Alert archive / Iowa / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 249, NWS Des Moines, IA
NWS Des Moines, IA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 2, 2026, 4:13 PM CDT for Hardin County, Marshall County, Story County, Iowa. It was in force for 47 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 2, 2026, 4:13 PM CDT (21:13 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 2, 2026, 5:00 PM CDT
- In force
- 47 min
- Issued by
- NWS Des Moines, IA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 1.0 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Hardin County, IA, Marshall County, IA, Story County, IA
The radar
The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 62 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:17 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 2, 12:45 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 8 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 9.2 hours before the alert went out and 301 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
- 152 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -173 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1469 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 30 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -28 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 38 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- -1.0
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 Des Moines, IA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jul 2, 4:08 PM CDT, 5 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 2, 4:08 PM CDT, 5 minutes before
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</html>Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 2, 3:12 PM CDT, 1 hour 1 minute before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Des Moines IA 312 PM CDT Thu Jul 2 2026 IAZ044>050-057-058-070-071-081-032015- Crawford-Carroll-Greene-Boone-Story-Marshall-Tama-Audubon-Guthrie- Cass-Adair-Adams- 312 PM CDT Thu Jul 2 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Iowa. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight Warm and humid conditions continue this afternoon. There is a Slight (Level 2 of 5) Risk for severe storms from this afternoon into evening, and again overnight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday There is an Enhanced (Level 3 of 5) to Slight (Level 2 of 5) Risk for Severe Storms on Friday with multiple rounds of storms possible from the morning through the evening. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters may be needed at times tonight into Friday. IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-032015- Emmet-Kossuth-Winnebago-Worth-Palo Alto-Hancock-Cerro Gordo- Pocahontas-Humboldt-Wright-Franklin-Butler-Bremer-Sac-Calhoun- Webster-Hamilton-Hardin-Grundy-Black Hawk- 312 PM CDT Thu Jul 2 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Iowa. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight A Flood Watch is in effect for the area. Please refer to the National Weather Service website at weather.gov/desmoines for further details. There is a Slight (Level 2 of 5) Risk for severe storms from this afternoon into evening, and again overnight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday There is an Enhanced (Level 3 of 5) to Slight (Level 2 of 5) Risk for Severe Storms on Friday with multiple rounds of storms possible from the morning through the evening. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters may be needed at times tonight into Friday. IAZ084>086-092>097-032015- Lucas-Monroe-Wapello-Taylor-Ringgold-Decatur-Wayne-Appanoose- Davis- 312 PM CDT Thu Jul 2 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Iowa. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight An Extreme Heat Warning is in effect for the area. Please refer to the National Weather Service website at weather.gov/desmoines for further details. There is a Marginal (Level 1 of 5) Risk for severe storms from this afternoon into evening, and again overnight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday An Extreme Heat Warning is in effect for the area through Friday night. Please refer to the National Weather Service website at weather.gov/desmoines for further details. There is a Slight (Level 2 of 5) Risk for Severe Storms on Friday with multiple rounds of storms possible from the morning through the evening. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters may be needed at times tonight into Friday. IAZ059>062-072>075-082-083-032015- Dallas-Polk-Jasper-Poweshiek-Madison-Warren-Marion-Mahaska-Union- Clarke- 312 PM CDT Thu Jul 2 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Iowa. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight An Extreme Heat Warning is in effect for the area into tonight. Please refer to the National Weather Service website at weather.gov/desmoines for further details. There is a Slight (Level 2 of 5) to Marginal (Level 1 of 5) Risk for Severe Storms this afternoon into evening, and again overnight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday There is a Slight (Level 2 of 5) Risk for Severe Storms on Friday with multiple rounds of storms possible from the morning through the evening. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters may be needed at times tonight into Friday.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Jul 2, 11:23 AM CDT, 4 hours 50 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
1123 AM CDT Thu Jul 2 2026
IAZ005>007-016-017-025-021715-
Wright IA-Cerro Gordo IA-Kossuth IA-Winnebago IA-Worth IA-Hancock IA-
1123 AM CDT Thu Jul 2 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN WORTH...
NORTHEASTERN WRIGHT...SOUTHEASTERN KOSSUTH...HANCOCK...CERRO GORDO
AND SOUTHEASTERN WINNEBAGO COUNTIES THROUGH 1215 PM CDT...
