Alert archive / Iowa / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2025
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 89, NWS Quad Cities, IA
NWS Quad Cities, IA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 11, 2025, 4:39 PM CDT for Des Moines County, Henry County, Louisa County, Iowa. It was in force for 66 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
- Jul 11, 2025, 4:39 PM CDT (21:39 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 11, 2025, 5:45 PM CDT
- In force
- 66 min
- Issued by
- NWS Quad Cities, IA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 1.25 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Des Moines County, IA, Henry County, IA, Louisa County, IA
The radar
The Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 89 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:38 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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 11, 12:54 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 7 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Davenport, (KDVN), launched 12:00Z, 9.7 hours before the alert went out and 94 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
- 100 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -206 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1159 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 26 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -53 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- -21 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.1
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 Jul 11, 1:28 PM CDT, 3 hours 11 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- An Enhanced Risk (Level 3 of 5) of severe weather is expected this afternoon into tonight. Damaging winds are the primary hazard. A few tornadoes and large hail can not be ruled out.
- Flash flooding is likely for portions of the area, especially for those that have received 2 to 4 inches of rainfall within the last 24 hours. Rainfall rates of 2 to 4 inches per hour are expected. Additional rainfall amounts between 1 to 3 inches are possible.
- Quieter weather arrives this weekend with only isolated thunderstorms. Temperatures begin to increase next week ahead of our next weather system by the middle of the week. Increasing thunderstorm chances are expected with this next system.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 11, 1:28 PM CDT, 3 hours 11 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
128 PM CDT Fri Jul 11 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- An Enhanced Risk (Level 3 of 5) of severe weather is expected
this afternoon into tonight. Damaging winds are the primary
hazard. A few tornadoes and large hail can not be ruled out.
- Flash flooding is likely for portions of the area, especially
for those that have received 2 to 4 inches of rainfall within
the last 24 hours. Rainfall rates of 2 to 4 inches per hour
are expected. Additional rainfall amounts between 1 to 3
inches are possible.
- Quieter weather arrives this weekend with only isolated
thunderstorms. Temperatures begin to increase next week ahead
of our next weather system by the middle of the week.
Increasing thunderstorm chances are expected with this next
system.
&&
.SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
Issued at 126 PM CDT Fri Jul 11 2025
Several locations across the area received 2 to 4 inches of rainfall
over the last 24 hours. This will contribute greatly to the expected
hazards through tonight. In the meantime, a decaying area of showers
and thunderstorms continues to lift northeastward out of our region.
A positively-tilted shortwave trough is situated over the central
Great Plains and is expected to progress eastward through this
afternoon and evening. Late this morning and early this afternoon,
pockets of sunshine allow for rapid daytime heating and
destabilization. Temperatures reach the middle to upper 80s along
and south of Interstate 80, with upper 70s and lower 80s to the
north where clouds linger. This sets the stage for a very active
afternoon and evening.
With the approaching trough and afternoon destabilization,
thunderstorm development is expected near convective outflow from
morning thunderstorms across our north and ahead of the approaching
trough to our west. These thunderstorms are forecast to develop in a
favorable environment for severe weather and flash flooding. As
such, the Storm Prediction Center has upgraded to an Enhanced Risk
(Level 3 of 5) over the area. Convectively-enhanced low-level winds
support curved hodographs that favor supercell development
initially. These supercells will pose an all hazards threat, with
damaging winds, marginally large hail, and even a few tornadoes
possible. Flash flooding will be another hazard. Low-level winds
favor continuous moisture transport from the southwest into our
area, alongside an already deep-saturated airmass. Given weak and
backed upper-level winds, high-precipation rates are expected. 2 to
4 inch per hour rainfall rates are probable. As the afternoon and
evening progresses, additional thunderstorm development and gradual
upscale growth into lines of thunderstorms is anticipated. This
upscale growth will transition the hazards to a primary threat of
damaging winds and flash flooding as cold pools congeal. With that
said, a couple tornadoes can not be ruled out. Slow movement and
training of thunderstorms appears likely. Weaker upper-level winds
and shear vectors generally in the same direction as thunderstorm
orientation supports prolonged heavy rainfall. With this
expectation, widespread additional rainfall of 1 to 3 inches is
forecast with locally higher amounts possible. A Flood Watch is in
effect for much of the area as a result due to this threat of flash
flooding and river flooding.
