Alert archive / Iowa / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2024

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 128, NWS Quad Cities, IA

May 21, 2024Delaware County, Dubuque County, Jones County, Iowa

NWS Quad Cities, IA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 21, 2024, 2:52 PM CDT for Delaware County, Dubuque County, Jones County, Iowa. It was in force for 43 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
May 21, 2024, 2:52 PM CDT (19:52 UTC)
Expired
May 21, 2024, 3:35 PM CDT
In force
43 min
Issued by
NWS Quad Cities, IA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Delaware County, IA, Dubuque County, IA, Jones County, IA

The radar

The Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 94 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:54 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
May 21, 1:14 PM CDTTornado Watch PDSSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Davenport, (KDVN), launched 12:00Z, 7.9 hours before the alert went out and 97 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, Davenport, at 12:00Z on 2024-05-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1292 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, Davenport, at 12:00Z on 2024-05-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 21 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
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

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 Quad Cities, IA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 21, 12:33 PM CDT, 2 hours 19 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Moderate Risk (level 4 of 5) for severe weather has been expanded today to include all except the far eastern portions of Bureau and Putnam counties. Large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes will all be possible. Some significant wind gusts over 70 mph may occur this evening.
  • Flood watch issued for a portion of the CWA for flash flood potential today.
  • Drying out Wednesday and Thursday with more seasonable temperatures and humidity.
  • Shower and thunderstorm chances return Friday through Sunday as a more humid air mass builds back into the region.
Area forecast discussion, May 21, 12:33 PM CDT, 2 hours 19 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
1233 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024

...18z Aviation Update...

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Moderate Risk (level 4 of 5) for severe weather has been
  expanded today to include all except the far eastern portions
  of Bureau and Putnam counties. Large hail, damaging winds, and
  tornadoes will all be possible. Some significant wind gusts
  over 70 mph may occur this evening.

- Flood watch issued for a portion of the CWA for flash flood
  potential today.

- Drying out Wednesday and Thursday with more seasonable
  temperatures and humidity.

- Shower and thunderstorm chances return Friday through Sunday
  as a more humid air mass builds back into the region.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
Issued at 302 AM CDT Tue May 21 2024

Early This Morning...elevated convection has for the most part
remained to our west and northwest thanks to the 850mb LLJ and
moisture transport vectors oriented SSW to NNE into north
central IA. This activity may clip our far northwestern
counties over the next 1-3 hours. Frequent lightning, gusty
winds up to 50 mph, and heavy rain will be the hazards. MRMS
1-hr rainfall amounts to our west have been in the 1-2.5" range
and if this continues into our CWA, an isolated flash flood
threat may exist especially if storms train over the same
location. For this reason and with collaboration from neighbors,
have issued a flood watch for the two western tier of counties
north of I-80. This area received 1-2 inches yesterday and with
FFG values in the 1.5-2" range it wouldn't take much to cause
issues. Rises on creeks and for some rivers can be expected this
morning on the upper portions of the Iowa, Cedar, and Wapsi
Rivers. See hydrology section for more details.

Mid Morning Through Early Afternoon...a strong shortwave remains
on track to move from the Central Plains into the Upper
Mississippi Valley by 00z tonight. This wave will become
negatively tilted by the late afternoon, which will lead to a
deepening surface low down to ~988mb as it reaches central
Minnesota. A lull in the precip chances is forecast for this
period as the main forcing moves north and the region remains
fully in the warm sector. The question then becomes will
convection develop before the main show along the cold front
later in the evening. Forecast soundings from the latest
HRRR/RAP suggest a rather strong CAP will be in place that may
keep a lid on things through 21z. However, outflow boundaries
from this morning's convection may provide a focus for storm
initiation in this period and the day shift will need to watch
for this possibility. In addition, it will become quite breezy
with wind gusts over 35 mph at times.

Early Afternoon-Evening...a very unstable atmosphere evident by
SBCAPEs over 2500 J/Kg, deep layer shear over 45 kts, and PWs
around 1.4" will be in place over our area and this all points
to a classic setup for severe weather. Latest CAMs and 00z HREF
progs suggest convective initiation to occur just west of I-35
in Iowa around 21z with discrete supercells. Very strong
dynamics (70kt 500mb speed max and 60kt 850mb winds) will
support activity quickly growing upscale into a QLCS with
embedded supercells. 0-3 km shear vectors will be oriented line
normal to the front supporting bowing segments with strong
mesos capable of producing tornadoes. This will be a high end
severe threat with all hazards possible, including large hail,
damaging winds, and tornadoes (a few of which could be strong --
EF2+). SPC has expanded the Moderate (level 4 of 5) risk across
most of the CWA with the greatest risk probabilities coming
from wind (45% or greater). There is also a risk of significant
wind gusts greater than 74 mph this evening. Pay close attention
to the weather, have multiple ways to receive warnings, and to
take appropriate action if a warning is issued for your
location.

