Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2022

Tornado Warning 7, NWS Omaha, NE

April 12, 2022Washington County, Nebraska; Harrison County, Pottawattamie County, Iowa

NWS Omaha, NE issued this tornado warning at Apr 12, 2022, 7:57 PM CDT for Washington County, Nebraska; Harrison County, Pottawattamie County, Iowa. It was in force for 18 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: Apr 12, 2022, 7:57 PM CDT (00:57 UTC)
Expired: Apr 12, 2022, 8:15 PM CDT
In force: 18 min
Issued by: NWS Omaha, NE
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 1.0 in

Counties Harrison County, IA, Pottawattamie County, IA, Washington County, NE

The radar

The Omaha radar (KOAX), 39 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:58 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
Apr 12, 8:08 PM CDT	TORNADO	3 Se Missouri Valley, IA	THIS TORNADO STARTED SOUTHEAST OF MISSOURI VALLEY ALONG THE NORTH END OF AN AREA OF DOWNBURST WIND DAMAGE. THE TORNADO CAUSED TREE DAMAGE, DESTROYED A FEW BARNS AND SHEDS, AND MINOR HOME DAMAGE. PATH LENGTH 9.5 MILES, WIDTH 140 YARDS, PEAK WIND ESTIMATE OF 100

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

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this tornado warning; the first came 11 minutes after it went out.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

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

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Apr 12, 6:46 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 00:00Z, 1.0 hours before the alert went out and 39 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: 1368 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -24 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 2687 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 168 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 329 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 10.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

933 
WFUS53 KOAX 130057
TOROAX
IAC085-155-NEC177-130115-
/O.NEW.KOAX.TO.W.0007.220413T0057Z-220413T0115Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
757 PM CDT Tue Apr 12 2022

The National Weather Service in Omaha has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northwestern Pottawattamie County in southwestern Iowa...
  South central Harrison County in southwestern Iowa...
  Southeastern Washington County in east central Nebraska...

* Until 815 PM CDT.

* At 757 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Fort Calhoun, or 13 miles north of Omaha, moving
  northeast at 60 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

  SOURCE...Weather spotters reported funnel cloud.

  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...
  Missouri Valley around 805 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 4139 9600 4139 9603 4145 9608 4165 9583
      4150 9572
TIME...MOT...LOC 0057Z 233DEG 50KT 4146 9600 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN

$$

Nicolaisen

1 follow-up statement

709 
WWUS53 KOAX 130107
SVSOAX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Nebraska
807 PM CDT Tue Apr 12 2022

NEC177-130116-
/O.CAN.KOAX.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-220413T0115Z/
Washington NE-
807 PM CDT Tue Apr 12 2022

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

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 100 AM CDT for
southwestern Iowa...and east central Nebraska.

LAT...LON 4146 9593 4151 9598 4165 9583 4150 9572
TIME...MOT...LOC 0106Z 233DEG 50KT 4154 9586 

$$

IAC085-155-130115-
/O.CON.KOAX.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-220413T0115Z/
Pottawattamie IA-Harrison IA-
807 PM CDT Tue Apr 12 2022

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM CDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN POTTAWATTAMIE AND SOUTH CENTRAL HARRISON COUNTIES...
        
At 806 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Missouri Valley, or 20 miles north of Omaha, moving
northeast at 60 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated. 

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
northwestern Pottawattamie and south central Harrison Counties,
including the following locations... Historical Village Welcome
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.

&&

LAT...LON 4146 9593 4151 9598 4165 9583 4150 9572
TIME...MOT...LOC 0106Z 233DEG 50KT 4154 9586 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN

$$

Nicolaisen

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Omaha, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Apr 12, 6:28 PM CDT, 1 hour 29 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 12, 6:28 PM CDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
628 PM CDT Tue Apr 12 2022

...Updated Aviation Forecast Discussion...

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 331 PM CDT Tue Apr 12 2022

Water vapor imagery was showing a deep trof crossing the northern
Rockies approaching the western Dakotas. Surface reflection has
deepened significantly since yesterday and is currently centered
over south-central SD with an associated warm front extending into
southeast SD and southwest MN. Another attendant warm front extended
into north-central NE to about northwest MO. Daytime heating and
moisture advection has allowed the environment to become quite
unstable behind the southern boundary with MLCAPE around 3000
J/kg over eastern KS and moderate instability nosing up through
the CWA.

Timing and placement of storm initiation is somewhat uncertain.
At this point the short term models have been progressively
pushing the warm front northward as the surface low lifts to the
northeast. As of now it appears the aforementioned southern
boundary should be straddling the SD/NE by late this afternoon
and be the focus for storm initiation. As of now, the latest HRRR
is pointing toward extreme southeast SD for initiation in vicinity
of the triple point, but depending on boundary position cannot
rule out some cell initiation somewhere over extreme northeast NE.

