Severe Thunderstorm Warning 159, NWS Des Moines, IA

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
640 PM CDT Wed Sep 21 2016

.SHORT TERM.../This evening through Thursday/
Issued at 344 PM CDT Wed Sep 21 2016

The primary concern into tonight is obviously convective trends
include heavy rain and severe potential. The current Grinnell-Forest
City outflow boundary from morning convection continues to try and
initiate new convection but is having little luck sustaining
anything or anchoring to it. A detailed look at the cells and radar
fineline notes development on either side of the boundary suggesting
this is mainly elevated. Thus even though uncapped 3000 j/kg MLCapes
are in place just west of the feature there seems to be regarding rainfall
potential, precipitable water and warm cloud depth values are not
extreme, but seasonally high vs climatology promoting efficient
rainfall rates. The outflow boundary has reduced confidence in
high resolution solutions, but the HRRR, RAP and HopWRF had the
best handling on earlier Upper MS Valley convection and suggest
the northern few tiers of IA, eastward to the MS river could get
hit with heavy rains overnight with 15z ESRL HRRR amounts up to an
alarming 5-10 inches and the 15z HopWRF showing high neighborhood
probabilities of at least 5 inches over NE IA out of our forecast
area. Other models only show a few inches however, which is
possible if the stronger Corfidi vector movement makes the
convection too progressive north to south. So again it needs to be
emphasized that a very high impact event is certainly possible but
with somewhat diminished confidence due to model spread and
uncertainties.

Remember that this uncertainty is also carried over into the current
river forecasts which include 48 hours worth of QPF rather than the
typical warm season 24 hours. Current QPF depicts a widespread but
middle of the road 2-3 inches of rainfall affecting the Winnebago
and Cedar basins which results in moderate flooding in several
locations. Changes in location or rainfall amounts on either side of
that spread could result in lower or higher forecast stages. This is
why Hydrological Outlooks rather than warnings have been issued
until confidence in locations and magnitude increases.ow chances
of anything getting rooted surface based at the moment.
Convergence is shallow per the lack of 0-2km moisture convergence
and surface winds east of the boundary are veering suggesting a
downward trend in overall convergence. Some strong to severe
elevated storms are still possible however with higher effective
shear and ESRH still in place north and east of the boundary.

The question into tonight then turns to where new MCS development
will occur and its movement. Confidence is not the highest however
as none of the models are handling the strength of the outflow
boundary well. Examination of 305K isent surfaces show the NAM and
GFS focusing 30-40kts of flow and convergence from the Mason City
area into southern MN while the latest Rap washes this out more and
highlights MN. The latest objective analysis shows the 925/850mb
fronts and associated frontogenesis into MN so this would appear to
be the favored MCS genesis region. It does not mean IA will be
spared however. The strength of the inflow results in Corfidi
vectors with a pronounced southern motion suggesting the MCS will
eventually be drawn into IA. MUCapes of a few thousand should
persist into the night with around 30kts of effective shear
suggesting severe storms would remain possible with favorable shear
orientation north to south into IA.

.LONG TERM.../Thursday night through Wednesday/
Issued at 344 PM CDT Wed Sep 21 2016

Little change in going forecast for the next few days. Confidence in
overall trends for heavy rainfall potential remains high...but
details still debatable due to daily mesoscale interactions.

