Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2023

Tornado Warning 2, NWS Des Moines, IA

March 31, 20234 counties in Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this tornado warning at Mar 31, 2023, 3:02 PM CDT for 4 counties in Iowa. It was in force for 43 min. 4 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: Mar 31, 2023, 3:02 PM CDT (20:02 UTC)
Expired: Mar 31, 2023, 3:45 PM CDT
In force: 43 min
Issued by: NWS Des Moines, IA
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 2.75 in

Counties Appanoose County, IA, Davis County, IA, Monroe County, IA, Wapello County, IA

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 136 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:05 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
Mar 31, 3:20 PM CDT	FUNNEL CLOUD	8 Ssw Ottumwa, IA	CHASER REPORT OF FUNNEL CLOUD AND ROTATING WALL CLOUD SW OF HIS LOCATION.
Mar 31, 3:39 PM CDT	TSTM WND GST 60	2 Ssw Ottumwa, IA
Mar 31, 3:40 PM CDT	TORNADO	7 N Agency, IA
Mar 31, 3:45 PM CDT	TORNADO	8 Se Fremont, IA

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
Mar 31, 11:46 AM CDT	Tornado Watch PDS	SPC	8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Davenport, (KDVN), launched 12:00Z, 8.0 hours before the alert went out and 186 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: 897 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 67 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 433 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 424 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

507 
WFUS53 KDMX 312002
TORDMX
IAC007-051-135-179-312045-
/O.NEW.KDMX.TO.W.0002.230331T2002Z-230331T2045Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
302 PM CDT Fri Mar 31 2023

The National Weather Service in Des Moines  has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Monroe County in south central Iowa...
  Wapello County in southeastern Iowa...
  Northwestern Davis County in southeastern Iowa...
  Northeastern Appanoose County in south central Iowa...

* Until 345 PM CDT.
    
* At 301 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Udell, or 7 miles northeast of Centerville, moving
  northeast at 60 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and baseball size hail.

  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...
  Unionville around 305 PM CDT.
  Lake Wapello State Park around 310 PM CDT.

Other locations in the path of this tornadic thunderstorm include
Ottumwa, Eldon and Agency.

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 4071 9279 4078 9288 4116 9230 4116 9218
      4094 9218
TIME...MOT...LOC 2001Z 234DEG 53KT 4079 9274 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.75 IN

$$

Hagenhoff

2 follow-up statements

453 
WWUS53 KDMX 312016
SVSDMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
316 PM CDT Fri Mar 31 2023

IAC007-135-312025-
/O.CAN.KDMX.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-230331T2045Z/
Monroe IA-Appanoose IA-
316 PM CDT Fri Mar 31 2023

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN MONROE AND NORTHEASTERN
APPANOOSE COUNTIES 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 CDT for southeastern
Iowa.

LAT...LON 4081 9263 4093 9263 4116 9230 4116 9218
      4094 9218
TIME...MOT...LOC 2015Z 234DEG 53KT 4092 9251 

$$

IAC051-179-312045-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-230331T2045Z/
Wapello IA-Davis IA-
316 PM CDT Fri Mar 31 2023

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 345 PM CDT FOR WAPELLO
AND NORTHWESTERN DAVIS COUNTIES...
    
At 315 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 7 miles southeast of Blakesburg, or 8 miles southwest of
Ottumwa, moving northeast at 60 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and baseball size hail.

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...
  Ottumwa around 325 PM CDT.
  Agency around 330 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Agency, Lake Wapello State Park and Eldon.

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 4081 9263 4093 9263 4116 9230 4116 9218
      4094 9218
TIME...MOT...LOC 2015Z 234DEG 53KT 4092 9251 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.75 IN

$$

Hagenhoff

516 
WWUS53 KDMX 312032
SVSDMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
332 PM CDT Fri Mar 31 2023

IAC051-312042-
/O.CAN.KDMX.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-230331T2045Z/
Davis IA-
332 PM CDT Fri Mar 31 2023

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN DAVIS 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 CDT for southeastern
Iowa.

