Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2013

Tornado Warning 20, NWS Sioux Falls, SD

October 4, 2013Cherokee County, Iowa

NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued this tornado warning at Oct 4, 2013, 7:22 PM CDT for Cherokee County, Iowa. It was in force for 38 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
Oct 4, 2013, 7:22 PM CDT (00:22 UTC)
Expired
Oct 4, 2013, 8:00 PM CDT
In force
38 min
Issued by
NWS Sioux Falls, SD
Area
Storm-based polygon
Emergency
Tornado emergency
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.5 in

County Cherokee County, IA

The radar

The Sioux Falls radar (KFSD), 132 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:24 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, 7:28 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 70Quimby, IALARGE BRANCHES DOWN.
Oct 4, 7:41 PM CDTTORNADO4 Nne Quimby, IA
Oct 4, 7:46 PM CDTTORNADO3 Sw Cherokee, 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
Oct 4, 2:38 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 00:00Z, 0.4 hours before the alert went out and 166 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 2013-10-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1572 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 00:00Z on 2013-10-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -5 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
1572 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-22 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1464 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
42 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-5 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
224 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.4
Supercell composite
5.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

903 
WFUS53 KFSD 050022
TORFSD
IAC035-050100-
/O.NEW.KFSD.TO.W.0020.131005T0022Z-131005T0100Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SIOUX FALLS HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  CHEROKEE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST IOWA...

* UNTIL 800 PM CDT

* AT 720 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A LARGE
  AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR WASHTA...AND
  MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 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...
  QUIMBY AROUND 730 PM CDT.
  CHEROKEE AROUND 745 PM CDT.
  AURELIA AROUND 750 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 4259 9585 4291 9565 4291 9550 4283 9538
      4269 9539 4256 9569 4256 9577
TIME...MOT...LOC 0023Z 225DEG 27KT 4260 9567

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

$$

CHAPMAN
3 follow-up statements
168 
WWUS53 KFSD 050032
SVSFSD

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

IAC035-050100-
/O.CON.KFSD.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-131005T0100Z/
CHEROKEE IA-
732 PM CDT FRI OCT 4 2013

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CHEROKEE COUNTY UNTIL 800
PM CDT...

AT 729 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A LARGE
AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR QUIMBY...AND MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 30 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...
  CHEROKEE AROUND 745 PM CDT.
  AURELIA AROUND 750 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 4259 9585 4291 9565 4291 9550 4283 9538
      4269 9539 4256 9569 4256 9577
TIME...MOT...LOC 0032Z 225DEG 27KT 4265 9560

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

$$

CHAPMAN
943 
WWUS53 KFSD 050040
SVSFSD

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

IAC035-050100-
/O.CON.KFSD.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-131005T0100Z/
CHEROKEE IA-
740 PM CDT FRI OCT 4 2013

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CHEROKEE COUNTY UNTIL 800
PM CDT...

...TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR CHEROKEE...

AT 737 PM CDT...A CONFIRMED LARGE...VIOLENT AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR QUIMBY...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
MAJOR DAMAGE WAS REPORTED IN QUIMBY...WITH SEVERAL POWER POLES DOWN 
WEST OF WASHTA.

THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

HAZARD...DEADLY TORNADO.

SOURCE...WEATHER SPOTTERS CONFIRMED TORNADO.

IMPACT...YOU COULD BE KILLED IF NOT UNDERGROUND OR IN A TORNADO
         SHELTER. COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF NEIGHBORHOODS...BUSINESSES
         AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR. FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DEADLY TO
         PEOPLE AND ANIMALS.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  CHEROKEE AROUND 750 PM CDT.
  AURELIA AROUND 755 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 4259 9585 4291 9565 4291 9550 4283 9538
      4269 9539 4256 9569 4256 9577
TIME...MOT...LOC 0040Z 222DEG 25KT 4269 9557

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CATASTROPHIC
HAIL...1.50IN

$$

CHAPMAN
029 
WWUS53 KFSD 050049
SVSFSD

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

IAC035-050100-
/O.CON.KFSD.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-131005T0100Z/
CHEROKEE IA-
749 PM CDT FRI OCT 4 2013

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEASTERN CHEROKEE
COUNTY UNTIL 800 PM CDT...

...TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR CHEROKEE...

AT 746 PM CDT...A CONFIRMED LARGE...VIOLENT AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR CHEROKEE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

HAZARD...DEADLY TORNADO.

SOURCE...WEATHER SPOTTERS CONFIRMED TORNADO.

IMPACT...YOU COULD BE KILLED IF NOT UNDERGROUND OR IN A TORNADO
         SHELTER. COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF NEIGHBORHOODS...BUSINESSES
         AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR. FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DEADLY TO
         PEOPLE AND ANIMALS.

THE TORNADO WILL AFFECT MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF NORTHEASTERN CHEROKEE
COUNTY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WITH COMPLETE DEVASTATION
LIKELY. YOU COULD BE KILLED IF NOT UNDERGROUND OR IN A TORNADO
SHELTER. DO NOT DELAY...SEEK SHELTER NOW! IF NO UNDERGROUND SHELTER
IS AVAILABLE SEEK SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM OF THE LOWEST LEVEL OF
A STRUCTURE...OR IF TIME ALLOWS...CONSIDER MOVING TO AN UNDERGROUND
SHELTER ELSEWHERE. MOBILE HOMES AND OUTBUILDINGS WILL OFFER NO
SHELTER FROM THIS TORNADO.

&&

LAT...LON 4265 9563 4274 9571 4289 9560 4291 9550
      4283 9538 4271 9539
TIME...MOT...LOC 0049Z 222DEG 25KT 4274 9551

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CATASTROPHIC
HAIL...1.25IN

$$

CHAPMAN

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 4, 7:25 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedFSDPlymouth35 min
Oct 4, 7:54 PM CDTTornado WarningFSDBuena Vista, Cherokee36 min
Oct 4, 8:27 PM CDTTornado WarningFSDBuena Vista, Clay33 min
Oct 4, 8:33 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFSDBuena Vista42 min
Oct 4, 8:55 PM CDTTornado WarningFSDClay20 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.