Alert archive / Iowa / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2023
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 34, NWS Des Moines, IA
NWS Des Moines, IA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 4, 2023, 6:43 PM CDT for 7 counties in Iowa. It was in force for 47 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Apr 4, 2023, 6:43 PM CDT (23:43 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 4, 2023, 7:30 PM CDT
- In force
- 47 min
- Issued by
- NWS Des Moines, IA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 1.5 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Adair County, IA, Adams County, IA, Cass County, IA, Dallas County, IA, Guthrie County, IA, Madison County, IA, Union County, IA
The radar
The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 72 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:44 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.
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 4, 2:48 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 7 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 12:00Z, 11.7 hours before the alert went out and 281 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 274 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -460 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 729 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 65 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 723 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 722 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 5.9
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Des Moines, IA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Apr 4, 6:28 PM CDT, 15 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 4, 6:28 PM CDT, 15 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Des Moines IA 628 PM CDT Tue Apr 4 2023 ...Updated for the 00z Aviation Discussion... .DISCUSSION.../Tonight through Tuesday/ Issued at 222 PM CDT Tue Apr 4 2023 Key Messages: - Significant severe thunderstorm threat this afternoon into tonight including possibility of destructive winds, very large hail, and tornadoes. - Red Flag Warning far southwest through this evening. - Breezy through Wednesday, then generally dry and quiet into early next week, excepting low rain chances around Sunday. By far the most significant forecast concern is the severe thunderstorm potential for this afternoon into tonight. A warm front is lifting northward from southern into central Iowa at this time, scouring out low clouds as it advances, with skies rapidly clearing and temperatures shooting up 10-15 degrees as the boundary moves through. Relative humidity will fall rapidly thereafter, attended by gusty south southwesterly surface winds, promoting a high fire danger in our far southwest where a Red Flag Warning remains in effect. A low pressure center over Kansas and Oklahoma will shoot quickly northeastward over central Iowa this evening, with the triple point orienting somewhere over west central Iowa by 00Z, the warm front extending eastward, and a trailing cool front extending to the south southwest. Initially an elevated mixed layer will keep the warm sector south of the warm front capped this afternoon, however, as temperatures warm and convective inhibitions erode, explosive updraft development will become more likely in the late afternoon and evening. There is uncertainty as to whether storms will be able to form in the warm sector, south of the warm front, roughly over the southeast half or so of Iowa, or if they do develop what coverage will be achieved, but within that environment any storms that do develop will be capable of all modes of severe weather. There is a higher level of confidence in storms exploding along the cool front and up toward the triple point, from southwestern into western and central Iowa. Nearly all high-resolution model output initiates convection in that area around 21-22Z, or 23Z at the latest. Initially hodographs favor discrete supercells with all modes of severe weather possible, but should evolve into a QLCS scenario this evening and transition into primarily a straight-line wind threat, but with hail and tornadoes remaining possible. Finally, a secondary squall line/QLCS initially forming near the Kansas/Missouri border region this evening will rotate northeastward and likely impact our southeastern counties later tonight, perhaps around midnight or after, carrying similar severe weather hazards. Once the low pressure center and cool front swing through tonight, a fairly tight pressure gradient will promote persistent west northwest breezes and gusts through the day Wednesday, however, at this time speeds appear sub-advisory. High pressure will then move in and bring lighter winds and quiet weather through Thursday night. Thereafter, a generally weak ridging/zonal steering pattern will promote mostly southerly low-level flow and warm and quiet weather through the remainder of the forecast period, with the exception being a weak shortwave impulse moving overhead that may generate some low shower and thunderstorm chances around Sunday or Sunday night. && .AVIATION.../For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Wednesday evening/ Issued at 628 PM CDT Tue Apr 4 2023 Very low clouds, with IFR or lower ceilings, will persist at MCW/FOD into tonight before gradually improving early Wed morning. Thunderstorms likely to affect all terminals except FOD in the next several hours with periods of low ceilings/visibilities and potentially gusty winds and hail. Have includes VCTS and TEMPO groups at these terminals but amendments will be likely. Storms should exit the area by 06Z with MVFR conditions prevailing during the day on Wed along with gusty westerly winds. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && DISCUSSION...Lee AVIATION...Lee
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 4, 2:54 PM CDT, 3 hours 49 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Des Moines IA 254 PM CDT Tue Apr 4 2023 IAZ035>039-045>050-057>062-071>075-082>086-093>097-051300- Webster-Hamilton-Hardin-Grundy-Black Hawk-Carroll-Greene-Boone- Story-Marshall-Tama-Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Polk-Jasper-Poweshiek- Adair-Madison-Warren-Marion-Mahaska-Union-Clarke-Lucas-Monroe- Wapello-Ringgold-Decatur-Wayne-Appanoose-Davis- 254 PM CDT Tue Apr 4 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Iowa. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight Thunderstorms are forecast at times from this afternoon into tonight. All modes of severe weather will be possible including damaging wind, large hail, and tornadoes. Wind gusts to near 35 mph are expected at times through tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday Strong winds are expected to continue through much of Wednesday with gusts near 40 mph at times. A few thunderstorms may be possible late Sunday. The probability of severe weather appears low at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is likely late this afternoon into tonight. IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033-034-044-051300- Emmet-Kossuth-Winnebago-Worth-Palo Alto-Hancock-Cerro Gordo- Pocahontas-Humboldt-Wright-Franklin-Butler-Bremer-Sac-Calhoun- Crawford- 254 PM CDT Tue Apr 4 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Iowa. