES...AND MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  BOONE...PILOT MOUND...FRASER AND BOONE AIRPORT.

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 9416 4221 9371 4203 9371 4205 9416
TIME...MOT...LOC 0624Z 268DEG 45KT 4214 9405

$$
427 
WWUS53 KDMX 020640
SVSDMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
140 AM CDT WED MAY 2 2012

IAC015-020700-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-120502T0700Z/
BOONE IA-
140 AM CDT WED MAY 2 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEASTERN BOONE COUNTY
UNTIL 200 AM CDT...

AT 136 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS DANGEROUS
STORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES NORTH OF BOONE...OR 14 MILES NORTHWEST OF
AMES...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF NORTHEASTERN BOONE 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.

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

&&

LAT...LON 4204 9398 4221 9396 4221 9371 4203 9371
TIME...MOT...LOC 0641Z 268DEG 45KT 4214 9377

$$

BEERENDS
316 
WWUS53 KDMX 020656
SVSDMX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
156 AM CDT WED MAY 2 2012

IAC015-020706-
/O.EXP.KDMX.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-120502T0700Z/
BOONE IA-
156 AM CDT WED MAY 2 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN BOONE COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
200 AM CDT...

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

ADDITIONAL STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE STILL POSSIBLE...AND A SEVERE 
THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 AM CDT.

LAT...LON 4204 9398 4221 9396 4221 9371 4203 9371
TIME...MOT...LOC 0656Z 268DEG 45KT 4215 9352

$$

BEERENDS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 1, 9:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXEmmet, Palo Alto46 min
May 1, 10:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXKossuth, Palo Alto45 min
May 1, 11:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXHumboldt, Webster, Wright51 min
May 1, 11:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXCrawford25 min
May 2, 12:01 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXCarroll, Crawford, Sac44 min
May 2, 12:38 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXCarroll, Crawford, Greene, Sac52 min
May 2, 1:02 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXAudubon, Guthrie43 min
May 2, 1:07 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXBoone, Carroll, Dallas, Greene, Guthrie38 min
May 2, 1:27 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXBoone, Hamilton, Story, Webster48 min
May 2, 1:39 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXBoone, Polk, Story51 min
May 2, 1:47 AM CDTTornado WarningDMXBoone, Hamilton, Hardin, Story28 min
May 2, 1:53 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXDallas, Polk52 min
May 2, 2:04 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXGrundy, Hardin, Marshall, Story41 min
May 2, 2:37 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXBlack Hawk, Grundy, Marshall, Tama36 min
May 2, 3:18 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXJasper, Mahaska, Marion, Poweshiek15 min
May 2, 3:46 PM CDTFlash Flood WatchDMXBlack Hawk, Bremer, Butler, Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Grundy and 1 more12 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Iowa, 2012Every tornado warning in 2012Tornadoes in 2012

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.