Alert archive / Iowa / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2023

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 34, NWS Des Moines, IA

April 4, 20237 counties in Iowa

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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Apr 4, 2:48 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Topeka, KS at 12:00Z on 2023-04-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 274 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Topeka, KS at 12:00Z on 2023-04-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 723 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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
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Local storm report, Apr 4, 6:38 PM CDT, 5 minutes before
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Local storm report, Apr 4, 6:39 PM CDT, 4 minutes before
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Local storm report, Apr 4, 6:42 PM CDT, 1 minute before
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Local storm report, Apr 4, 6:43 PM CDT, 0 minutes before
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The office that day

Everything else NWS Des Moines, IA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 4, 3:02 AM CDTRed Flag WarningDMXAdams, Cass, Taylor15 hr
Apr 4, 6:59 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDMXWapello46 min
Apr 4, 4:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXAdair, Boone, Dallas, Guthrie, Polk41 min
Apr 4, 4:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXAdair, Adams, Ringgold, Taylor, Union45 min
Apr 4, 4:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatDMXAdams, Ringgold, Taylor, Union38 min
Apr 4, 5:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXAdair, Boone, Dallas, Greene, Guthrie, Madison and 1 more49 min
Apr 4, 5:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXAdair, Adams, Clarke, Decatur, Madison, Ringgold and 2 more40 min
Apr 4, 6:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXButler, Franklin, Grundy, Hamilton, Hardin52 min
Apr 4, 6:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXClarke, Lucas, Madison, Marion, Polk, Union and 1 more50 min
Apr 4, 6:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXCerro Gordo, Hancock, Worth39 min
Apr 4, 6:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXHardin, Jasper, Marshall, Polk, Story45 min
Apr 4, 6:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXButler, Franklin40 min
Apr 4, 6:48 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXJasper, Lucas, Mahaska, Marion, Poweshiek, Warren42 min
Apr 4, 6:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXJasper, Marshall, Polk, Poweshiek, Tama51 min
Apr 4, 6:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXWorth33 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.