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight Scattered thunderstorms are forecast at times this evening into early tonight. A few storms could be strong to severe with gusty winds, hail, and possibly an isolated tornado. Wind gusts to near 35 mph are expected at times through tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday Strong winds are expected to continue through much of Wednesday with gusts near 40 mph at times. A few thunderstorms may be possible late Sunday. The probability of severe weather appears low at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be possible this evening. IAZ070-081-092-051300- Cass-Adams-Taylor- 254 PM CDT Tue Apr 4 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Iowa. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the area for critical fire weather conditions this afternoon and evening. Please refer to the National Weather Service website at weather.gov/desmoines for further details. Thunderstorms are forecast at times from this afternoon into tonight. All modes of severe weather will be possible including damaging wind, large hail, and tornadoes. Wind gusts to near 35 mph are expected at times through tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday Gusty winds are expected to continue through much of Wednesday with gusts near 40 mph at times. A few thunderstorms may be possible late Sunday. The probability of severe weather appears low at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is likely this afternoon into tonight. Lee
In the hours before
Local storm report, Apr 4, 6:35 PM CDT, 8 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Service Notice</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
<main class="wrap">
<section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
<div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
<h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
<p id="message1">
The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
</p>
<p id="message2">
Please try again in a few minutes.
</p>
<p class="small" id="detail">
If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
</p>
</section>
</main>
<script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>Local storm report, Apr 4, 6:36 PM CDT, 7 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Service Notice</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
<main class="wrap">
<section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
<div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
<h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
<p id="message1">
The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
</p>
<p id="message2">
Please try again in a few minutes.
</p>
<p class="small" id="detail">
If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
</p>
</section>
</main>
<script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>Local storm report, Apr 4, 6:38 PM CDT, 5 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Service Notice</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
<main class="wrap">
<section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
<div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
<h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
<p id="message1">
The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
</p>
<p id="message2">
Please try again in a few minutes.
</p>
<p class="small" id="detail">
If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
</p>
</section>
</main>
<script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>Local storm report, Apr 4, 6:39 PM CDT, 4 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Service Notice</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
<main class="wrap">
<section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
<div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
<h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
<p id="message1">
The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
</p>
<p id="message2">
Please try again in a few minutes.
</p>
<p class="small" id="detail">
If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
</p>
</section>
</main>
<script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>Local storm report, Apr 4, 6:42 PM CDT, 1 minute before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Service Notice</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
<main class="wrap">
<section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
<div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
<h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
<p id="message1">
The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
</p>
<p id="message2">
Please try again in a few minutes.
</p>
<p class="small" id="detail">
If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
</p>
</section>
</main>
<script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>Local storm report, Apr 4, 6:43 PM CDT, 0 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Service Notice</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
<main class="wrap">
<section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
<div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
<h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
<p id="message1">
The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
</p>
<p id="message2">
Please try again in a few minutes.
</p>
<p class="small" id="detail">
If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
</p>
</section>
</main>
<script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>The office that day
Everything else NWS Des Moines, IA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 4, 3:02 AM CDT | Red Flag Warning | DMX | Adams, Cass, Taylor | 15 hr |
| Apr 4, 6:59 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DMX | Wapello | 46 min |
| Apr 4, 4:34 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Adair, Boone, Dallas, Guthrie, Polk | 41 min |
| Apr 4, 4:45 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Adair, Adams, Ringgold, Taylor, Union | 45 min |
| Apr 4, 4:52 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Adams, Ringgold, Taylor, Union | 38 min |
| Apr 4, 5:26 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Adair, Boone, Dallas, Greene, Guthrie, Madison and 1 more | 49 min |
| Apr 4, 5:35 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Adair, Adams, Clarke, Decatur, Madison, Ringgold and 2 more | 40 min |
| Apr 4, 6:08 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Butler, Franklin, Grundy, Hamilton, Hardin | 52 min |
| Apr 4, 6:10 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Clarke, Lucas, Madison, Marion, Polk, Union and 1 more | 50 min |
| Apr 4, 6:21 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Worth | 39 min |
| Apr 4, 6:30 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Hardin, Jasper, Marshall, Polk, Story | 45 min |
| Apr 4, 6:35 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Butler, Franklin | 40 min |
| Apr 4, 6:48 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Jasper, Lucas, Mahaska, Marion, Poweshiek, Warren | 42 min |
| Apr 4, 6:54 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Jasper, Marshall, Polk, Poweshiek, Tama | 51 min |
| Apr 4, 6:57 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Worth | 33 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Iowa, 2023Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2023
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.