Late tonight and into early Saturday morning, thunderstorms
gradually shift eastward, along with the trough and precipitation
tapers off by midnight with any lingering showers and thunderstorms
dissipating after midnight. Patchy fog may develop behind this
rainfall with plentiful moisture and cooler temperatures filling in
behind this activity. Temperatures cool into the upper 60s by
Saturday morning as remnant clouds continue to linger.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Issued at 126 PM CDT Fri Jul 11 2025
With widespread cloud cover and rain-cooled air lingering Saturday
morning, comparatively quieter weather is anticipated for Saturday.
With that said, at least a few afternoon thunderstorms can be
expected during the mid-afternoon before everything clears to the
east by evening. Temperatures reach the middle 80s across the area
on Saturday. Cooler temperatures continue on Sunday, with morning
temperatures down into the lower 60s and afternoon temperatues
reaching the middle 80s once again. Mostly sunny skies offer up
beautiful weather to end the weekend. Temperatures climb back into
the upper 80s and lower 90s to start the week under mostly sunny
skies and ahead of our next system. Heading towards the middle of
the week, our next weather system brings increasing thunderstorm
chances and cooling temperatures. A cold front could bring upper 70s
and lower 80s to the area late in the week.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 1212 PM CDT Fri Jul 11 2025
VFR conditions and southeast winds are expected during the early
afternoon. A few showers and thunderstorms have developed near and
north of CID and DBQ. Brief aviation impacts and VCTS are possible
through early afternoon. As the afternoon progresses, thunderstorm
development is expected near western terminals initially. Scattered
thunderstorms may proceed a stronger line of thunderstorms that
moves east across the region this afternoon and evening. Gusty and
variable winds are expected with these thunderstorms. MVFR
visibility and ceilings are likely with thunderstorms with
reductions to IFR ceilings and visibility possible at times. Behind
these thunderstorms late this evening, rain may linger along
with MVFR ceilings. Fog is expected to develop across the area
once rain ends with MVFR visibility with MVFR or IFR ceilings
after midnight. Eventual clearing will arrive towards the end
of the TAF period.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
Issued at 107 PM CDT Fri Jul 11 2025
What is NEW...
Flood watches have been issued for the Wapsipinicon River near
DeWitt and for the Mississippi River from Gladstone, IL (L/D 18) to
Burlington, IA.
Discussion...
Bands of heavy rain fell across eastern Iowa and northwest and
west central Illinois. Rainfall ranged from 1 to 4 inches with
3-4+ inches in the bands of heavier rainfall. The urban areas of
Dubuque and the Quad Cities were hit hard with heavy rainfall
last night and are especially at risk for flooding.
Most of the area is abnormally dry or in moderate drought and
transpiration from agricultural fields is near maximum.
As of right now river gages are showing little to no increases
suggesting a good chunk of last nights rainfall appears to have
soaked into the ground. However, another round of heavy rainfall
is expected late this afternoon through sunrise Saturday. Early
estimates suggest another 1 to 3 inches of rain occurring with
pockets of 3+ inches possible due to PWATs above the 90th
percentile.
If the heavier bands of rain occur in roughly the same areas as
last night, then considerable runoff will occur due to soils
being near saturation. If the heavier rain occurs in areas that
received less rainfall last night, then a good portion of the
rain may soak into the ground.
Regardless of which scenario occurs, baseline ground water flow
will increase and eventually reach area waterways. As a result,
area rivers are forecast to see general within bank rises over
next next 5-7 days. If the upcoming round of heavy rain occurs
in areas that have saturated soils, then portions of some rivers
may reach flood stage.
&&
.DVN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IA...Flood Watch until 1 AM CDT Saturday for IAZ040>042-051>054-
063>068-076>078-087>089-098-099.