The bottom line is that combination of instability, strengthening
low level jet, significant deep layer and low level environmental
shear will be quite supportive for discrete storm formation early
on. There is a distinct possibility for tornadic supercells as
well as effective shear pushes 50kt along with ESRH values 200-300
m2/s2. And with very steep mid layer lapse rates atop increasing
low level moisture large hail will likely accompany a few storms.

Early this evening, storm mode will shift in response to a cold
front moving through the CWA. As the front pushes south, low level
convergence along the boundary will allow storms to transition to
linear mode/QLCS with the primary threat becoming straight line
winds generally south of the I-80 corridor. Storm activity should
be coming to an end after midnight.

On Wednesday, subsidence behind the exiting cold front will equate
to dry but windy conditions. Heading into this weekend then zonal
flow aloft with no major disturbances migrating through will equate
to dry conditions.

Sunday through Monday morning upper impulses will aid with
possible precip. As a matter of fact, there is a chance that there
may be a mix of rain and snow Sunday night.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Wednesday evening)
Issued at 608 PM CDT Tue Apr 12 2022

Main concern is the potential for a line of thunderstorms to move
through KLNK and KOMA in the first few hours of the TAF cycle.
Winds could gust to severe limits with the passage of these
storms. In addition, low-level wind shear is expected in the first
few hours of the TAF period as well. Otherwise, northwest winds
behind an approching cold front are expected to gust to near 30kt
through the overnight hours associated with the exiting system.
VFR conditions are expected through the period with the exception
of in and around thunderstorms.

&&

.OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...Fire Weather Watch from Wednesday afternoon through Wednesday
     evening for NEZ011-012-015>018-030>034-042>045-050>052-065-
     066-078-088-089.

     Wind Advisory until 1 AM CDT Wednesday for NEZ011-012-015>018-
     030>034-042>045-050>053-065>068-078-088>093.

     Red Flag Warning until 9 PM CDT this evening for NEZ030-042-050-
     065-078-088.

IA...Fire Weather Watch from Wednesday afternoon through Wednesday
     evening for IAZ043-055.

     Wind Advisory until 1 AM CDT Wednesday for IAZ043-055-056-069-
     079-080-090-091.

&&

DISCUSSION...DEE
AVIATION...KERN

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 12, 3:52 PM CDT, 4 hours 5 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
352 PM CDT Tue Apr 12 2022

IAZ043-NEZ011-012-015-017-018-033-034-131100-
Monona-Knox-Cedar-Thurston-Pierce-Wayne-Cuming-Burt-
352 PM CDT Tue Apr 12 2022

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of west central
Iowa...east central Nebraska and northeast Nebraska.

.DAY ONE...Tonight and Wednesday

The combination of strong instability and environmental shear
will be very favorable for thunderstorm activity late this
afternoon and early evening. Primary hazards will be large hail
and damaging winds. There is a strong possibility that storms may
produce a few tornadoes.

Meanwhile, a wind advisory remains in effect until midnight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday night through Tuesday

Northwest wind are forecast to gust around 40 mph at times
Wednesday and Thursday. This in combination with low relative
humidity will likely lead to very high to extreme fire danger
conditions, especially in areas that receive very little to no
rain.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Storm spotters may be needed this evening.

IAZ055-056-069-079-080-090-091-NEZ016-030>032-042>045-050>053-
065>068-078-088>093-131100-
Harrison-Shelby-Pottawattamie-Mills-Montgomery-Fremont-Page-
Antelope-Boone-Madison-Stanton-Platte-Colfax-Dodge-Washington-
Butler-Saunders-Douglas-Sarpy-Seward-Lancaster-Cass-Otoe-Saline-
Jefferson-Gage-Johnson-Nemaha-Pawnee-Richardson-
352 PM CDT Tue Apr 12 2022

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southwest
Iowa...east central Nebraska...northeast Nebraska and southeast
Nebraska.

.DAY ONE...Tonight and Wednesday

There is a chance for thunderstorms this evening, some of which
could be strong to severe with the primary threat being damaging
winds and large hail.

South winds gusting in the 35 to 45 mph range and low relative
humidity this afternoon will lead to very high to extreme fire
danger conditions, especially along and west of a line from Albion
to Creston to Diller through early evening.

Meanwhile, a wind advisory remains in effect till midnight over
extreme southeast Nebraska.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday night through Tuesday

Northwest wind are forecast to gust around 40 mph at times
Wednesday and Thursday. This in combination with low relative
humidity will likely lead to very high to extreme fire danger
conditions, especially in areas that receive very little to no
rain.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Storm spotters may be needed this evening.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 12, 7:15 PM CDT, 42 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
715 PM CDT TUE APR 12 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0655 PM     HAIL             3 NNE SEWARD            40.95N 97.08W
04/12/2022  M0.88 INCH       SEWARD             NE   PUBLIC

0707 PM     HAIL             3 E GARLAND             40.94N 96.93W
04/12/2022  M0.88 INCH       SEWARD             NE   EMERGENCY MNGR

&&

Local storm report, Apr 12, 7:18 PM CDT, 39 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
718 PM CDT TUE APR 12 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0655 PM     HAIL             3 NNE SEWARD            40.95N 97.08W
04/12/2022  M1.00 INCH       SEWARD             NE   PUBLIC

            CORRECTS PREVIOUS HAIL REPORT FROM 3 NNE
            SEWARD.

