Alert archive / Iowa / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2018

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 115, NWS Quad Cities, IA

September 1, 2018Buchanan County, Delaware County, Linn County, Iowa

NWS Quad Cities, IA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Sep 1, 2018, 1:12 AM CDT for Buchanan County, Delaware County, Linn County, Iowa. It was in force for 29 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Sep 1, 2018, 1:12 AM CDT (06:12 UTC)
Expired
Sep 1, 2018, 1:41 AM CDT
In force
29 min
Issued by
NWS Quad Cities, IA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.25 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Buchanan County, IA, Delaware County, IA, Linn County, IA

The radar

The Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 117 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 06:13 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 nearest sounding before it

Davenport, (KDVN), launched 00:00Z, 6.2 hours before the alert went out and 121 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 2018-09-01Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Davenport, at 00:00Z on 2018-09-01The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 138 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1610 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
8 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
138 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
184 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Quad Cities, IA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Sep 1, 12:56 AM CDT, 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 1, 12:56 AM CDT, 16 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
1256 AM CDT Sat Sep 1 2018

...06z AVIATION UPDATE...

.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 246 PM CDT Fri Aug 31 2018

A warm front stretched from south central Nebraska southeastward
into central Missouri as of 3 PM. Temperatures were in the lower
80s across the area with dew points in the mid to upper 60s. An
area of showers and thunderstorms was moving across western Iowa.

&&

.SHORT TERM...(This Evening through Saturday)
ISSUED AT 246 PM CDT Fri Aug 31 2018

The main forecast concern are chances of precipitation and threat
of heavy rainfall. Models were not in very good agreement on the
timing and placement of features giving a lower confidence to the
forecast.

Current CAMs show the western Iowa convection moving eastward across
Iowa and diminishing into this evening with mainly showers as it moves
into the western edge of the CWA and the forecast reflects that
thinking.

The GFS, ECMWF, Canadian, and NAM all show energy arriving across the
area between 06 to 12 UTC on Saturday as the low level jet
develops over central Iowa and veering into the northwest part of
CWA by 12 utc. SPC has eastern Iowa in a Slight Risk of severe
thunderstorms through 12z Saturday and a Marginal Risk for the
remainder of the day. In addition to the severe threat, deep
moisture advection will yield precipitable water values of 1.75 to
2.00 inches. This is below the 6 hour flash flood guidance of
about 2.60 inches. CAMs and Synoptic models show thunderstorms
shifting into eastern Iowa between 6 to 12 UTC but the CAMS
develop the convection in central Iowa and move it eastward while
the Synoptic models show the convection building southward north
of Highway 30.

In the wake of this system, models hint at very fast moving 500
MB ridging moving across the area before more shortwave energy
arrives in the afternoon and continues into the overnight hours.
Temperatures will be above normal tonight and tomorrow.

.LONG TERM...(Saturday Night through Friday)
ISSUED AT 246 PM CDT Fri Aug 31 2018

An exceptionally moist conveyor will be positioned on the west
side of the broad area of high pressure over the Mid Atlantic
states through the period. That will support bout of thunderstorms
with very heavy rain and possibly some severe weather in the form
of damaging wind segments. I feel the heavy rain is by far the
greatest threat. A flash flood watch will likely be needed for
portions of the area, but will not be issued yet, as we'd like to
see what areas get hit tonight, as they'll be primed for the
highest threat for water problems in the coming days, while other
areas may be able to take another day's event before seeing
problems. Rain amounts through Sunday morning are forecast to be
in the 1 to 3 inch range.

While models may be somewhat overdone on the continuous nature of
the PWAT feed around 2 inches, there will certainly be periods
where it should be in that range, and like this past week, those
values are exceptional and rank near the top 10 values recorded
for early September. Perturbations in the flow coming from the
southwest monsoon should be enough to keep the daily cycle of
convective dissipation to outflow south of the synoptic warm
front, afternoon formation along that outflow, followed by
maturing MCS along the front going. That is likely to wobble
latitude somewhat, but should mainly impact the north 1/2 to
2/3rds of the CWA through early week and possibly beyond.

River flooding and flash flooding will be a growing threat, and
specifics for both threats will be identified in the next few
days. Temperatures will be warm and air humid, and we've gone
with a straight guidance blend here through day 7.

ERVIN

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Saturday Night)
ISSUED AT 1250 AM CDT Sat Sep 1 2018

Clusters of thunderstorms with occasional passing MVFR to IFR
conditions likley through Sat morning at most TAF sites, but the
CID and DBQ sites more prone. With 40 KT southwest winds at 2000
FT AGL, near low level wind shear criteria through Sat morning
before sfc winds increase and the low level jet(LLJ) decreases.
Then a lull in the shower and storms expected from late morning
and for much of the afternoon, before more sctrd storms expected
to develop by late afternoon and Sat evening mainly north of I80.
Variable CIGs from MVFR to VFR Sat, with south to southwest sfc
winds of 10-15 KTs...gustier near the thunderstorms.  ..12..

