Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2018

Tornado Warning 55, NWS Des Moines, IA

September 4, 2018Hancock County, Winnebago County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this tornado warning at Sep 4, 2018, 4:45 PM CDT for Hancock County, Winnebago County, Iowa. It was in force for 30 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Sep 4, 2018, 4:45 PM CDT (21:45 UTC)
Expired
Sep 4, 2018, 5:15 PM CDT
In force
30 min
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Hancock County, IA, Winnebago County, IA

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 170 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:49 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.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Sep 4, 3:35 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 9.8 hours before the alert went out and 178 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, Minneapolis, MN at 12:00Z on 2018-09-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 106 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, Minneapolis, MN at 12:00Z on 2018-09-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 45 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
106 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-31 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
667 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
38 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
45 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
71 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

044 
WFUS53 KDMX 042145
TORDMX
IAC081-189-042215-
/O.NEW.KDMX.TO.W.0055.180904T2145Z-180904T2215Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
445 PM CDT TUE SEP 4 2018

The National Weather Service in Des Moines  has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northwestern Hancock County in north central Iowa...
  Southwestern Winnebago County in north central Iowa...

* Until 515 PM CDT.
    
* At 445 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 10 miles northwest of Britt, or 13 miles west of Forest
  City, moving northeast at 30 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
  northwestern Hancock and southwestern Winnebago Counties, including
  the following locations... Crystal Lake, Woden and Thompson.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 4316 9389 4324 9397 4341 9381 4330 9362
TIME...MOT...LOC 2145Z 228DEG 24KT 4323 9390 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

Cogil
3 follow-up statements
111 
WWUS53 KDMX 042157
SVSDMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
457 PM CDT TUE SEP 4 2018

IAC081-042206-
/O.CAN.KDMX.TO.W.0055.000000T0000Z-180904T2215Z/
Hancock IA-
457 PM CDT TUE SEP 4 2018

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN HANCOCK COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
    
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area.  Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for north central
Iowa.

LAT...LON 4333 9367 4326 9377 4325 9381 4326 9390
      4341 9381
TIME...MOT...LOC 2156Z 221DEG 26KT 4329 9382 

$$

IAC189-042215-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0055.000000T0000Z-180904T2215Z/
Winnebago IA-
457 PM CDT TUE SEP 4 2018

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN WINNEBAGO COUNTY...
    
At 456 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 9 miles west of Forest City, moving northeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
Thompson.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 4333 9367 4326 9377 4325 9381 4326 9390
      4341 9381
TIME...MOT...LOC 2156Z 221DEG 26KT 4329 9382 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

Cogil
285 
WWUS53 KDMX 042204
SVSDMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
504 PM CDT TUE SEP 4 2018

IAC189-042215-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0055.000000T0000Z-180904T2215Z/
Winnebago IA-
504 PM CDT TUE SEP 4 2018

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM CDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL WINNEBAGO COUNTY...
    
At 504 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 8 miles northwest of Forest City, moving northeast at 30
mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
Thompson.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 4333 9367 4328 9376 4334 9384 4341 9381
TIME...MOT...LOC 2204Z 222DEG 26KT 4334 9377 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

Cogil
370 
WWUS53 KDMX 042213
SVSDMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
513 PM CDT TUE SEP 4 2018

IAC189-042223-
/O.EXP.KDMX.TO.W.0055.000000T0000Z-180904T2215Z/
Winnebago IA-
513 PM CDT TUE SEP 4 2018

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL WINNEBAGO COUNTY WILL EXPIRE
AT 515 PM CDT...
                
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for north central
Iowa.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
Des Moines .

LAT...LON 4333 9367 4328 9376 4334 9384 4341 9381
TIME...MOT...LOC 2213Z 228DEG 24KT 4337 9372 

$$

Cogil

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 3, 7:32 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDMXBlack Hawk, Bremer, Grundy88 min
Sep 3, 7:43 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXBlack Hawk3 hr
Sep 4, 3:33 AM CDTFlash Flood WatchDMXBlack Hawk, Boone, Bremer, Butler, Calhoun, Cerro Gordo and 22 more27 hr
Sep 4, 9:34 AM CDTRiver Flood WatchDMXCerro Gordo, Floyd, Worth13 hr
Sep 4, 9:34 AM CDTRiver Flood WatchDMXBlack Hawk, Bremer, Butler25 hr
Sep 4, 2:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXPalo Alto, Pocahontas14 min
Sep 4, 3:46 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedDMXKossuth29 min
Sep 4, 5:09 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXHancock, Kossuth, Winnebago6 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Iowa, 2018Every tornado warning in 2018Tornadoes in 2018

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.