Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2013

Tornado Warning 18, NWS Sioux Falls, SD

October 4, 2013Plymouth County, Sioux County, Iowa

NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued this tornado warning at Oct 4, 2013, 6:55 PM CDT for Plymouth County, Sioux County, Iowa. It was in force for 50 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
Oct 4, 2013, 6:55 PM CDT (23:55 UTC)
Expired
Oct 4, 2013, 7:45 PM CDT
In force
50 min
Issued by
NWS Sioux Falls, SD
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Observed
Hail
1.75 in

Counties Plymouth County, IA, Sioux County, IA

The radar

The Sioux Falls radar (KFSD), 85 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:58 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
Oct 4, 7:01 PM CDTTORNADO10 Wsw Le Mars, IABRANCHES DOWN. MINOR ROOF DAMAGE.

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
Oct 4, 2:38 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 12:00Z, 11.9 hours before the alert went out and 172 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 2013-10-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 97 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 2013-10-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 76 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
97 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-211 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
898 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
42 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
76 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
128 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
4.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

978 
WFUS53 KFSD 042355
TORFSD
IAC149-167-050045-
/O.NEW.KFSD.TO.W.0018.131004T2355Z-131005T0045Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
655 PM CDT FRI OCT 4 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SIOUX FALLS HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  WESTERN PLYMOUTH COUNTY IN NORTHWEST IOWA...
  SOUTHWESTERN SIOUX COUNTY IN NORTHWEST IOWA...

* UNTIL 745 PM CDT

* AT 650 PM CDT...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO
  WAS LOCATED 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF HINTON...AND MOVING NORTH AT 25
  MPH. THIS TORNADO WAS NEAR SOUTH RIDGE ROAD AND 282ND STREET AT
  649 PM CDT.

  THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

  HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO.

  SOURCE...WEATHER SPOTTERS CONFIRMED TORNADO.

  IMPACT...YOU ARE IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. MOBILE HOMES WILL
           BE DESTROYED. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO HOMES...BUSINESSES
           AND VEHICLES IS LIKELY AND COMPLETE DESTRUCTION POSSIBLE.
           FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DEADLY TO PEOPLE AND ANIMALS. EXPECT
           TREES TO BE UPROOTED OR SNAPPED.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  BRUNSVILLE AROUND 715 PM CDT  
  CRAIG AROUND 725 PM CDT.
  IRETON AROUND 735 PM CDT.
  MAURICE AROUND 740 PM CDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BRUNSVILLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING TORNADOES. TAKE COVER IN A
BASEMENT OR STORM SHELTER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 4305 9644 4296 9598 4257 9641 4272 9658
TIME...MOT...LOC 2353Z 198DEG 22KT 4272 9643

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

CHAPMAN
4 follow-up statements
395 
WWUS53 KFSD 050004
SVSFSD

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
704 PM CDT FRI OCT 4 2013

IAC149-167-050045-
/O.CON.KFSD.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-131005T0045Z/
SIOUX IA-PLYMOUTH IA-
704 PM CDT FRI OCT 4 2013

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN PLYMOUTH AND
SOUTHWESTERN SIOUX COUNTIES UNTIL 745 PM CDT...

AT 703 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A LARGE
AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF
MERRILL...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO.

SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED ROTATION.

IMPACT...YOU ARE IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. MOBILE HOMES WILL
         BE DESTROYED. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO HOMES...BUSINESSES AND
         VEHICLES IS LIKELY AND COMPLETE DESTRUCTION POSSIBLE. FLYING
         DEBRIS WILL BE DEADLY TO PEOPLE AND ANIMALS. EXPECT TREES TO
         BE UPROOTED OR SNAPPED.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  CRAIG AROUND 720 PM CDT.
  BETWEEN STRUBLE AND IRETON AROUND 730 PM CDT.
  MAURICE AROUND 740 PM CDT.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BRUNSVILLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING TORNADOES. TAKE COVER IN A
BASEMENT OR STORM SHELTER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 4305 9644 4296 9598 4257 9641 4272 9658
TIME...MOT...LOC 0005Z 209DEG 22KT 4279 9635

