Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2024
Tornado Warning 49, NWS Des Moines, IA
NWS Des Moines, IA issued this tornado warning at May 21, 2024, 4:48 PM CDT for 4 counties in Iowa. It was in force for 31 min. 7 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
- May 21, 2024, 4:48 PM CDT (21:48 UTC)
- Expired
- May 21, 2024, 5:19 PM CDT
- In force
- 31 min
- Issued by
- NWS Des Moines, IA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Observed
- Damage threat
- Considerable
- Hail
- 1.0 in
Counties Hardin County, IA, Marshall County, IA, Polk County, IA, Story County, IA
The radar
The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 39 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:52 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 21, 4:55 PM CDT | TORNADO | 2 Nw Elkhart, IA | Corrects previous tornado report from 2 NW Elkhart. Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 2 NW Elkhart. Spotter reports major damage to homes/barns in area. Reported vicinity address 14790 NE 38th ST. . Estimated time that damage occurred from radar. |
| May 21, 4:55 PM CDT | TORNADO | 2 Sse Nevada, IA | Emergency manager reported damage to a home on 250th St. Time estimated with radar. |
| May 21, 4:55 PM CDT | TORNADO | 3 Nnw Collins, IA | 5 miles NE of Maxwell, IA at 5ish, tornado clipped right by us. No visual as went to basement. Some metal pieces came loose on the pole building roof and lots of branches in the yard. TS303. |
| May 21, 5:00 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Nw Elkhart, IA | Spotter reports major damage to homes/barns in area. Reported vicinity address 14790 NE 38th ST. |
| May 21, 5:00 PM CDT | TORNADO | 2 Nw Elkhart, IA | Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 2 NW Elkhart. Spotter reports major damage to homes/barns in area. Reported vicinity address 14790 NE 38th ST. |
| May 21, 5:13 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Wnw New Providence, IA | Emergency manager reported damage to farm outbuildings east of Hubbard. Time estimated with radar. |
| May 21, 5:26 PM CDT | TSTM WND GST 64 | 4 E Albion, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 21, 1:14 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 8 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Davenport, (KDVN), launched 12:00Z, 9.8 hours before the alert went out and 242 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
- 1292 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -75 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1074 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 34 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 21 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 63 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.1
- Supercell composite
- 1.4
The text
As transmitted.
735
WFUS53 KDMX 212148
TORDMX
IAC083-127-153-169-212230-
/O.NEW.KDMX.TO.W.0049.240521T2148Z-240521T2230Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
448 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024
The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
North central Polk County in central Iowa...
Southeastern Story County in central Iowa...
Northwestern Marshall County in central Iowa...
Southeastern Hardin County in central Iowa...
* Until 530 PM CDT.
* At 447 PM CDT, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado
was located over Cambridge, or 10 miles south of Nevada, moving
northeast at 70 mph.
This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!
HAZARD...Damaging tornado.
SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed tornado.
IMPACT...You are in a life-threatening situation. Flying debris
may be deadly to those caught without shelter. Mobile
homes will be destroyed. Considerable damage to homes,
businesses, and vehicles is likely and complete
destruction is possible.
* The tornado will be near...
Nevada, Maxwell, and Colo around 455 PM CDT.
Clemons and St. Anthony around 505 PM CDT.
Union and Liscomb around 515 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Maxwell, Clemons, Cambridge, Union, Colo, Zearing, Collins, Elkhart,
New Providence, and Alleman.
This includes Interstate 35 between mile markers 96 and 110.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
To repeat, a large, extremely dangerous and potentially deadly
tornado is on the ground. To protect your life, 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 4177 9357 4188 9367 4235 9320 4210 9287
TIME...MOT...LOC 2147Z 224DEG 60KT 4187 9351
TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$
Donavon4 follow-up statements
934
WWUS53 KDMX 212154
SVSDMX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
454 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024
IAC153-212203-
/O.CAN.KDMX.TO.W.0049.000000T0000Z-240521T2230Z/
Polk IA-
454 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL POLK COUNTY IS CANCELLED...
