Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2020

Tornado Warning 2, NWS La Crosse, WI

March 28, 2020Clayton County, Iowa

NWS La Crosse, WI issued this tornado warning at Mar 28, 2020, 6:52 PM CDT for Clayton County, Iowa. It was in force for 53 min. 5 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, 6:52 PM CDT (23:52 UTC)
Expired
Mar 28, 2020, 7:45 PM CDT
In force
53 min
Issued by
NWS La Crosse, WI
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.0 in

County Clayton County, IA

The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 104 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:54 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
Mar 28, 7:15 PM CDTFUNNEL CLOUDSaint Olaf, IA.
Mar 28, 7:15 PM CDTFUNNEL CLOUDSaint Olaf, IA
Mar 28, 7:15 PM CDTHAIL 1Elkader, IA.
Mar 28, 7:15 PM CDTHAIL 1Elkader, IA
Mar 28, 7:20 PM CDTHAIL 0.252 N Farmersburg, IA

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, 11.9 hours before the alert went out and 157 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 12:00Z on 2020-03-28Temperature 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°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Davenport, at 12:00Z on 2020-03-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -128 square meters per square second.1939587897117136Sfc1 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
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.

401 
WFUS53 KARX 282352
TORARX
IAC043-290045-
/O.NEW.KARX.TO.W.0002.200328T2352Z-200329T0045Z/

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

The National Weather Service in La Crosse has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Western Clayton County in northeastern Iowa...

* Until 745 PM CDT.
    
* At 652 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Arlington, or 12 miles southwest of Elkader,
  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...
  Elkader around 710 PM CDT.
  Farmersburg around 720 PM CDT.
  McGregor around 730 PM CDT.
  Marquette around 735 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Spook
Cave Campground, Mederville, Giard, Highway 13 And County C 24,
National, Pikes Peak State Park and Osborne.

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.

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

&&

LAT...LON 4287 9161 4308 9125 4308 9118 4298 9116
      4296 9114 4291 9114 4289 9111 4264 9158
      4264 9160
TIME...MOT...LOC 2352Z 224DEG 39KT 4276 9162 

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

$$

JAM
3 follow-up statements
760 
WWUS53 KARX 290001
SVSARX

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

IAC043-290045-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-200329T0045Z/
Clayton IA-
701 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM CDT FOR WESTERN
CLAYTON COUNTY...
    
At 701 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Volga, or near Elkader, 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...
  Elkader around 710 PM CDT.
  Garnavillo and Farmersburg around 720 PM CDT.
  McGregor and Marquette around 730 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Spook
Cave Campground, Mederville, Giard, Highway 13 And County C 24,
National, Pikes Peak State Park and Osborne.

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 4287 9161 4308 9125 4308 9118 4298 9116
      4296 9114 4291 9114 4289 9111 4264 9158
      4264 9160
TIME...MOT...LOC 0001Z 236DEG 38KT 4279 9149 

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

$$

JAM
149 
WWUS53 KARX 290019
SVSARX

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

IAC043-290045-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-200329T0045Z/
Clayton IA-
719 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM CDT FOR WESTERN
CLAYTON COUNTY...
    
At 719 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Garnavillo, or near Elkader, 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...
  McGregor and Marquette around 735 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Froelich, Spook Cave Campground, Mederville, Motor, Communia, Giard
and Clayton Center.

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 4283 9155 4293 9151 4308 9125 4308 9118
      4298 9116 4296 9114 4291 9114 4289 9111
      4264 9158 4264 9160
TIME...MOT...LOC 0019Z 228DEG 39KT 4289 9130 

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

$$

JAM
388 
WWUS53 KARX 290036
SVSARX

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

IAC043-290045-
/O.EXP.KARX.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-200329T0045Z/
Clayton IA-
736 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR WESTERN CLAYTON COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 745
PM CDT...
        
The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.  However small hail
and gusty winds are still possible with this thunderstorm.

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

LAT...LON 4283 9155 4293 9151 4308 9125 4308 9118
      4298 9116 4296 9114 4291 9114 4289 9111
      4264 9158 4264 9160
TIME...MOT...LOC 0035Z 224DEG 39KT 4301 9114 

$$

JAM

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 28, 3:44 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementARXAllamakee, Clayton46 min
Mar 28, 6:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXFayette42 min
Mar 28, 6:30 PM CDTTornado WarningARXFayette45 min

Nearby

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