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL...1.50IN

$$

CHAPMAN
186 
WWUS53 KFSD 050012
SVSFSD

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
712 PM CDT FRI OCT 4 2013

IAC149-167-050045-
/O.CON.KFSD.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-131005T0045Z/
SIOUX IA-PLYMOUTH IA-
712 PM CDT FRI OCT 4 2013

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN PLYMOUTH AND
SOUTHWESTERN SIOUX COUNTIES UNTIL 745 PM CDT...

AT 707 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A LARGE
AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF
MERRILL...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO.

SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED ROTATION.

IMPACT...YOU ARE IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. MOBILE HOMES WILL
         BE DESTROYED. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO HOMES...BUSINESSES AND
         VEHICLES IS LIKELY AND COMPLETE DESTRUCTION POSSIBLE. FLYING
         DEBRIS WILL BE DEADLY TO PEOPLE AND ANIMALS. EXPECT TREES TO
         BE UPROOTED OR SNAPPED.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  CRAIG AROUND 725 PM CDT.
  STRUBLE AROUND 730 PM CDT.
  MAURICE AROUND 740 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING TORNADOES. TAKE COVER IN A
BASEMENT OR STORM SHELTER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 4305 9644 4296 9598 4257 9641 4272 9658
TIME...MOT...LOC 0012Z 211DEG 22KT 4282 9631

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL...1.25IN

$$

CHAPMAN
867 
WWUS53 KFSD 050028
SVSFSD

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
728 PM CDT FRI OCT 4 2013

IAC149-167-050045-
/O.CON.KFSD.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-131005T0045Z/
SIOUX IA-PLYMOUTH IA-
728 PM CDT FRI OCT 4 2013

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN PLYMOUTH AND SOUTH
CENTRAL SIOUX COUNTIES UNTIL 745 PM CDT...

AT 724 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO
WAS LOCATED NEAR CRAIG...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

HAZARD...TORNADO AND HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL.

SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED ROTATION.

IMPACT...MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. DAMAGE TO
         ROOFS...WINDOWS AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR. FLYING DEBRIS WILL
         BE DEADLY TO PEOPLE AND ANIMALS. TREE DAMAGE IS LIKELY.

THIS DANGEROUS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  MAURICE AROUND 740 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY HIDE THIS TORNADO. DO NOT WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR THE
TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW.

&&

LAT...LON 4302 9632 4296 9598 4264 9635 4282 9649
TIME...MOT...LOC 0028Z 211DEG 22KT 4290 9624

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.25IN

$$

CHAPMAN
721 
WWUS53 KFSD 050043
SVSFSD

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
743 PM CDT FRI OCT 4 2013

IAC149-167-050054-
/O.EXP.KFSD.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-131005T0045Z/
SIOUX IA-PLYMOUTH IA-
743 PM CDT FRI OCT 4 2013

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR WESTERN PLYMOUTH AND SOUTH CENTRAL SIOUX
COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 745 PM CDT...

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 UNTIL 10 PM CDT.

LAT...LON 4302 9632 4296 9598 4264 9635 4282 9649
TIME...MOT...LOC 0044Z 211DEG 22KT 4298 9617

$$

CHAPMAN

The office that day

Everything else NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 4, 6:07 PM CDTTornado WarningFSDWoodbury38 min
Oct 4, 6:11 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedFSDPlymouth49 min
Oct 4, 6:43 PM CDTTornado WarningFSDCherokee, Ida, Plymouth, Woodbury47 min
Oct 4, 6:57 PM CDTTornado WarningFSDPlymouth18 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Iowa, 2013Every tornado warning in 2013Tornadoes in 2013

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.