By early Thursday morning still expecting ongoing convection
across the north with old outflow boundary still the focus for
some thunderstorm activity over the north half of the forecast
area. Though the better forcing will be in the overnight period
tonight...there will still be enough instability during the
morning and afternoon hours to promote thunderstorms with locally
heavy rainfall potential over the north half of the forecast area.
Will maintain FFA across the area through tomorrow afternoon.
Through the night another strong push of thetae advection will
precede the next upstream wave propagating northeast by 12z
Friday. Most of any convection should be confined to the north
third Thursday night and north into Minnesota. With the boundary
holding on there will still be the potential for additional
locally heavy rainfall across the north. If trends continue...
there may be a need for an extension of headlines there. By 12z
Friday models push the warm front well into southern Minnesota.
This will temporarily limit convection over our area as all of the
forcing will be moving north. With the warm sector fully realized
once again Friday...highs will move back into the upper 80s to
lower 90s during the afternoon hours. Surface dew points will
again remain rather uncomfortable in the mid to upper 60s...with
heat indices well into the 90s by late afternoon. With the approach
of an upper level trough over the northern Plains Saturday a cool
front will move into the area by 12-18z. Models have advanced the
front a bit faster...though the boundary begins to slow as it
crosses the region from Sunday through Monday morning. Unfortunately...
the tropical moisture feed will remain intact just along and east
of this boundary. There is some uncertainty but if the boundary is
hung up long enough additional moderate to locally heavy rainfall
amounts of 1 to 2 inches may occur over the region between Saturday
evening and Monday morning...especially east of I35. The GFS and
Euro diverge thereafter...with the GFS focusing the boundary southeast
of the region from Monday through Wednesday. The Euro holds the boundary
over eastern Iowa and with a more northerly track of the northern
Plains system into midweek next week as well as a rather strong southern
stream H500 system developing by 12z Monday. The GFS has the northern
system looping back southeast by 00z into the Central Plains with
virtually no southern stream component at H500 at that time. The
result here is that the surface boundary and rain is pushed out of
the region by the GFS. For comparison...the GEM is even slower and
farther west than the Euro. At this time...will have to weight the
Euro/GEM solutions a bit higher and will need to closely monitor
trends through the weekend. If the latter proves a better solution...the
resultant rainfall over the region could additionally add several
more inches of precipitation on top of what is projected through
Monday. The reason...both the direct fetch from the Gulf and potential
for another old tropical system being injected into the area from
the southern Plains. Highs next week should be cooler with extensive
cloud cover and chances for rainfall.

&&

.AVIATION.../For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Thursday evening/
Issued at 640 PM CDT Wed Sep 21 2016

Storms continue to form right near KMCW, so have continued the
mention of TSRA this evening. Looks like there should be a break
late this evening, before more storms form across southern MN and
drop southward impacting KMCW toward 06Z or so. Otherwise storms
moving southward may roll through the northern TAF sites and near
KDSM with lingering shower activity into Thursday. Winds remain
out of the south. Expect CIGS around MVFR to low VFR with the
storms.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
Issued at 344 PM CDT Wed Sep 21 2016

Regarding rainfall potential, precipitable water and warm cloud
depth values are not extreme, but seasonally high vs climatology
promoting efficient rainfall rates. The outflow boundary has reduced
confidence in high resolution solutions, but the HRRR, RAP and
HopWRF had the best handling on earlier Upper MS Valley convection
and suggest the northern few tiers of IA, eastward to the MS river
could get hit with heavy rains overnight with 15z ESRL HRRR amounts
up to an alarming 5-10 inches and the 15z HopWRF showing high
neighborhood probabilities of at least 5 inches over NE IA out of
our forecast area. Other models only show a few inches however,
which is possible if the stronger Corfidi vector movement makes the
convection too progressive north to south. So again it needs to be
emphasized that a very high impact event is certainly possible but
with somewhat diminished confidence due to model spread and
uncertainties.

Remember that this uncertainty is also carried over into the current
river forecasts which include 48 hours worth of QPF rather than the
typical warm season 24 hours. Current QPF depicts a widespread but
middle of the road 2-3 inches of rainfall affecting the Winnebago
and Cedar basins which results in moderate flooding in several
locations. Changes in location or rainfall amounts on either side of
that spread could result in lower or higher forecast stages. This is
why Hydrological Outlooks rather than warnings have been issued
until confidence in locations and magnitude increases.

&&

.DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flash Flood Watch through Thursday evening for IAZ004>007-
015>017.

Flash Flood Watch through Thursday evening for IAZ023>028-
033>039-044>048.

