Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 24, NWS Sioux Falls, SD

December 15, 2021Buena Vista County, Cherokee County, Clay County, Iowa

NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued this tornado warning at Dec 15, 2021, 5:08 PM CST for Buena Vista County, Cherokee County, Clay County, Iowa. It was in force for 37 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
Dec 15, 2021, 5:08 PM CST (23:08 UTC)
Expired
Dec 15, 2021, 5:45 PM CST
In force
37 min
Issued by
NWS Sioux Falls, SD
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Buena Vista County, IA, Cherokee County, IA, Clay County, IA

The radar

The Sioux Falls radar (KFSD), 159 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:08 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
Dec 15, 5:10 PM CSTTSTM WND GST 514 Wsw Lakeside, IATIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

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

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Dec 15, 1:23 PM CSTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 12:00Z, 11.1 hours before the alert went out and 187 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 12:00Z on 2021-12-15Temperature 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, Omaha, NE at 12:00Z on 2021-12-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 346 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
2165 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
42 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
346 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
384 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

174 
WFUS53 KFSD 152308
TORFSD
IAC021-035-041-152345-
/O.NEW.KFSD.TO.W.0024.211215T2308Z-211215T2345Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
508 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  East central Cherokee County in northwestern Iowa...
  Buena Vista County in northwestern Iowa...
  Southeastern Clay County in northwestern Iowa...

* Until 545 PM CST.

* At 508 PM CST, severe thunderstorms capable of producing both
  tornadoes and extensive straight line wind damage were located over
  Storm Lake, moving northeast at 80 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.

* These dangerous storms will be near...
  Sioux Rapids and Albert City around 520 PM CST.
  Marathon and Webb around 525 PM CST.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Gillett Grove and Rembrandt.

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.

This cluster of thunderstorms is capable of producing tornadoes and
widespread significant wind damage. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest
floor of a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4256 9509 4256 9536 4260 9541 4267 9541
      4313 9509 4310 9491 4272 9492
TIME...MOT...LOC 2308Z 218DEG 68KT 4265 9525 

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

$$

SG
2 follow-up statements
984 
WWUS53 KFSD 152330
SVSFSD

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
530 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

IAC021-035-152339-
/O.CAN.KFSD.TO.W.0024.000000T0000Z-211215T2345Z/
Cherokee IA-Buena Vista IA-
530 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL CHEROKEE AND BUENA VISTA
COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
    
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled. 
However, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CST for northwestern
Iowa.

LAT...LON 4291 9492 4291 9500 4297 9520 4313 9509
      4310 9493 4310 9491 4292 9491
TIME...MOT...LOC 2329Z 211DEG 67KT 4301 9502 

$$

IAC041-152345-
/O.CON.KFSD.TO.W.0024.000000T0000Z-211215T2345Z/
Clay IA-
530 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM CST FOR
SOUTHEASTERN CLAY COUNTY...

At 529 PM CST, a severe squall line capable of producing both
tornadoes and extensive straight line wind damage was located near
Webb, or 11 miles southeast of Spencer In Clay County, moving
northeast at 75 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
southeastern Clay County, including the following locations...
Gillett Grove.

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.

This cluster of thunderstorms is capable of producing tornadoes and
widespread significant wind damage. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest
floor of a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4291 9492 4291 9500 4297 9520 4313 9509
      4310 9493 4310 9491 4292 9491
TIME...MOT...LOC 2329Z 211DEG 67KT 4301 9502 

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

$$

SG
996 
WWUS53 KFSD 152342
SVSFSD

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
542 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

IAC041-152352-
/O.EXP.KFSD.TO.W.0024.000000T0000Z-211215T2345Z/
Clay IA-
542 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN CLAY COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
545 PM CST...
        
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and has exited the warned area. Therefore, the warning will
be allowed to expire.  However gusty winds are still possible with
this thunderstorm.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CST for northwestern
Iowa.

LAT...LON 4291 9492 4291 9500 4297 9520 4313 9509
      4310 9493 4310 9491 4292 9491
TIME...MOT...LOC 2342Z 218DEG 68KT 4318 9484 

$$

SG

The office that day

Everything else NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 15, 2:56 AM CSTDense Fog AdvisoryFSDBuena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Ida, Lyon and 5 more6 hr
Dec 15, 3:23 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatFSDPlymouth, Woodbury67 min
Dec 15, 4:00 PM CSTTornado WarningFSDWoodbury45 min
Dec 15, 4:05 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatFSDBuena Vista, Cherokee, Ida, Plymouth, Woodbury55 min
Dec 15, 4:17 PM CSTTornado WarningFSDPlymouth, Woodbury28 min
Dec 15, 4:26 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatFSDPlymouth, Woodbury34 min
Dec 15, 4:31 PM CSTTornado WarningFSDIda, Plymouth, Woodbury29 min
Dec 15, 4:32 PM CSTTornado WarningFSDPlymouth, Woodbury28 min
Dec 15, 4:42 PM CSTTornado WarningFSDBuena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Ida, O'Brien, Plymouth and 1 more33 min
Dec 15, 4:51 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatFSDO'Brien, Sioux39 min
Dec 15, 4:56 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatFSDBuena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Ida46 min
Dec 15, 5:15 PM CSTTornado WarningFSDBuena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, O'Brien30 min
Dec 15, 5:29 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatFSDDickinson46 min

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.