Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2024

Tornado Warning 4, NWS Sioux Falls, SD

April 16, 2024Plymouth County, Sioux County, Iowa

NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued this tornado warning at Apr 16, 2024, 1:58 PM CDT for Plymouth County, Sioux County, Iowa. It was in force for 32 min. 1 report 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
Apr 16, 2024, 1:58 PM CDT (18:58 UTC)
Expired
Apr 16, 2024, 2:30 PM CDT
In force
32 min
Issued by
NWS Sioux Falls, SD
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Observed
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Plymouth County, IA, Sioux County, IA

The radar

The Sioux Falls radar (KFSD), 93 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:03 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Apr 16, 2:11 PM CDTTORNADO2 N Struble, IALocation estimated as viewed by emergency manager.

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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Apr 16, 12:23 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 12:00Z, 7.0 hours before the alert went out and 171 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, Omaha, NE at 12:00Z on 2024-04-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 852 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Omaha, NE at 12:00Z on 2024-04-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 70 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
852 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-86 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1959 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
38 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
70 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
211 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
4.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

351 
WFUS53 KFSD 161858
TORFSD
IAC149-167-161930-
/O.NEW.KFSD.TO.W.0004.240416T1858Z-240416T1930Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
158 PM CDT Tue Apr 16 2024

The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  South central Sioux County in northwestern Iowa...
  North central Plymouth County in northwestern Iowa...

* Until 230 PM CDT.

* At 158 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located near Le Mars, moving
  north at 25 mph.

  HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

  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.

* The tornado will be near...
  Maurice and Struble around 205 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Brunsville.

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 4276 9614 4278 9632 4298 9628 4298 9607
TIME...MOT...LOC 1858Z 197DEG 22KT 4281 9625 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

SG
2 follow-up statements
461 
WWUS53 KFSD 161904
SVSFSD

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
204 PM CDT Tue Apr 16 2024

IAC149-167-161930-
/O.CON.KFSD.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-240416T1930Z/
Sioux IA-Plymouth IA-
204 PM CDT Tue Apr 16 2024

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 230 PM CDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL SIOUX AND NORTH CENTRAL PLYMOUTH COUNTIES...

At 204 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located over Struble, or near
Le Mars, moving north at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

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...
  Maurice around 210 PM CDT.

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 4280 9613 4283 9631 4298 9628 4298 9607
TIME...MOT...LOC 1904Z 199DEG 28KT 4288 9622 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

SG
865 
WWUS53 KFSD 161910
SVSFSD

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
210 PM CDT Tue Apr 16 2024

IAC149-167-161930-
/O.CON.KFSD.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-240416T1930Z/
Sioux IA-Plymouth IA-
210 PM CDT Tue Apr 16 2024

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 230 PM CDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL SIOUX AND NORTH CENTRAL PLYMOUTH COUNTIES...

At 210 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Struble, or 9 miles southwest of Orange City, moving
northeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

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...
  Maurice around 215 PM CDT.

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 4283 9613 4289 9630 4298 9628 4298 9607
TIME...MOT...LOC 1910Z 206DEG 25KT 4292 9620 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

SG

The office that day

Everything else NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 16, 2:56 AM CDTWind AdvisoryFSDBuena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Ida, Lyon and 5 more16 hr
Apr 16, 1:36 PM CDTTornado WarningFSDPlymouth, Woodbury24 min
Apr 16, 1:46 PM CDTTornado WarningFSDPlymouth, Woodbury29 min
Apr 16, 2:15 PM CDTTornado WarningFSDPlymouth, Sioux30 min
Apr 16, 2:22 PM CDTTornado WarningFSDSioux23 min
Apr 16, 2:38 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedFSDLyon, Sioux22 min
Apr 16, 2:49 PM CDTTornado WarningFSDLyon, Sioux11 min
Apr 16, 2:59 PM CDTTornado WarningFSDLyon, Osceola, Sioux31 min
Apr 16, 3:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFSDLyon35 min
Apr 16, 4:07 PM CDTTornado WarningFSDClay, Dickinson23 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.