IL...Flood Watch until 1 AM CDT Saturday for ILZ001-002-007-009-
015>018-024>026.
MO...None.
&&
SHORT TERM...NWS
LONG TERM...NWS
AVIATION...NWS
HYDROLOGY...08Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 11, 1:24 PM CDT, 3 hours 15 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL 124 PM CDT Fri Jul 11 2025 IAZ040>042-051>054-063>068-076>078-087>089-098-099-ILZ001-002-007- 009-015>018-024>026-034-035-MOZ009-010-121830- 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- 124 PM CDT Fri Jul 11 2025 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...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT Multiple rounds of thunderstorms are expected this afternoon through the early morning on Saturday. An Enhanced Risk (Level 3 of 5) of severe thunderstorms is in place. Damaging winds and a few tornadoes will be the main threats, with isolated large hail being a secondary threat. Flash flooding will continue to be possible across the area, especially for areas that received heavy rainfall on Thursday, or where multiple rounds of thunderstorms impact today. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY Isolated thunderstorms remain possible on Saturday, particularly for areas along and east of the Mississippi River. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is likely needed this afternoon through tonight.
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jul 11, 4:03 PM CDT, 36 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
403 PM CDT Fri Jul 11 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0356 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 NNE Cedar Rapids 42.00N 91.66W
07/11/2025 E60 MPH Linn IA Trained Spotter
Half inch tree limbs coming down.
&&Local storm report, Jul 11, 4:05 PM CDT, 34 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
405 PM CDT Fri Jul 11 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0358 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 SSE Center Point 42.17N 91.77W
07/11/2025 Linn IA Emergency Mngr
Semi blown over on I-380. Also widespread
reports of trees down across the northern
part of the county.
&&Local storm report, Jul 11, 4:12 PM CDT, 27 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
412 PM CDT Fri Jul 11 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0400 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 NNW Cedar Rapids 42.01N 91.68W
07/11/2025 Linn IA Trained Spotter
Very large tree snapped off 10 feet above
the ground blocking the road.
&&Local storm report, Jul 11, 4:29 PM CDT, 10 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Service Notice</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
<main class="wrap">
<section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
<div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
<h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
<p id="message1">
The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
</p>
<p id="message2">
Please try again in a few minutes.
</p>
<p class="small" id="detail">
If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
</p>
</section>
</main>
<script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>Local storm report, Jul 11, 4:34 PM CDT, 5 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
434 PM CDT Fri Jul 11 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0354 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 4 ESE Alburnett 42.14N 91.55W
07/11/2025 M55 MPH Linn IA Emergency Mngr
Hwy 13 and Indian Bridge Rd.
&&Local storm report, Jul 11, 4:38 PM CDT, 1 minute before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
438 PM CDT Fri Jul 11 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0342 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 WNW Center Point 42.19N 91.82W
07/11/2025 Linn IA Emergency Mngr
Power out with damage to trees and a gazebo.
Tree branches down.