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for central Iowa.
LAT...LON 4189 9344 4198 9356 4235 9320 4214 9292
TIME...MOT...LOC 2153Z 216DEG 61KT 4198 9344
$$
IAC083-127-169-212230-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0049.000000T0000Z-240521T2230Z/
Story IA-Marshall IA-Hardin IA-
454 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM CDT FOR EASTERN
STORY...NORTHWESTERN MARSHALL AND SOUTHEASTERN HARDIN COUNTIES...
At 453 PM CDT, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was
located over Nevada, moving northeast at 70 mph.
This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!
HAZARD...Damaging tornado.
SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed tornado.
IMPACT...You are in a life-threatening situation. Flying debris may
be deadly to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes
will be destroyed. Considerable damage to homes,
businesses, and vehicles is likely and complete destruction
is possible.
The tornado will be near...
Colo and Zearing around 500 PM CDT.
St. Anthony around 505 PM CDT.
New Providence around 510 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Zearing, New Providence, Albion, St. Anthony, Clemons, Union,
Liscomb, and Colo.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
To repeat, a large, extremely dangerous and potentially deadly
tornado is on the ground. To protect your life, 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 4189 9344 4198 9356 4235 9320 4214 9292
TIME...MOT...LOC 2153Z 216DEG 61KT 4198 9344
TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$
Donavon338
WWUS53 KDMX 212206
SVSDMX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
506 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024
IAC083-127-169-212230-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0049.000000T0000Z-240521T2230Z/
Story IA-Marshall IA-Hardin IA-
506 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN STORY...NORTHWESTERN MARSHALL AND SOUTHEASTERN HARDIN
COUNTIES...
At 506 PM CDT, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was
located over St. Anthony, or 13 miles northeast of Nevada, moving
northeast at 70 mph.
This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!
HAZARD...Damaging tornado.
SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed tornado.
IMPACT...You are in a life-threatening situation. Flying debris may
be deadly to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes
will be destroyed. Considerable damage to homes,
businesses, and vehicles is likely and complete destruction
is possible.
The tornado will be near...
Clemons and St. Anthony around 510 PM CDT.
Union and New Providence around 515 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Zearing, New Providence, St. Anthony, Clemons, Union, Liscomb, and
McCallsburg.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
To repeat, a large, extremely dangerous and potentially deadly
tornado is on the ground. To protect your life, TAKE COVER NOW! Move
to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy
building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in
a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect
yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 4202 9327 4211 9344 4235 9320 4235 9319
4217 9296
TIME...MOT...LOC 2206Z 223DEG 59KT 4213 9325
TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$
Donavon598
WWUS53 KDMX 212211
SVSDMX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
511 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024
IAC083-127-169-212230-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0049.000000T0000Z-240521T2230Z/
Story IA-Marshall IA-Hardin IA-
511 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN STORY...NORTHWESTERN MARSHALL AND SOUTHEASTERN HARDIN
COUNTIES...
At 510 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located near St. Anthony, or
12 miles south of Eldora, moving northeast at 70 mph.
HAZARD...Damaging tornado and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed tornado.
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 tornado will be near...
Union and New Providence around 515 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Zearing, New Providence, St. Anthony, Clemons, Union, Liscomb, and
McCallsburg.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. 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 4202 9327 4211 9344 4235 9320 4235 9319
4217 9296
TIME...MOT...LOC 2210Z 223DEG 59KT 4218 9318
TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$
Donavon422
WWUS53 KDMX 212219
SVSDMX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
519 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024
IAC083-127-169-212228-
/O.CAN.KDMX.TO.W.0049.000000T0000Z-240521T2230Z/
Story IA-Marshall IA-Hardin IA-
519 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN STORY...NORTHWESTERN MARSHALL
AND SOUTHEASTERN HARDIN COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for central Iowa.