&&

SHORT TERM...Small
LONG TERM...REV
AVIATION...Beerends
HYDROLOGY...Small

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
358 PM CDT WED SEP 21 2016

IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>048-222100-
EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO-
POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-BUTLER-BREMER-SAC-CALHOUN-
WEBSTER-HAMILTON-HARDIN-GRUNDY-BLACK HAWK-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-
BOONE-STORY-
358 PM CDT WED SEP 21 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE STORMS IS FORECAST TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY
MORNING GENERALLY NORTH OF HIGHWAY 20. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING
WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.

HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO ANTICIPATED AND A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN
EFFECT FOR THE AREA THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING. PLEASE REFER TO THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES FOR
FURTHER DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN AND ISOLATED SEVERE
WEATHER ARE EXPECTED ON THURSDAY INTO THURSDAY EVENING. THE NEXT
POTENTIAL FOR STORMS IS FORECAST SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY. THE
PREDICTABILITY FOR SEVERE WEATHER REMAINS TOO LOW AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED AT TIMES THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY.

IAZ049-050-057>062-070>075-081>086-092>097-222100-
MARSHALL-TAMA-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK-JASPER-POWESHIEK-CASS-
ADAIR-MADISON-WARREN-MARION-MAHASKA-ADAMS-UNION-CLARKE-LUCAS-
MONROE-WAPELLO-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD-DECATUR-WAYNE-APPANOOSE-DAVIS-
358 PM CDT WED SEP 21 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS FORECAST OVERNIGHT TONIGHT INTO
THURSDAY MORNING. THE SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL REMAINS LOW AT THIS
TIME. LOCALLY BRIEF HEAVY RAIN IS POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

THUNDERSTORMS WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN AND ISOLATED SEVERE WEATHER
ARE POSSIBLE ON THURSDAY INTO THURSDAY EVENING. THE NEXT POTENTIAL
FOR STORMS IS FORECAST SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY. THE PREDICTABILITY
FOR SEVERE WEATHER REMAINS TOO LOW AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED AT TIMES THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
338 PM CDT WED SEP 21 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0329 PM     HAIL             3 E ROCKWELL            42.98N 93.12W
09/21/2016  M1.00 INCH       CERRO GORDO        IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            .

&&

NWS DES MOINES IA
IRIS SYSTEM

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
454 PM CDT WED SEP 21 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0355 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 NNE ROCKWELL          43.05N 93.15W
09/21/2016                   CERRO GORDO        IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            3 INCH TREE BRANCHES DOWN AND QUARTER SIZE
            HAIL. .

&&

MJB

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
604 PM CDT WED SEP 21 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0600 PM     HAIL             2 N ROCK FALLS          43.23N 93.08W
09/21/2016  E1.25 INCH       CERRO GORDO        IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL LASTED FOR AROUND 10 MINUTES. STARTED
            OUT AS PEA SIZE AND GRADUALLY GOT BIGGER.
            WINDS ESTIMATED AROUND 20 MPH. .

&&

MJB

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
628 PM CDT WED SEP 21 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0624 PM     TORNADO          4 W GREENE              42.90N 92.88W
09/21/2016                   BUTLER             IA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            BRIEF ROPE TORNADO TOUCHDOWN 4 MILES WEST TO
            POSSIBLE WNW OF GREENE.

&&

MJB

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
632 PM CDT WED SEP 21 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0550 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 SSW MASON CITY        43.13N 93.20W
09/21/2016                   CERRO GORDO        IA   AMATEUR RADIO

            TREE LIMBS DOWN APPROXIMATELY 3 INCHES IN
            DIAMETER.

&&

NWS DES MOINES IA
IRIS SYSTEM

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
641 PM CDT WED SEP 21 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0638 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 ENE GREENE            42.90N 92.77W
09/21/2016                   BUTLER             IA   STORM CHASER

            OBSERVED TREE DAMAGE IN STORM CHASER LIVE
            VIDEO STREAM. MULTIPLE LARGE TREE LIMBS
            DOWN.

&&

NWS DES MOINES IA
IRIS SYSTEM