At 1123 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles south of Britt, or 12 miles southwest of Garner, moving
northeast at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail and additional
heavy rainfall of one to two inches.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible. Ponding of water on roadways, low visibilities,
and rises in small streams and creeks.
Locations impacted include...
Mason City, Forest City, Garner, Belmond, Britt, Clear Lake, Eagle
Lake, Mason City Municipal Airport, Ventura, Kanawha, Klemme,
Thornton, Wesley, Fertile, Corwith, Leland, Meservey, Crystal Lake,
Hanlontown, and Swaledale.
This includes Interstate 35 between mile markers 182 and 202.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 4310 9307 4291 9346 4291 9350 4289 9350
4279 9369 4305 9405 4342 9361
TIME...MOT...LOC 1623Z 236DEG 41KT 4298 9380
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
FowleLocal storm report, Jul 2, 12:20 PM CDT, 3 hours 53 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
1220 PM CDT Thu Jul 2 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1215 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 S Mason City 43.14N 93.20W
07/02/2026 E55 MPH Cerro Gordo IA Emergency Mngr
&&
MDLocal storm report, Jul 2, 12:42 PM CDT, 3 hours 31 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
1242 PM CDT Thu Jul 2 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1225 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 6 SE Mason City 43.09N 93.12W
07/02/2026 M72 MPH Cerro Gordo IA Mesonet
PWS gust with a sustained 58mph.
&&
MDLocal storm report, Jul 2, 4:06 PM CDT, 7 minutes before
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</html>Local storm report, Jul 2, 4:09 PM CDT, 4 minutes before
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</html>The office that day
Everything else NWS Des Moines, IA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2, 7:47 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DMX | Winnebago | 28 min |
| Jul 2, 8:15 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DMX | Worth | 30 min |
| Jul 2, 11:23 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DMX | Cerro Gordo, Hancock | 52 min |
| Jul 2, 11:44 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Worth | 61 min |
| Jul 2, 1:05 PM CDT | Flood Watch | DMX | Adair, Adams, Audubon, Black Hawk, Boone, Bremer and 39 more | 42 hr |
| Jul 2, 1:29 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Black Hawk, Bremer | 46 min |
| Jul 2, 1:57 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Bremer | 18 min |
| Jul 2, 2:19 PM CDT | River Flood Watch | DMX | Black Hawk, Bremer, Butler | 59 hr |
| Jul 2, 2:19 PM CDT | River Flood Watch | DMX | Black Hawk | 5 days |
| Jul 2, 2:19 PM CDT | River Flood Watch | DMX | Black Hawk | 4 days |
| Jul 2, 2:21 PM CDT | River Flood Watch | DMX | Black Hawk, Bremer | 21 days |
| Jul 2, 2:21 PM CDT | River Flood Watch | DMX | Franklin, Wright | 21 days |
| Jul 2, 2:21 PM CDT | River Flood Watch | DMX | Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Worth | 21 days |
| Jul 2, 4:00 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Webster | 45 min |
| Jul 2, 4:03 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Calhoun, Pocahontas, Webster | 43 min |
| Jul 2, 4:17 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Jasper, Polk | 58 min |
| Jul 2, 4:32 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Hamilton, Webster, Wright | 58 min |
| Jul 2, 4:45 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Hamilton, Webster, Wright | 45 min |
| Jul 2, 4:54 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Jasper, Marshall, Polk, Story | 25 min |
| Jul 2, 4:58 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Franklin, Grundy, Hardin, Marshall | 29 min |
| Jul 2, 5:10 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Calhoun, Webster | 50 min |
| Jul 2, 5:15 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Franklin, Hamilton, Hardin | 45 min |
| Jul 2, 5:16 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Boone, Dallas, Polk, Story | 44 min |
| Jul 2, 5:58 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Boone, Polk, Story | 32 min |
| Jul 2, 6:58 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | DMX | Black Hawk, Grundy, Marshall, Tama | 6 hr |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Iowa, 2026Every severe thunderstorm warning 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.