In addition to the severe threat, a very moist atmosphere with
PWATs near 1.75" will support hourly rain rates of 1-2" with the
strongest storms. While storm motions will be very fast and
residence time for heavy rain will be low along the front, have
kept the flood watch going in our west until 9pm this evening
for ponding and an isolated flash flood threat.

To reiterate, the greatest severe risk today will be from early
evening (5pm) to late evening (11pm) as widespread storms along
a cold front track west to east through the outlook area. Once
the front moves through, the severe threat will quickly
diminish.

&&

.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
Issued at 302 AM CDT Tue May 21 2024

Wednesday...latest forecast models have been trending drier for
this period and have adjusted PoPs accordingly in collaboration
with neighbors. A secondary wave is still expected to track
east across IA but now only bring an increase in clouds during
the day. Afternoon highs will top out in the low to mid 70s,
with much more comfortable humidity levels.

After the wave passes on Wednesday, flow aloft becomes split
again with the northern US under the influence of the northern
branch of the jet stream. High pressure is forecast to lift across
the area at the surface and aloft and bring quiet weather to the
area Wednesday night through Thursday. High temperatures on
Thursday will be warner with temperatures in the mid to upper 70s.

Friday through Monday, a series of disturbances will move across the
area as shortwave energy from a trough in the Pacific Northwest
moves across the area. This will bring daily chances of showers
and storms through the holiday weekend, The weekend will not
be a total washout, but there will be periods of showers and
storms.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 1232 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024

Isolated thunderstorms will be in the vicinity of KCID to start the
period, with potential for storms to produce heavy rain, hail up to
quarter size and wind gusts around 40-50 kts.

The main impact in the next 24 hours is still expected with strong
storms developing across central IA this afternoon and tracking
east. Some of these storms may become severe, with potential for
significant wind gusts over 65 kts in the strongest bowing segments.
Current guidance maintains these arriving in the 22-02z time frame
at the terminals, which are addressed as TEMPO grounds at all
terminals. Winds will switch out of the northwest behind the fropa
late this evening, with some guidance continuing to hint at MVFR
cigs developing at CID/DBQ late in the period.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
Issued at 1142 AM CDT Tue May 21 2024

Very heavy rains on the order of 2-3+ inches fell across
portions of eastern Iowa mainly northwest of the Cedar Rapids
and Iowa City metros in the past 24 hours. Much of this rain
fell in the headwaters of the Wapsipinicon, Skunk, Cedar and
Iowa Rivers, which is leading to or will lead to rises over the
coming days. Flood watches and warnings are currently in effect
along portions of these rivers, with potential for minor to
moderate flooding over the next 7 days.

Additional QPF of around 0.50-1.00" is expected across these
rivers today as showers and storms move across the area. This
rain could lead to additional rises, though confidence on where
the heaviest rain will fall is low as storms will be fast
moving.

&&

.DVN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IA...Flood Watch until 9 PM CDT this evening for IAZ040-041-051-052-
     063-064.
IL...None.
MO...None.

&&

SHORT TERM...Gross
LONG TERM...Gross
AVIATION...Speck
HYDROLOGY...Speck
Hazardous weather outlook, May 21, 4:15 AM CDT, 10 hours 37 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
415 AM CDT Tue May 21 2024

IAZ040>042-051>054-063>068-076>078-087>089-098-099-ILZ001-002-007-
009-015>018-024>026-034-035-MOZ009-010-220915-
Buchanan-Delaware-Dubuque-Benton-Linn-Jones-Jackson-Iowa-Johnson-
Cedar-Clinton-Muscatine-Scott-Keokuk-Washington-Louisa-Jefferson-
Henry IA-Des Moines-Van Buren-Lee-Jo Daviess-Stephenson-Carroll-
Whiteside-Rock Island-Henry IL-Bureau-Putnam-Mercer-Henderson-
Warren-Hancock-McDonough-Scotland-Clark-
415 AM CDT Tue May 21 2024

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central
Illinois...northwest Illinois...west central Illinois...east
central Iowa...northeast Iowa...southeast Iowa and northeast
Missouri.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

There is a Moderate Risk, or a level 4 out of 5 for severe
weather today for the entire outlook area. All severe hazards will
be possible including damaging winds of 60 to 80 mph, tornadoes,
and large hail. In addition, repeated rounds of thunderstorms may
bring an isolated flash flood risk and ponding of water.

Portions of the Cedar, Skunk, and Wapsipinicon rivers are
experiencing flooding. Please see the latest Flood Statements and
Flood Warnings for details.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will be needed today and tonight.

