Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 20, NWS Omaha, NE

December 15, 2021Fremont County, Mills County, Iowa; Cass County, Otoe County, Nebraska

NWS Omaha, NE issued this tornado warning at Dec 15, 2021, 4:01 PM CST for Fremont County, Mills County, Iowa; Cass County, Otoe County, Nebraska. It was in force for 14 min. 15 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: Dec 15, 2021, 4:01 PM CST (22:01 UTC)
Expired: Dec 15, 2021, 4:15 PM CST
In force: 14 min
Issued by: NWS Omaha, NE
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 0.75 in

Counties Fremont County, IA, Mills County, IA, Cass County, NE, Otoe County, NE

The radar

The Omaha radar (KOAX), 74 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:01 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
Dec 15, 4:01 PM CST	TSTM WND DMG	5 Ssw Union, NE	BARN AND GRAIN BINS DESTROYED. TREES SNAPPED. ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO TREES AND POWER LINES ACROSS OTHER PARTS OF OTOE COUNTY AS WELL.
Dec 15, 4:05 PM CST	NON-TSTM WND GST 48	3 Nw Nebraska City, NE	MESONET STATION NB047 NEBRASKA CITY 3NW.
Dec 15, 4:05 PM CST	TORNADO	3 Ne Nehawka, NE	ROOF REMOVED FROM HOUSE. ROOF OVER GARAGE UPLIFTED AND DISPLACED. HOUSE MOVED SLIGHTLY ON FOUNDATION. SEVERAL LARGE PINES & OAK TREES SNAPPED.
Dec 15, 4:05 PM CST	TORNADO	4 S Union, NE	A BRIEF EF-1 TORNADO SNAPPED POWER POLES. SWIRLING WAS NOTED IN CORN FIELDS NORTH AND SOUTH OF COUNTY ROAD C.
Dec 15, 4:05 PM CST	TORNADO	4 S Union, NE	A BRIEF EF-1 TORNADO SNAPPED POWER POLES. SWIRLING WAS NOTED IN CORN FIELDS NORTH AND SOUTH OF COUNTY ROAD C.
Dec 15, 4:06 PM CST	TORNADO	2 Sse Murray, NE	A BRIEF EF-1 TORNADO CAUSED DAMAGE TO POWER POLES AND TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF A FARM OUTBUILDING NEAR HIGHWAY 75 AND BAXTER LOOP.
Dec 15, 4:06 PM CST	TORNADO	3 Ne Nehawka, NE	CORRECTS PREVIOUS TORNADO REPORT FROM 3 NE NEHAWKA. TORNADO TRACK COMBINED WITH PREVIOUSLY SEPARATE TRACK THAT STARTED 2 SSE OF MURRAY, OR 3 SW OF BEAVER LAKE. TORNADO REMOVED ROOF FROM HOUSE. ROOF OVER GARAGE UPLIFTED AND DISPLACED. HOUSE MOVED SLIGHTLY ON FO
Dec 15, 4:08 PM CST	TSTM WND DMG	2 Ene Murray, NE	ROOF BLOWN AWAY AT BEAVER LAKE.
Dec 15, 4:09 PM CST	TORNADO	3 E Murray, NE	THREE WITNESSES OBSERVED TORNADO FORM SOUTH SIDE OF LAKE. ROOF TAKEN OFF RESIDENCE. SEVERAL HARDWOOD TREES SNAPPED AND PINE TREES UPROOTED OR SNAPPED.
Dec 15, 4:10 PM CST	TORNADO	3 E Murray, NE	CORRECTS PREVIOUS TORNADO REPORT FROM 3 E MURRAY. TORNADO TRACK COMBINED WITH PREVIOUSLY SEPARATE TORNADO TRACK THAT BEGAN 4 ENE MURRAY, OR 2 NE BEAVER LAKE. THREE WITNESSES OBSERVED TORNADO FORM SOUTH SIDE OF BEAVER LAKE. ROOF TAKEN OFF RESIDENCE. SEVERAL HAR
Dec 15, 4:10 PM CST	TORNADO	4 Ene Murray, NE	TORNADO DEVELOPED IN OPEN FIELD AND TRAVELED NORTH-NORTHEAST. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WAS DONE TO A HORSE FARM. EXTENSION OF HOUSE DESTROYED. HORSE TRAILER ROLLED. SEVERAL LARGE TREES SNAPPED AN UPROOTED. UNABLE TO SURVEY NORTHERN END OF TRACK DUE TO TERRAIN AND NO
Dec 15, 4:14 PM CST	TSTM WND GST 62	2 S Murray, NE	MESONET STATION UP945 2.2 S MURRAY (UPR).
Dec 15, 4:14 PM CST	TORNADO	5 Wnw Tabor, IA	CORRECTS PREVIOUS TORNADO REPORT FROM 5 WNW TABOR. THE TORNADO BEGAN IN THE HILLS AND ROUGH TERRAIN NEAR PEASE RD AND QUIGG AVE, AND TRAVELLED QUICKLY NORTHEAST ALONG THE 10 MILE TRACK, LASTING APPROXIMATELY 9 MINUTES. THE FIRST FEW MILES OF THE TORNADO TRACK
Dec 15, 4:16 PM CST	NON-TSTM WND GST 52	3 Sse Plattsmouth, NE	MESONET STATION FW9521 PLATTSMOUTH.
Dec 15, 4:22 PM CST	TSTM WND DMG	2 N Malvern, IA	POWER LINES ACROSS HIGHWAY 34.