LAT...LON 4202 9327 4211 9344 4235 9320 4235 9319
4217 9296
TIME...MOT...LOC 2216Z 224DEG 60KT 4229 9304
$$
DonavonThe office that day
Everything else NWS Des Moines, IA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 8:25 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Palo Alto, Pocahontas | 50 min |
| May 20, 8:48 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Hancock, Kossuth, Winnebago | 42 min |
| May 20, 9:12 PM CDT | River Flood Watch | DMX | Black Hawk | 24 hr |
| May 20, 9:13 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Humboldt, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Pocahontas | 37 min |
| May 20, 9:30 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Hancock, Winnebago, Worth | 22 min |
| May 20, 10:20 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DMX | Hancock | 25 min |
| May 20, 10:35 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Kossuth | 25 min |
| May 20, 10:40 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DMX | Palo Alto, Pocahontas | 35 min |
| May 20, 11:02 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Palo Alto, Pocahontas | 28 min |
| May 20, 11:16 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | DMX | Hancock, Kossuth, Winnebago | 6 hr |
| May 20, 11:30 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DMX | Carroll | 30 min |
| May 20, 11:34 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DMX | Guthrie | 26 min |
| May 20, 11:58 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Boone, Calhoun, Carroll, Dallas, Greene, Guthrie and 2 more | 36 min |
| May 21, 12:06 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DMX | Pocahontas | 24 min |
| May 21, 12:10 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DMX | Hancock | 35 min |
| May 21, 1:09 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Audubon, Carroll, Crawford | 66 min |
| May 21, 1:20 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Jasper, Polk | 40 min |
| May 21, 2:15 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DMX | Audubon, Guthrie | 60 min |
| May 21, 2:32 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DMX | Black Hawk, Tama | 28 min |
| May 21, 2:38 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Black Hawk, Butler, Grundy, Hardin | 37 min |
| May 21, 2:56 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Black Hawk, Bremer, Butler | 49 min |
| May 21, 3:09 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | DMX | Butler, Franklin, Grundy, Hardin, Wright | 8 hr |
| May 21, 3:22 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Carroll, Crawford, Sac | 38 min |
| May 21, 3:26 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | DMX | Adair, Audubon, Cass, Guthrie | 8 hr |
| May 21, 4:12 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DMX | Polk | 33 min |
| May 21, 4:22 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | DMX | Boone, Dallas, Greene, Guthrie, Jasper, Marshall and 2 more | 7 hr |
| May 21, 5:09 AM CDT | Areal Flood Warning | DMX | Hancock, Kossuth, Winnebago | 14 hr |
| May 21, 5:25 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Poweshiek, Tama | 50 min |
| May 21, 5:51 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Jasper, Poweshiek, Tama | 39 min |
| May 21, 6:18 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Poweshiek, Tama | 42 min |
| May 21, 6:26 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | DMX | Jasper, Marshall, Poweshiek, Tama | 5 hr |
| May 21, 6:28 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Carroll, Crawford, Sac | 47 min |
| May 21, 6:51 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Audubon, Carroll, Cass, Crawford, Guthrie | 54 min |
| May 21, 7:07 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Cass | 23 min |
| May 21, 7:24 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Adair, Cass | 36 min |
| May 21, 7:29 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Adair, Audubon, Cass, Guthrie | 46 min |
| May 21, 7:35 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Adair, Adams, Cass, Taylor | 40 min |
| May 21, 8:05 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Adair, Dallas, Guthrie, Madison | 55 min |
| May 21, 8:41 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Dallas, Madison, Polk, Warren | 64 min |
| May 21, 8:57 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | DMX | Black Hawk, Bremer, Grundy, Hardin, Marshall, Tama | 2 hr |