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Quad Cities, IA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 10, 7:16 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Jackson | 44 min |
| Jul 10, 7:17 PM CDT | Flood Watch | DVN | Benton, Buchanan, Cedar, Clinton, Delaware, Des Moines and 15 more | 30 hr |
| Jul 10, 7:42 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | DVN | Clinton, Jackson | 4 hr |
| Jul 10, 7:56 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Clinton | 38 min |
| Jul 10, 9:15 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DVN | Scott | 45 min |
| Jul 10, 9:42 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DVN | Scott | 18 min |
| Jul 10, 10:10 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | DVN | Scott | 2 hr |
| Jul 10, 10:33 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | DVN | Scott | 108 min |
| Jul 11, 1:48 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | DVN | Louisa, Washington | 4 hr |
| Jul 11, 2:22 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Benton, Iowa | 53 min |
| Jul 11, 3:05 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Linn, Muscatine | 33 min |
| Jul 11, 9:59 AM CDT | River Flood Watch | DVN | Clinton, Scott | 3 days |
| Jul 11, 10:53 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DVN | Benton, Buchanan | 67 min |
| Jul 11, 11:27 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Benton, Buchanan, Delaware, Linn | 37 min |
| Jul 11, 11:28 AM CDT | River Flood Watch | DVN | Des Moines | 44 hr |
| Jul 11, 11:28 AM CDT | River Flood Watch | DVN | Des Moines, Lee | 48 hr |
| Jul 11, 2:38 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DVN | Jefferson, Keokuk, Washington | 13 min |
| Jul 11, 2:54 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DVN | Benton, Buchanan, Delaware, Dubuque, Linn | 96 min |
| Jul 11, 2:54 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DVN | Henry, Jefferson, Van Buren | 51 min |
| Jul 11, 2:58 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Jefferson, Washington | 47 min |
| Jul 11, 3:03 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Benton, Buchanan, Linn | 57 min |
| Jul 11, 3:09 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | DVN | Dubuque | 4 hr |
| Jul 11, 3:44 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | DVN | Benton, Buchanan, Delaware, Linn | 8 hr |
| Jul 11, 3:54 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Cedar, Clinton, Delaware, Dubuque, Jackson, Johnson and 2 more | 66 min |
| Jul 11, 3:57 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Buchanan, Delaware, Dubuque | 63 min |
| Jul 11, 4:09 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DVN | Delaware, Dubuque, Jackson, Jones, Linn | 51 min |
| Jul 11, 4:15 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | DVN | Iowa, Johnson, Linn | 4 hr |
| Jul 11, 4:16 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Louisa, Muscatine | 59 min |
| Jul 11, 4:22 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DVN | Delaware, Dubuque, Jackson, Jones | 38 min |
| Jul 11, 4:26 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Cedar, Clinton, Muscatine, Scott | 34 min |
| Jul 11, 4:33 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Dubuque, Jackson, Jones | 57 min |
| Jul 11, 4:37 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Dubuque, Jackson, Jones | 38 min |
| Jul 11, 4:40 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Delaware, Dubuque | 29 min |
| Jul 11, 4:47 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Muscatine, Scott | 43 min |
| Jul 11, 4:52 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Clinton, Jackson, Scott | 53 min |
| Jul 11, 5:05 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DVN | Muscatine, Scott | 40 min |
| Jul 11, 5:26 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | DVN | Scott | 10 hr |
| Jul 11, 5:26 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Scott | 64 min |
| Jul 11, 5:39 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Clinton, Jackson, Scott | 66 min |
| Jul 11, 5:49 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Des Moines, Henry, Louisa, Muscatine | 56 min |
| Jul 11, 6:03 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Muscatine, Scott | 57 min |
| Jul 11, 6:11 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Lee, Van Buren | 64 min |
| Jul 11, 6:27 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Scott | 46 min |
| Jul 11, 6:30 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | DVN | Clinton, Scott | 5 hr |
| Jul 11, 6:33 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | DVN | Des Moines, Henry, Louisa, Muscatine | 5 hr |
| Jul 11, 6:57 PM CDT | Areal Flood Warning | DVN | Dubuque | 9 hr |
| Jul 11, 6:58 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Des Moines, Lee | 31 min |
| Jul 10, 7:36 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Jo Daviess, Stephenson | 54 min |
| Jul 10, 8:04 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | DVN | Jo Daviess, Stephenson | 3 hr |
| Jul 10, 8:48 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DVN | Whiteside | 42 min |
| Jul 10, 9:36 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DVN | Rock Island | 39 min |
| Jul 10, 9:37 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DVN | Bureau | 38 min |
| Jul 10, 10:12 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DVN | Bureau | 48 min |
| Jul 10, 10:23 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Henry, Mercer, Rock Island | 32 min |
| Jul 10, 10:47 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Bureau, Henry, Putnam | 58 min |
| Jul 10, 10:50 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | DVN | Bureau, Putnam | 92 min |
| Jul 11, 5:01 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Henderson, Mercer, Warren | 44 min |
| Jul 11, 5:22 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Jo Daviess, Stephenson | 53 min |
| Jul 11, 6:46 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DVN | Bureau, Putnam | 59 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Iowa, 2025Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2025
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.