&&

CA

Local storm report, Apr 12, 7:27 PM CDT, 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
727 PM CDT TUE APR 12 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0658 PM     HAIL             MILFORD                 40.77N 97.06W
04/12/2022  M1.00 INCH       SEWARD             NE   PUBLIC

            REPORT OF QUARTER SIZE HAIL.

&&

ALBRIGHT

Local storm report, Apr 12, 7:41 PM CDT, 16 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
741 PM CDT TUE APR 12 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0734 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 ESE TEKAMAH           41.76N 96.18W
04/12/2022  M60 MPH          BURT               NE   ASOS

&&

CA

Local storm report, Apr 12, 7:44 PM CDT, 13 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
744 PM CDT TUE APR 12 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0736 PM     HAIL             1 S WAHOO               41.19N 96.62W
04/12/2022  U1.00 INCH       SAUNDERS           NE   PUBLIC

            REPORT FROM MPING.

&&

CA

Local storm report, Apr 12, 7:45 PM CDT, 12 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
745 PM CDT TUE APR 12 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0725 PM     HAIL             2 S WAHOO               41.19N 96.62W
04/12/2022  M1.00 INCH       SAUNDERS           NE   NWS EMPLOYEE

&&

CA

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 12, 7:00 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Gage, Lancaster, Saline, Seward	45 min
Apr 12, 7:02 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Burt, Cuming, Thurston	43 min
Apr 12, 7:16 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Gage, Jefferson, Saline	44 min
Apr 12, 7:21 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	OAX	Cass, Douglas, Lancaster, Otoe, Sarpy, Saunders and 1 more	39 min
Apr 12, 7:23 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	OAX	Burt, Dodge, Saunders, Washington	52 min
Apr 12, 7:24 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	OAX	Lancaster	21 min
Apr 12, 7:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Gage, Johnson, Lancaster, Otoe, Saline	50 min
Apr 12, 7:50 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	OAX	Douglas, Washington	10 min
Apr 12, 7:55 PM CDT	High Wind Warning	OAX	Antelope, Boone, Cedar, Colfax, Cuming, Knox and 6 more	2 hr
Apr 12, 7:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	OAX	Cass, Douglas, Lancaster, Otoe, Sarpy, Saunders	50 min
Apr 12, 7:55 PM CDT	Wind Advisory	OAX	Antelope, Boone, Cedar, Colfax, Cuming, Knox and 6 more	9 hr
Apr 12, 8:04 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	OAX	Washington	56 min
Apr 12, 8:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Lancaster, Otoe, Pawnee	45 min
Apr 12, 8:34 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	OAX	Cass, Douglas, Otoe, Sarpy	56 min
Apr 12, 8:37 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	OAX	Sarpy	23 min
Apr 12, 8:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Gage, Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson	47 min
Apr 12, 9:25 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Cass, Otoe	65 min
Apr 12, 9:28 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OAX	Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson	32 min
Apr 12, 9:38 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	OAX	Nemaha, Otoe	22 min
Apr 12, 9:56 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	OAX	Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson	49 min
Apr 12, 10:23 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	OAX	Nemaha, Richardson	25 min
Apr 13, 3:33 AM CDT	Fire Weather Watch	OAX	Antelope, Boone, Burt, Butler, Cass, Cedar and 24 more	24 hr
Apr 13, 3:33 AM CDT	Red Flag Warning	OAX	Antelope, Boone, Burt, Butler, Cedar, Colfax and 16 more	17 hr
Apr 13, 10:58 AM CDT	Wind Advisory	OAX	Antelope, Boone, Cedar, Knox, Pierce	4 hr
Apr 13, 3:12 PM CDT	Wind Advisory	OAX	Antelope, Boone, Burt, Butler, Cass, Cedar and 17 more	28 hr
Apr 12, 8:15 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	OAX	Harrison, Shelby	15 min
Apr 12, 8:28 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	OAX	Harrison, Shelby	17 min
Apr 12, 8:46 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	OAX	Shelby	14 min
Apr 12, 8:53 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	OAX	Harrison, Monona, Pottawattamie, Shelby	22 min
Apr 12, 9:17 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	OAX	Pottawattamie, Shelby	28 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Iowa, 2022 Tornado Warnings in Nebraska, 2022 Every tornado warning in 2022 Tornadoes in 2022

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.