&&

.DVN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IA...NONE.
IL...NONE.
MO...NONE.
&&

SYNOPSIS...Cousins
SHORT TERM...Cousins
LONG TERM...Ervin
AVIATION...12
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 31, 4:31 AM CDT, 20 hours 41 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
431 AM CDT Fri Aug 31 2018

IAZ040>042-051>054-063>068-076>078-087>089-098-099-ILZ001-002-007-
009-015>018-024>026-034-035-MOZ009-010-011000-
Buchanan-Delaware-Dubuque-Benton-Linn-Jones-Jackson-Iowa-Johnson-
Cedar-Clinton-Muscatine-Scott-Keokuk-Washington-Louisa-Jefferson-
Henry IA-Des Moines-Van Buren-Lee-Jo Daviess-Stephenson-Carroll-
Whiteside-Rock Island-Henry IL-Bureau-Putnam-Mercer-Henderson-
Warren-Hancock-McDonough-Scotland-Clark-
431 AM CDT Fri Aug 31 2018

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central
Illinois...northwest Illinois...west central Illinois...east
central Iowa...northeast Iowa...southeast Iowa and northeast
Missouri.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

Thunderstorms tonight could be strong to possibly severe, mainly
northwest of a line from Freeport, Illinois to the Quad Cities
to Memphis, Missouri. Damaging winds, large hail and heavy rainfall
are the main threats.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

Thunderstorms will continue to move across much of the area
Saturday morning, with gusty winds and heavy rainfall possible.
Then more strong to severe storms will be possible again later on
Saturday afternoon and Saturday night. The Storm Prediction
Center has placed a Marginal Risk over most of the outlook area
for Saturday. There will also be a continued threat of heavy
rainfall and localized flooding through Saturday night.

Sunday through Wednesday, there is a chance of thunderstorms each
day. It is too soon to determine the risk of severe weather.

Heat and humidity will return this weekend, sending heat index
readings as high as the 90s during the afternoon and early evening
hours Saturday through Wednesday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is possible, mainly tonight across portions of
eastern Iowa and northeast Missouri.

05/12

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 31, 7:12 PM CDT, 6 hours before
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Special weather statement, Aug 31, 11:32 PM CDT, 1 hour 40 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA/IL
1132 PM CDT FRI AUG 31 2018

IAC011-095-107-183-010530-
Keokuk-Benton-Washington-Iowa-
1132 PM CDT FRI AUG 31 2018

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT KEOKUK...WESTERN
WASHINGTON AND IOWA COUNTIES UNTIL 1230 AM CDT...

At 1127 PM CDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms located along a
line extending from near Grinnell to near New Sharon to 8 miles
north of Albia. Movement was to the northeast at 30 mph.

Nickel size hail is possible with these storms as they move through
portions of Iowa, Keokuk and western Washington Counties between
midnight and 1 AM.

This includes Interstate 80 in Iowa between mile markers 205 and 229.

LAT...LON 4151 9241 4151 9230 4190 9230 4189 9183
      4117 9182 4116 9241
TIME...MOT...LOC 0427Z 130DEG 26KT 4188 9286 4152 9271 4115 9283

Sheets
Special weather statement, Sep 1, 12:43 AM CDT, 29 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA/IL
1243 AM CDT SAT SEP 1 2018

IAC011-095-103-107-113-183-010645-
Keokuk-Johnson-Benton-Washington-Linn-Iowa-
1243 AM CDT SAT SEP 1 2018

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT KEOKUK...NORTHWESTERN
JOHNSON...BENTON...NORTHWESTERN WASHINGTON...WESTERN LINN AND IOWA
COUNTIES UNTIL 145 AM CDT...

At 1242 AM CDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from near Walker to What Cheer. Movement was
northeast at 40 mph.

Nickel size hail is possible with these storms.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 80 in Iowa between mile markers 205 and 231.
 Interstate 380 between mile markers 19 and 48.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may
cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

LAT...LON 4151 9241 4151 9230 4217 9230 4230 9227
      4230 9153 4125 9196 4125 9241
TIME...MOT...LOC 0542Z 232DEG 35KT 4225 9179 4141 9232

McClure
Special weather statement, Sep 1, 1:05 AM CDT, 7 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA/IL
105 AM CDT SAT SEP 1 2018

IAC019-055-113-010700-
Buchanan-Delaware-Linn-
105 AM CDT SAT SEP 1 2018

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN BUCHANAN...
SOUTHWESTERN DELAWARE AND NORTHWESTERN LINN COUNTIES UNTIL 200 AM
CDT...

At 105 AM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Walker, or 13
miles southeast of Independence, moving northeast at 30 mph.

Winds in excess of 30 mph and nickel size hail are possible with this
storm.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

LAT...LON 4262 9163 4240 9126 4217 9176 4222 9183
      4230 9183 4230 9192
TIME...MOT...LOC 0605Z 229DEG 25KT 4228 9178

McClure

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 31, 7:12 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDVNDes Moines, Henry, Iowa, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lee and 3 more108 min
Aug 31, 11:32 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDVNIowa, Keokuk58 min
Sep 1, 12:43 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDVNBenton, Iowa, Keokuk62 min
Sep 1, 1:05 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDVNDelaware55 min
Sep 1, 1:28 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDVNKeokuk32 min
Sep 1, 3:29 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningDVNIowa8 hr
Sep 1, 3:44 AM CDTFlash Flood WatchDVNBenton, Buchanan, Cedar, Clinton, Delaware, Des Moines and 13 more24 hr
Sep 1, 4:16 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningDVNBenton8 hr
Sep 1, 10:01 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNClinton, Scott17 days
Sep 1, 10:01 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNCedar, Louisa, Muscatine15 days
Sep 1, 10:01 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNIowa15 days
Sep 1, 10:01 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNJohnson, Louisa, Washington5 days
Sep 1, 10:01 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNLouisa14 days
Sep 1, 10:01 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNLouisa16 days
Sep 1, 10:01 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNLouisa16 days
Sep 1, 10:01 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNJohnson, Washington5 days
Sep 1, 10:01 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNKeokuk10 days
Sep 1, 11:27 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningDVNIowa24 hr
Sep 1, 6:59 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDVNKeokuk31 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Iowa, 2018Every severe thunderstorm warning 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.