Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 4, NWS Quad Cities, IA

May 3, 20124 counties in Iowa

NWS Quad Cities, IA issued this tornado warning at May 3, 2012, 8:27 PM CDT for 4 counties in Iowa. It was in force for 33 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
May 3, 2012, 8:27 PM CDT (01:27 UTC)
Expired
May 3, 2012, 9:00 PM CDT
In force
33 min
Issued by
NWS Quad Cities, IA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Henry County, IA, Jefferson County, IA, Louisa County, IA, Washington County, IA

The radar

The Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 96 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:27 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 3, 8:44 PM CDTTORNADOWayland, IANEAR 120TH STREET NEAR WAYLAND.
May 3, 8:50 PM CDTTORNADO2 Ne Wayland, IATORNADO WENT OVER THE RESIDENCE AT 2711 330TH ST ABOUT 2 MILES NORTHEAST OF WAYLAND. TIME ESTIMATED. RELAYED 911 CALL FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE.
May 3, 8:55 PM CDTTORNADO4 Ne Wayland, IAHEAVY DAMAGE AT 3229 SPRUCE AVE ABOUT 4 MILES NORTHEAST OF WAYLAND. RELAYED BY SPOTTER. TIME ESTIMATED.

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 3, 7:09 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Davenport, (KDVN), launched 00:00Z, 1.5 hours before the alert went out and 102 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 2012-05-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1056 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 2012-05-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 42 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
1056 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-39 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1420 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
34 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
42 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
100 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
1.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

304 
WFUS53 KDVN 040127
TORDVN
IAC087-101-115-183-040200-
/O.NEW.KDVN.TO.W.0004.120504T0127Z-120504T0200Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
827 PM CDT THU MAY 3 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN THE QUAD CITIES HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN HENRY COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST IOWA...
  NORTHEASTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST IOWA...
  WEST CENTRAL LOUISA COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST IOWA...
  SOUTHEASTERN WASHINGTON COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST IOWA...

* UNTIL 900 PM CDT.

* AT 822 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
  A TORNADO NEAR GERMANVILLE...OR 13 MILES NORTHEAST OF 
  FAIRFIELD... MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  WAYLAND AROUND 840 PM CDT...
  NOBLE AND SWEDESBURG AROUND 845 PM CDT...
  OLDS AROUND 850 PM CDT...
  CRAWFORDSVILLE AROUND 855 PM CDT...
  WYMAN AROUND 900 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 MIDNIGHT CDT FRIDAY MORNING
FOR NORTHWESTERN ILLINOIS. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT
UNTIL 100 AM CDT FRIDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHEAST IOWA AND NORTHEAST
MISSOURI.

&&

LAT...LON 4134 9146 4115 9132 4098 9177 4114 9189
TIME...MOT...LOC 0127Z 241DEG 21KT 4111 9172

$$

LE
2 follow-up statements
906 
WWUS53 KDVN 040139
SVSDVN

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
839 PM CDT THU MAY 3 2012

IAC087-101-115-183-040200-
/O.CON.KDVN.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120504T0200Z/
WASHINGTON IA-LOUISA IA-JEFFERSON IA-HENRY IA-
839 PM CDT THU MAY 3 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT FOR NORTHERN
HENRY...NORTHEASTERN JEFFERSON...WEST CENTRAL LOUISA AND SOUTHEASTERN
WASHINGTON COUNTIES...

AT 835 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY NEAR
WAYLAND...OR 13 MILES SOUTH OF WASHINGTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20
MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  NOBLE AND SWEDESBURG AROUND 850 PM CDT...
  OLDS AROUND 855 PM CDT...
  CRAWFORDSVILLE...WYMAN...WINFIELD AND 8 MILES SOUTH OF AINSWORTH
  AROUND 900 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 MIDNIGHT CDT FRIDAY MORNING
FOR NORTHWESTERN ILLINOIS. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT
UNTIL 100 AM CDT FRIDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHEAST IOWA AND NORTHEAST
MISSOURI.

