Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 41, NWS La Crosse, WI
NWS La Crosse, WI issued this tornado warning at May 17, 2026, 10:54 PM CDT for Chickasaw County, Howard County, Iowa. It was in force for 51 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- May 17, 2026, 10:54 PM CDT (03:54 UTC)
- Expired
- May 17, 2026, 11:45 PM CDT
- In force
- 51 min
- Issued by
- NWS La Crosse, WI
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.0 in
Counties Chickasaw County, IA, Howard County, IA
The radar
The La Crosse radar (KARX), 107 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:54 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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 6:12 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 00:00Z, 3.9 hours before the alert went out and 193 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
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1101 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 42 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 154 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 237 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
827
WFUS53 KARX 180354
TORARX
IAC037-089-180445-
/O.NEW.KARX.TO.W.0041.260518T0354Z-260518T0445Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1054 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
The National Weather Service in La Crosse has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Howard County in northeastern Iowa...
Northern Chickasaw County in northeastern Iowa...
* Until 1145 PM CDT.
* At 1054 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms capable of producing both
tornadoes and extensive straight line wind damage were located
along a line extending from near Stacyville to near Floyd, moving
east at 60 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.
* These dangerous storms will be near...
Riceville around 1100 PM CDT.
Elma around 1105 PM CDT.
Lime Springs and Jerico around 1110 PM CDT.
Cresco and Protivin around 1120 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by these tornadic storms include Lylahs
Marsh County Park, Vernon Springs County Park, Saratoga, County B 17
And Bell Avenue, Maple Leaf, Vernon Springs, and Bonair.
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.
Torrential rainfall is occurring with these storms, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 4350 9255 4350 9208 4320 9208 4311 9255
TIME...MOT...LOC 0354Z 261DEG 50KT 4345 9272 4312 9268
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
$$
Baumgardt4 follow-up statements
983
WWUS53 KARX 180403
SVSARX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1103 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
IAC037-089-180445-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0041.000000T0000Z-260518T0445Z/
Howard IA-Chickasaw IA-
1103 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1145 PM CDT FOR HOWARD
AND NORTHERN CHICKASAW COUNTIES...
At 1102 PM CDT, a severe squall line capable of producing both
tornadoes and extensive straight line wind damage was located along a
line extending from near Le Roy to 7 miles northeast of Charles City,
moving east at 60 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
These dangerous storms will be near...
Elma around 1110 PM CDT.
Lime Springs and Jerico around 1115 PM CDT.
Cresco around 1120 PM CDT.
Protivin around 1125 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by these tornadic storms include Lylahs
Marsh County Park, Vernon Springs County Park, Saratoga, County B 17
And Bell Avenue, Maple Leaf, Vernon Springs, and Bonair.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!
&&
LAT...LON 4350 9255 4350 9208 4320 9208 4311 9255
TIME...MOT...LOC 0402Z 261DEG 50KT 4346 9259 4313 9255
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
$$
Baumgardt735
WWUS53 KARX 180411
SVSARX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1111 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
IAC037-089-180445-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0041.000000T0000Z-260518T0445Z/
Howard IA-Chickasaw IA-
1111 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1145 PM CDT FOR HOWARD
AND NORTHEASTERN CHICKASAW COUNTIES...
At 1111 PM CDT, a severe squall line capable of producing both
tornadoes and extensive straight line wind damage was located along a
line extending from near Le Roy to 7 miles west of Jerico, moving
east at 60 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.
These dangerous storms will be near...
Lime Springs and Jerico around 1115 PM CDT.
Cresco around 1120 PM CDT.
Protivin around 1125 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by these tornadic storms include Lylahs
Marsh County Park, Vernon Springs County Park, Saratoga, Maple Leaf,
Vernon Springs, Bonair, and County Roads V 58 And A 46.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!
&&
LAT...LON 4350 9252 4350 9208 4320 9208 4313 9245
TIME...MOT...LOC 0411Z 261DEG 50KT 4348 9243 4315 9239
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
$$
Baumgardt705
WWUS53 KARX 180419
SVSARX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
1119 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
IAC037-180427-
/O.CAN.KARX.TO.W.0041.000000T0000Z-260518T0445Z/
Chickasaw IA-
1119 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN CHICKASAW COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
The storms which prompted the tornado warning no longer pose a
tornado threat. However, the storms are still producing severe wind
gusts to 60 mph.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 100 AM CDT for northeastern
Iowa.
&&
LAT...LON 4350 9208 4321 9208 4321 9237 4350 9242
TIME...MOT...LOC 0417Z 253DEG 48KT 4348 9238 4323 9232
$$
IAC089-180445-
/O.CON.KARX.TO.W.0041.000000T0000Z-260518T0445Z/
Howard IA-
1119 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1145 PM CDT FOR HOWARD
COUNTY...
At 1117 PM CDT, a severe squall line capable of producing both
tornadoes and extensive straight line wind damage was located along a
line extending from near Lime Springs to near Jerico, moving east at
55 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.
These dangerous storms will be near...
Lime Springs around 1120 PM CDT.
Cresco and Protivin around 1125 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by these tornadic storms include Chester,
Vernon Springs County Park, Davis Corners, Maple Leaf, Vernon
Springs, Bonair, and County Roads V 58 And A 46.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!
&&
LAT...LON 4350 9208 4321 9208 4321 9237 4350 9242
TIME...MOT...LOC 0417Z 253DEG 48KT 4348 9238 4323 9232
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
$$
Baumgardt904 WWUS53 KARX 180436 RRA SVSARX Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service La Crosse WI 1136 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026 IAC089-180446- /O.EXP.KARX.TO.W.0041.000000T0000Z-260518T0445Z/ Howard IA- 1136 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR HOWARD COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 1145 PM CDT... The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the area. Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire. A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 100 AM CDT for northeastern Iowa. && LAT...LON 4350 9208 4321 9208 4321 9237 4350 9242 TIME...MOT...LOC 0436Z 261DEG 50KT 4352 9206 4327 9200 $$ Baumgardt
The office that day
Everything else NWS La Crosse, WI issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 10:09 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ARX | Floyd, Mitchell | 66 min |
| May 17, 10:13 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ARX | Mitchell | 62 min |
| May 17, 10:24 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | ARX | Floyd, Mitchell | 51 min |
| May 17, 10:49 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ARX | Chickasaw, Howard | 56 min |
| May 17, 11:40 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ARX | Winneshiek | 28 min |
| May 18, 12:07 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | ARX | Allamakee | 38 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Iowa, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes in 2026
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.