| May 21, 9:26 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Jasper, Mahaska, Marion, Marshall, Polk, Poweshiek and 2 more | 64 min |
| May 21, 10:09 AM CDT | River Flood Warning | DMX | Cass | 15 hr |
| May 21, 11:14 AM CDT | River Flood Watch | DMX | Polk | 4 days |
| May 21, 11:14 AM CDT | River Flood Watch | DMX | Webster | 9 hr |
| May 21, 11:14 AM CDT | River Flood Watch | DMX | Polk | 5 days |
| May 21, 11:14 AM CDT | River Flood Watch | DMX | Dallas, Greene | 4 days |
| May 21, 11:14 AM CDT | River Flood Watch | DMX | Boone, Hamilton, Webster | 47 hr |
| May 21, 11:14 AM CDT | River Flood Warning | DMX | Tama | 8 days |
| May 21, 11:14 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Jasper, Mahaska, Marion, Poweshiek | 46 min |
| May 21, 11:16 AM CDT | Areal Flood Warning | DMX | Black Hawk, Bremer, Butler, Franklin, Grundy, Hardin and 6 more | 24 hr |
| May 21, 11:54 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Poweshiek | 21 min |
| May 21, 1:38 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Crawford | 52 min |
| May 21, 2:18 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Sac | 29 min |
| May 21, 2:28 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Adams, Audubon, Cass | 62 min |
| May 21, 2:30 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Audubon, Calhoun, Carroll, Crawford, Sac | 45 min |
| May 21, 2:52 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Adams, Cass | 18 min |
| May 21, 2:55 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Adair, Adams, Cass, Union | 50 min |
| May 21, 2:57 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | DMX | Adair, Audubon, Carroll, Cass, Crawford, Greene and 1 more | 6 hr |
| May 21, 3:07 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Adair, Adams, Madison, Taylor, Union | 53 min |
| May 21, 3:11 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Audubon, Boone, Calhoun, Carroll, Greene, Guthrie and 1 more | 49 min |
| May 21, 3:13 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Audubon, Cass, Greene, Guthrie | 22 min |
| May 21, 3:20 PM CDT | River Flood Warning | DMX | Polk | 7 hr |
| May 21, 3:26 PM CDT | River Flood Warning | DMX | Polk | 4 days |
| May 21, 3:26 PM CDT | River Flood Warning | DMX | Polk | 4 days |
| May 21, 3:26 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Adair, Adams, Madison, Union | 49 min |
| May 21, 3:31 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Boone, Greene, Hamilton, Webster, Wright | 44 min |
| May 21, 3:33 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Ringgold, Taylor, Union | 42 min |
| May 21, 3:35 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Adair, Dallas, Guthrie, Madison | 40 min |
| May 21, 3:40 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Adair, Adams, Dallas, Madison, Ringgold, Union | 50 min |
| May 21, 3:55 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Clarke, Madison, Ringgold, Union, Warren | 50 min |
| May 21, 3:58 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Clarke, Decatur, Lucas, Ringgold, Union, Warren | 47 min |
| May 21, 4:01 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Boone, Greene, Guthrie, Hamilton, Webster | 44 min |
| May 21, 4:03 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Boone, Hamilton, Webster | 42 min |
| May 21, 4:11 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Boone, Clarke, Dallas, Decatur, Lucas, Madison and 4 more | 64 min |
| May 21, 4:11 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Hancock, Kossuth, Winnebago, Worth | 49 min |
| May 21, 4:15 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Hancock, Worth, Wright | 45 min |
| May 21, 4:19 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Boone, Dallas, Polk, Story | 41 min |
| May 21, 4:25 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Boone, Franklin, Grundy, Hamilton, Hardin, Marshall and 2 more | 50 min |
| May 21, 4:30 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Jasper, Madison, Polk, Warren | 45 min |
| May 21, 4:43 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Grundy, Hardin, Jasper, Marion, Marshall, Polk and 2 more | 47 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Iowa, 2024Every tornado warning in 2024Tornadoes in 2024
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.