GENERAL STORM MOTION OF THE DAY:

To the northeast at 55 mph.

Gross

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 21, 12:03 PM CDT, 2 hours 49 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
1203 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024

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

1203 PM     Rain             2 ENE Hazleton          42.63N 91.86W
05/21/2024  M2.31 Inch       Buchanan           IA   CO-OP Observer

            Rainfall so far since midnight.

&&

Haase
Local storm report, May 21, 12:34 PM CDT, 2 hours 18 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
1234 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024

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

1232 PM     Hail             2 WNW Genoa Bluff       41.73N 92.18W
05/21/2024  M0.70 Inch       Iowa               IA   Trained Spotter

&&

Haase
Local storm report, May 21, 12:41 PM CDT, 2 hours 11 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 21, 12:54 PM CDT, 1 hour 58 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 21, 1:16 PM CDT, 1 hour 36 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA/IL
116 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024

IAZ041-052-053-064-065-211915-
Linn IA-Delaware IA-Cedar IA-Jones IA-Johnson IA-
116 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Linn, southeastern
Delaware, northwestern Cedar, Jones and northern Johnson Counties
through 215 PM CDT...

At 116 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Cedar Rapids to near Coralville. Movement
was northeast at 50 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could cause minor tree limb damage and blow
         around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects
         is possible.

Locations impacted include...
Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Anamosa, Mechanicsville, Stanwood, Marion,
Coralville, North Liberty, Hiawatha, Mount Vernon, Monticello,
Robins, Lisbon, Fairfax, Solon, Tiffin, Ely, Walford, Central City,
and Springville.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 80 in Iowa between mile markers 233 and 245.
 Interstate 380 between mile markers 1 and 28.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is occurring and may lead to localized flooding.
Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for northeastern
and east central Iowa.

&&

LAT...LON 4236 9113 4230 9113 4230 9105 4216 9090
      4196 9090 4159 9174 4187 9183 4200 9183
      4241 9119
TIME...MOT...LOC 1816Z 226DEG 45KT 4198 9174 4173 9153

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

RP Kinney
Local storm report, May 21, 1:27 PM CDT, 1 hour 25 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
127 PM CDT Tue May 21 2024

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

0115 PM     Hail             Lisbon                  41.92N 91.38W
05/21/2024  M0.50 Inch       Linn               IA   Emergency Mngr

&&

Haase

The office that day

Everything else NWS Quad Cities, IA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 20, 7:43 PM CDTRiver Flood WatchDVNBenton, Iowa14 hr
May 20, 7:47 PM CDTRiver Flood WatchDVNKeokuk3 hr
May 20, 7:47 PM CDTRiver Flood WatchDVNClinton, Scott3 days
May 20, 10:17 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNKeokuk7 days
May 21, 1:45 AM CDTFlood WatchDVNBenton, Buchanan, Delaware, Iowa, Johnson, Linn19 hr
May 21, 6:21 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNBenton39 min
May 21, 6:51 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNBenton, Iowa, Linn28 min
May 21, 8:46 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDVNJones44 min
May 21, 9:40 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNBenton, Iowa14 days
May 21, 10:54 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDVNBenton, Buchanan, Delaware, Dubuque, Linn51 min
May 21, 10:56 AM CDTRiver Flood WatchDVNCedar, Jones, Linn6 days
May 21, 11:51 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNIowa54 min
May 21, 12:34 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDVNIowa4 hr
May 21, 12:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNBenton, Iowa, Johnson, Linn29 min
May 21, 1:16 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDVNJohnson, Jones, Linn59 min
May 21, 3:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNDubuque33 min
May 21, 5:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNVan Buren39 min
May 21, 5:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatDVNBenton, Buchanan47 min
May 21, 5:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNDelaware, Dubuque, Jones51 min
May 21, 5:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatDVNHenry, Jefferson, Van Buren, Washington33 min
May 21, 6:02 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNCedar, Clinton, Jackson, Jones43 min
May 21, 6:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatDVNDes Moines, Henry, Lee, Louisa, Van Buren25 min
May 21, 6:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatDVNBenton, Iowa, Johnson, Keokuk42 min
May 21, 6:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatDVNBenton, Buchanan, Delaware, Linn51 min
May 21, 6:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNDubuque31 min
May 21, 6:32 PM CDTTornado WarningDVNBenton, Buchanan28 min
May 21, 6:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNCedar, Clinton, Johnson, Louisa, Muscatine, Scott52 min
May 21, 6:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNVan Buren47 min
May 21, 6:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatDVNJackson43 min
May 21, 6:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatDVNBenton, Buchanan, Delaware, Johnson, Jones, Linn38 min
May 21, 6:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatDVNCedar, Clinton, Jackson, Jones50 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Iowa, 2024Every severe thunderstorm warning 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.