Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 1, NWS Des Moines, IA

May 20, 2021Boone County, Dallas County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this tornado warning at May 20, 2021, 9:39 PM CDT for Boone County, Dallas County, Iowa. It was in force for 22 min. 1 report 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
May 20, 2021, 9:39 PM CDT (02:39 UTC)
Expired
May 20, 2021, 10:01 PM CDT
In force
22 min
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.0 in

Counties Boone County, IA, Dallas County, IA

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 18 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:37 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
May 20, 9:45 PM CDTTORNADO3 S Woodward, IABRIEF, WEAK TORNADO OCCURRED OVER RURAL NORTHEAST DALLAS COUNTY SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST OF WOODWARD. 1.5 MILE PATH. 50 YARDS WIDE. PEAK WIND 75 MPH. APPROXIMATE DURATION 945-950PM CDT.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 00:00Z, 2.7 hours before the alert went out and 213 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, Omaha, NE at 00:00Z on 2021-05-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 214 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, Omaha, NE at 00:00Z on 2021-05-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 71 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
214 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
588 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
41 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
71 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
39 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
2.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

047 
WFUS53 KDMX 210239
TORDMX
IAC015-049-210315-
/O.NEW.KDMX.TO.W.0001.210521T0239Z-210521T0315Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
939 PM CDT Thu May 20 2021

The National Weather Service in Des Moines  has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Boone County in central Iowa...
  Northeastern Dallas County in central Iowa...

* Until 1015 PM CDT.
    
* At 938 PM CDT, a shower capable of producing a tornado was located 
  near Granger, or 8 miles northwest of Grimes, moving north at 35 
  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 dangerous storm will be near...
  Woodward around 950 PM CDT.
  Madrid around 955 PM CDT.

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 4173 9390 4174 9396 4198 9393 4195 9379
TIME...MOT...LOC 0238Z 193DEG 32KT 4176 9392 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...0.00IN

$$

Ansorge
2 follow-up statements
506 
WWUS53 KDMX 210256
SVSDMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
956 PM CDT Thu May 20 2021

IAC049-210305-
/O.CAN.KDMX.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-210521T0315Z/
Dallas IA-
956 PM CDT Thu May 20 2021

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

LAT...LON 4192 9394 4198 9393 4196 9383 4186 9388
      4186 9394
TIME...MOT...LOC 0255Z 193DEG 32KT 4191 9387 

$$

IAC015-210315-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-210521T0315Z/
Boone IA-
956 PM CDT Thu May 20 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1015 PM CDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL BOONE COUNTY...
    
At 955 PM CDT, a shower capable of producing a tornado was located 
north of Woodward, or 9 miles south of Boone, moving north at 35 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
south central Boone County, including the following locations...
Ledges State Park.

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 4192 9394 4198 9393 4196 9383 4186 9388
      4186 9394
TIME...MOT...LOC 0255Z 193DEG 32KT 4191 9387 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...0.00IN

$$

Ansorge
710 
WWUS53 KDMX 210301
SVSDMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
1001 PM CDT Thu May 20 2021

IAC015-210311-
/O.CAN.KDMX.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-210521T0315Z/
Boone IA-
1001 PM CDT Thu May 20 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL BOONE COUNTY IS CANCELLED...
                
The shower which prompted the warning has weakened below severe 
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

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

LAT...LON 4192 9394 4198 9393 4196 9383 4186 9388
      4186 9394
TIME...MOT...LOC 0259Z 193DEG 32KT 4197 9385 

$$

Ansorge

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Iowa, 2021Every tornado warning in 2021Tornadoes in 2021

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.