LAT...LON 4092 9242 4101 9249 4116 9230 4116 9218
      4101 9218
TIME...MOT...LOC 2032Z 234DEG 53KT 4107 9224 

$$

IAC179-312045-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-230331T2045Z/
Wapello IA-
332 PM CDT Fri Mar 31 2023

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 345 PM CDT FOR EASTERN
WAPELLO COUNTY...
    
At 332 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 5 miles west of Abingdon, or 10 miles east of Ottumwa,
moving northeast at 60 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and baseball size hail.

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
eastern Wapello County, including the following locations... Agency.

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 4092 9242 4101 9249 4116 9230 4116 9218
      4101 9218
TIME...MOT...LOC 2032Z 234DEG 53KT 4107 9224 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.75 IN

$$

Hagenhoff

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 31, 3:30 AM CDT	Wind Advisory	DMX	Adair, Adams, Appanoose, Audubon, Black Hawk, Boone and 34 more	28 hr
Mar 31, 3:38 AM CDT	Winter Weather Advisory	DMX	Cerro Gordo, Emmet, Franklin, Hancock, Humboldt, Kossuth and 5 more	27 hr
Mar 31, 12:30 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Clarke, Decatur, Ringgold, Union	45 min
Mar 31, 12:36 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Clarke, Decatur, Lucas, Madison, Warren	39 min
Mar 31, 12:40 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Clarke, Decatur, Ringgold, Union	39 min
Mar 31, 1:18 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Clarke, Lucas, Marion, Warren	42 min
Mar 31, 1:57 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	DMX	Clarke, Madison, Union, Warren	48 min
Mar 31, 2:01 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Dallas, Madison, Polk, Warren	29 min
Mar 31, 2:03 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Jasper, Marion, Warren	42 min
Mar 31, 2:07 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	DMX	Clarke, Decatur, Lucas, Warren	38 min
Mar 31, 2:13 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Boone, Dallas, Polk, Story	47 min
Mar 31, 2:25 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	DMX	Appanoose, Davis, Monroe, Wayne	50 min
Mar 31, 2:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Jasper, Marshall, Poweshiek, Tama	42 min
Mar 31, 2:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Jasper, Lucas, Marion, Warren	49 min
Mar 31, 2:46 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	DMX	Boone, Grundy, Hamilton, Hardin, Marshall, Story	59 min
Mar 31, 3:01 PM CDT	Blizzard Warning	DMX	Emmet	16 hr
Mar 31, 3:01 PM CDT	Winter Storm Warning	DMX	Hancock, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Winnebago, Worth	16 hr
Mar 31, 3:05 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Appanoose, Davis, Monroe, Wapello, Wayne	40 min
Mar 31, 3:20 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threat	DMX	Davis, Mahaska, Monroe, Wapello	40 min
Mar 31, 3:23 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Jasper, Mahaska, Marion, Poweshiek, Tama	37 min
Mar 31, 3:39 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Appanoose, Davis, Monroe, Wapello	51 min
Mar 31, 3:42 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	DMX	Wapello	18 min
Mar 31, 3:49 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Hancock, Kossuth, Winnebago	56 min
Mar 31, 3:53 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Tama	33 min
Mar 31, 3:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Black Hawk, Jasper, Mahaska, Marion, Poweshiek, Tama	51 min
Mar 31, 3:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Poweshiek	35 min
Mar 31, 3:56 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Poweshiek	34 min
Mar 31, 4:17 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Hancock, Winnebago, Worth	36 min
Mar 31, 4:19 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Poweshiek	56 min
Mar 31, 4:24 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Black Hawk, Bremer, Butler, Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Grundy and 5 more	62 min
Mar 31, 4:27 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Black Hawk, Bremer, Butler, Franklin, Grundy, Hardin	34 min
Mar 31, 4:28 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Black Hawk, Grundy, Marshall, Tama	34 min
Mar 31, 4:34 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	Black Hawk, Bremer, Butler, Grundy, Marshall, Tama	29 min
Mar 31, 4:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Jasper, Mahaska, Poweshiek	32 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Iowa, 2023 Every tornado warning in 2023 Tornadoes 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.