&&

LAT...LON 4106 9157 4104 9171 4119 9179 4134 9146
      4115 9132
TIME...MOT...LOC 0139Z 243DEG 19KT 4113 9166

$$

LE
729 
WWUS53 KDVN 040148
SVSDVN

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
848 PM CDT THU MAY 3 2012

IAC101-040157-
/O.CAN.KDVN.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120504T0200Z/
JEFFERSON IA-
848 PM CDT THU MAY 3 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THAT WAS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TORNADO HAS 
MOVED OUT OF THE WARNED AREA. THEREFORE THE TORNADO WARNING HAS BEEN 
CANCELLED.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT FRIDAY MORNING 
FOR NORTHWESTERN ILLINOIS. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT 
UNTIL 100 AM CDT FRIDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHEAST IOWA AND NORTHEAST 
MISSOURI.

LAT...LON 4106 9157 4110 9168 4122 9172 4134 9146
      4115 9132
TIME...MOT...LOC 0147Z 236DEG 17KT 4116 9163

$$

IAC087-115-183-040200-
/O.CON.KDVN.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-120504T0200Z/
WASHINGTON IA-LOUISA IA-HENRY IA-
848 PM CDT THU MAY 3 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT FOR NORTHERN
HENRY...WEST CENTRAL LOUISA AND SOUTHEASTERN WASHINGTON COUNTIES...

AT 844 PM CDT...TRAINED SPOTTERS AND DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A 
TORNADO.  TRAINED SPOTTERS REPORTED THE TORNADO NEAR 120TH STREET 
SOUTH OF WAYLAND.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY NEAR 
WAYLAND...OR 10 MILES SOUTH OF WASHINGTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 
MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  OLDS AROUND 855 PM CDT...
  CRAWFORDSVILLE...WYMAN...AINSWORTH AND 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF
  WINFIELD AROUND 900 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.

TORNADOES AT NIGHT ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE AND ARE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT FRIDAY MORNING
FOR NORTHWESTERN ILLINOIS. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT
UNTIL 100 AM CDT FRIDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHEAST IOWA AND NORTHEAST
MISSOURI.

&&

LAT...LON 4106 9157 4110 9168 4122 9172 4134 9146
      4115 9132
TIME...MOT...LOC 0147Z 236DEG 17KT 4116 9163

$$

LE

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 3, 7:31 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDVNBenton29 min
May 3, 8:23 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDVNLouisa, Washington52 min
May 3, 8:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNBenton15 min
May 3, 8:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNCedar, Johnson, Linn35 min
May 3, 8:58 PM CDTTornado WarningDVNHenry, Louisa, Muscatine, Washington32 min
May 3, 9:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNCedar, Clinton, Scott31 min
May 3, 9:29 PM CDTTornado WarningDVNLouisa, Muscatine17 min
May 3, 9:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNCedar, Muscatine, Scott43 min
May 3, 9:58 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDVNKeokuk, Louisa, Washington6 hr
May 3, 10:20 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDVNCedar, Johnson, Louisa, Muscatine, Washington6 hr
May 3, 10:22 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNClinton, Scott38 min
May 3, 10:44 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDVNLouisa, Scott6 hr
May 3, 11:59 PM CDTFlash Flood WatchDVNDes Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lee, Louisa and 4 more9 hr
May 4, 12:06 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNLouisa, Muscatine24 min
May 4, 1:10 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningDVNHenry, Jefferson6 hr
May 4, 2:26 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDVNDes Moines, Lee, Van Buren49 min
May 4, 2:40 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningDVNLee, Van Buren6 hr
May 4, 3:07 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNLee38 min
May 4, 4:04 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningDVNLouisa, Muscatine, Washington9 hr
May 4, 6:26 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNKeokuk49 min
May 4, 6:34 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningDVNKeokuk4 hr
May 4, 11:59 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNDes Moines, Henry, Lee71 hr
May 4, 3:31 PM CDTFlash Flood WatchDVNBenton, Cedar, Clinton, Des Moines, Henry, Iowa and 12 more11 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.