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.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Dec 15, 1:23 PM CST	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 12:00Z, 10.0 hours before the alert went out and 74 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: 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.

404 
WFUS53 KOAX 152201
TOROAX
IAC071-129-NEC025-131-152215-
/O.NEW.KOAX.TO.W.0020.211215T2201Z-211215T2215Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
Issued by National Weather Service Hastings NE
401 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

The National Weather Service in Omaha has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northwestern Fremont County in southwestern Iowa...
  Mills County in southwestern Iowa...
  Northeastern Otoe County in southeastern Nebraska...
  Southeastern Cass County in southeastern Nebraska...

* Until 415 PM CST.
    
* At 401 PM CST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Nebraska City, or 35 miles northwest of Tarkio,
  moving northeast at 100 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...
  Union around 405 PM CST.
  Glenwood, Malvern and Pacific Junction around 415 PM CST.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Thurman, Hastings, Dunbar, Camp Catron, Randolph and Tabor.

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 4058 9594 4068 9607 4116 9576 4099 9538
TIME...MOT...LOC 2201Z 219DEG 88KT 4071 9596 

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

$$

Mangels

1 follow-up statement

610 
WWUS53 KOAX 152210
SVSOAX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
410 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

NEC131-152219-
/O.CAN.KOAX.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-211215T2215Z/
Otoe NE-
410 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

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

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CST for southwestern
Iowa...and southeastern Nebraska.

LAT...LON 4078 9582 4078 9596 4079 9600 4116 9576
      4099 9538
TIME...MOT...LOC 2209Z 211DEG 49KT 4086 9593 

$$

IAC071-129-NEC025-152215-
/O.CON.KOAX.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-211215T2215Z/
Fremont IA-Mills IA-Cass NE-
410 PM CST Wed Dec 15 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM CST FOR
NORTHWESTERN FREMONT...MILLS AND SOUTHEASTERN CASS COUNTIES...
    
At 409 PM CST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Union, or 27 miles south of Omaha, moving northeast
at 55 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...
  Glenwood and Pacific Junction around 425 PM CST.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Thurman, Hastings and Tabor.

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 4078 9582 4078 9596 4079 9600 4116 9576
      4099 9538
TIME...MOT...LOC 2209Z 211DEG 49KT 4086 9593 

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

$$

CA

The office that day

Everything else NWS Omaha, NE issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Dec 15, 3:35 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threat	OAX	Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Pottawattamie	70 min
Dec 15, 3:41 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threat	OAX	Harrison, Monona	64 min
Dec 15, 3:55 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threat	OAX	Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and 1 more	80 min
Dec 15, 4:12 PM CST	Tornado Warning	OAX	Fremont, Mills	33 min
Dec 15, 4:16 PM CST	Tornado Warning	OAX	Harrison, Pottawattamie	17 min
Dec 15, 4:21 PM CST	Tornado Warning	OAX	Pottawattamie	24 min
Dec 15, 4:30 PM CST	Tornado Warning	OAX	Mills, Montgomery, Pottawattamie	30 min
Dec 15, 4:31 PM CST	Tornado Warning	OAX	Harrison, Monona, Shelby	13 min
Dec 15, 4:37 PM CST	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	OAX	Harrison, Shelby	23 min
Dec 15, 4:46 PM CST	Tornado Warning	OAX	Pottawattamie, Shelby	20 min
Dec 15, 4:54 PM CST	Tornado Warning	OAX	Montgomery, Page	15 min
Dec 15, 4:55 PM CST	Tornado Warning	OAX	Shelby	14 min
Dec 15, 2:19 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threat	OAX	Antelope, Boone, Butler, Colfax, Madison, Pierce and 2 more	56 min
Dec 15, 2:26 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	OAX	Butler, Gage, Jefferson, Lancaster, Saline, Saunders and 1 more	64 min
Dec 15, 2:39 PM CST	Tornado Warning	OAX	Boone, Madison, Platte, Stanton	24 min
Dec 15, 2:50 PM CST	Tornado Warning	OAX	Colfax, Platte	40 min
Dec 15, 2:54 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threat	OAX	Cass, Dodge, Douglas, Gage, Johnson, Lancaster and 5 more	81 min
Dec 15, 2:59 PM CST	Tornado Warning	OAX	Butler, Colfax, Dodge, Platte	31 min
Dec 15, 3:06 PM CST	Tornado Warning	OAX	Madison, Platte, Stanton	24 min
Dec 15, 3:09 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threat	OAX	Burt, Butler, Colfax, Cuming, Dodge, Saunders and 4 more	51 min
Dec 15, 3:13 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	OAX	Antelope, Cedar, Colfax, Knox, Madison, Pierce and 3 more	62 min
Dec 15, 3:23 PM CST	Tornado Warning	OAX	Lancaster, Seward	16 min
Dec 15, 3:25 PM CST	Tornado Warning	OAX	Colfax, Cuming, Stanton	35 min
Dec 15, 3:29 PM CST	Tornado Warning	OAX	Madison, Stanton, Wayne	31 min
Dec 15, 3:45 PM CST	Tornado Warning	OAX	Douglas, Saunders	30 min
Dec 15, 3:45 PM CST	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	OAX	Cuming, Thurston	45 min
Dec 15, 3:54 PM CST	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	OAX	Dodge, Douglas, Washington	28 min
Dec 15, 4:11 PM CST	Tornado Warning	OAX	Nemaha, Pawnee, Richardson	34 min
Dec 15, 5:08 PM CST	Blowing Dust Advisory	OAX	Cass, Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Lancaster, Nemaha and 5 more	4 hr

Nearby

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