Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2020

Tornado Warning 1, NWS La Crosse, WI

March 28, 2020Fayette County, Iowa

NWS La Crosse, WI issued this tornado warning at Mar 28, 2020, 6:30 PM CDT for Fayette County, Iowa. It was in force for 45 min. 9 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: Mar 28, 2020, 6:30 PM CDT (23:30 UTC)
Expired: Mar 28, 2020, 7:15 PM CDT
In force: 45 min
Issued by: NWS La Crosse, WI
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 1.0 in

County Fayette County, IA

The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 134 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:33 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Mar 28, 6:33 PM CDT	FUNNEL CLOUD	2 S Oelwein, IA	FUNNEL CLOUD RAPIDLY DEVELOPING. POSSIBLE DEBRIS BUT UNSURE.
Mar 28, 6:33 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	1 W Oelwein, IA	DAMAGE TO TREES AT RED GATE PARK ON WEST SIDE OF TOWN. POSSIBLE TORNADO.
Mar 28, 6:33 PM CDT	TORNADO	1 W Oelwein, IA	CONFIRMED WITH VIDEO. DAMAGE TO APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND TREES IN RED GATE PARK.
Mar 28, 6:33 PM CDT	TORNADO	1 W Oelwein, IA	CONFIRMED WITH VIDEO. DAMAGE TO APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND TREES IN RED GATE PARK. ENTIRE TORNADO WAS 630 TO 636 PM.
Mar 28, 6:40 PM CDT	TORNADO	2 Se Maynard, IA	CONFIRMED DAMAGE TO BARNS SOUTHEAST AND EAST OF MAYNARD. ENTIRE TORNADO WAS 640 TO 642 PM.
Mar 28, 6:44 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	1 W Oelwein, IA	NUMEROUS TREES DOWN IN RED GATE PARK AREA. PROBABLE TORNADO BASED ON SPOTTER REPORTS.
Mar 28, 6:50 PM CDT	HAIL 0.5	Wadena, IA	.
Mar 28, 6:50 PM CDT	HAIL 0.5	Wadena, IA
Mar 28, 7:00 PM CDT	FUNNEL CLOUD	1 Ssw Fayette, IA	POSSIBLE TORNADO. REPORTED ROPE FUNNEL APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF MAYNARD, IA APPROXIMATELY 7 PM.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Davenport, (KDVN), launched 12:00Z, 11.5 hours before the alert went out and 167 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 695 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 72 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -128 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 164 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

936 
WFUS53 KARX 282330
TORARX
IAC065-290015-
/O.NEW.KARX.TO.W.0001.200328T2330Z-200329T0015Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
630 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

The National Weather Service in La Crosse has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southern Fayette County in northeastern Iowa...

* Until 715 PM CDT.
    
* At 630 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Oelwein, moving northeast at 50 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

  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 dangerous storm will be near...
  Stanley around 635 PM CDT.
  Maynard around 640 PM CDT.
  Fayette and Arlington around 650 PM CDT.
  Elgin around 700 PM CDT.
  Clermont around 705 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Volga
River State Park, Wadena, Brainard, County Road W 45 And 187, County
Road W 33 And 187, County Roads 3 And W 13 and County Roads 3 And W
45.

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 4264 9208 4267 9208 4303 9161 4272 9161
      4264 9174
TIME...MOT...LOC 2330Z 218DEG 44KT 4266 9195 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

JAM

3 follow-up statements

007 
WWUS53 KARX 282335
SVSARX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
635 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

IAC065-290015-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-200329T0015Z/
Fayette IA-
635 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM CDT FOR SOUTHERN
FAYETTE COUNTY...
    
At 630 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located near Oelwein, moving 
northeast at 50 mph.

HAZARD...Damaging tornado and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed tornado.

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 tornado will be near...
  Fayette and Arlington around 645 PM CDT.
  Elgin and Clermont around 700 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Volga
River State Park, Wadena, Brainard, County Road W 45 And 187, County
Road W 33 And 187, County Roads 3 And W 13 and County Roads 3 And W
45.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. 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.

If a tornado or other severe weather is spotted, report it to the
National Weather Service or your local nearest law enforcement agency
who will send your report. This act may save lives of others in the
path of dangerous weather.

&&

LAT...LON 4264 9208 4267 9208 4303 9161 4272 9161
      4264 9174
TIME...MOT...LOC 2335Z 218DEG 44KT 4271 9190 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

JAM

768 
WWUS53 KARX 282345
SVSARX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
645 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

IAC065-290015-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-200329T0015Z/
Fayette IA-
645 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN FAYETTE COUNTY...
    
At 645 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Maynard, or 8 miles northeast of Oelwein, moving
northeast at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

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 dangerous storm will be near...
  Fayette and Arlington around 650 PM CDT.
  Elgin and Clermont around 710 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Volga
River State Park, Wadena, Brainard, County Road W 33 And 187, County
Road W 45 And 187, County Roads 3 And W 45 and County Roads 3 And W
33.

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.

If a tornado or other severe weather is spotted, report it to the
National Weather Service or your local nearest law enforcement agency
who will send your report. This act may save lives of others in the
path of dangerous weather.

&&

LAT...LON 4264 9189 4277 9195 4303 9161 4272 9161
      4264 9174
TIME...MOT...LOC 2345Z 216DEG 37KT 4278 9183 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

JAM

030 
WWUS53 KARX 290006
SVSARX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
706 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

IAC065-290015-
/O.EXP.KARX.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-200329T0015Z/
Fayette IA-
706 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN FAYETTE COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
715 PM CDT...
        
The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

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

LAT...LON 4264 9189 4277 9195 4303 9161 4272 9161
      4264 9174
TIME...MOT...LOC 0005Z 218DEG 44KT 4297 9163 

$$

JAM

The office that day

Everything else NWS La Crosse, WI issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 28, 3:44 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	ARX	Allamakee, Clayton	46 min
Mar 28, 6:18 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ARX	Fayette	42 min
Mar 28, 6:52 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	ARX	Clayton	53 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Iowa, 2020 Every tornado warning in 2020 Tornadoes in 2020

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.