Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 40, NWS Des Moines, IA
NWS Des Moines, IA issued this tornado warning at May 17, 2026, 9:30 PM CDT for 4 counties in Iowa. It was in force for 45 min. 2 reports 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
- May 17, 2026, 9:30 PM CDT (02:30 UTC)
- Expired
- May 17, 2026, 10:15 PM CDT
- In force
- 45 min
- Issued by
- NWS Des Moines, IA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Observed
- Hail
- 0.75 in
Counties Emmet County, IA, Kossuth County, IA, Palo Alto County, IA, Winnebago County, IA
The radar
The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 168 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:30 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 9:42 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | 4 Wnw Ledyard, IA | Couple of trees down. Time estimated via radar. |
| May 17, 10:11 PM CDT | TSTM WND GST 67 | 6 Ne Ledyard, IA |
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.
| 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, 2.5 hours before the alert went out and 167 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.
741
WFUS53 KDMX 180230
TORDMX
IAC063-109-147-189-180315-
/O.NEW.KDMX.TO.W.0040.260518T0230Z-260518T0315Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
930 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Eastern Emmet County in northwestern Iowa...
Northern Kossuth County in north central Iowa...
Northwestern Winnebago County in north central Iowa...
Northeastern Palo Alto County in northwestern Iowa...
* Until 1015 PM CDT.
* At 930 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located near Ringsted, or 18
miles northeast of Emmetsburg, moving northeast at 55 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...
Swea City around 935 PM CDT.
Ledyard around 945 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Armstrong, Swea City, Ringsted, Ledyard, Rake, Lakota, and Fenton.
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 4350 9382 4320 9448 4341 9466 4350 9446
TIME...MOT...LOC 0230Z 235DEG 49KT 4332 9444
TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
Donavon2 follow-up statements
487
WWUS53 KDMX 180252
SVSDMX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
952 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
IAC063-147-180301-
/O.CAN.KDMX.TO.W.0040.000000T0000Z-260518T0315Z/
Emmet IA-Palo Alto IA-
952 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EASTERN EMMET AND NORTHEASTERN PALO ALTO
COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 100 AM CDT for north central
Iowa.
LAT...LON 4332 9421 4350 9443 4350 9382
TIME...MOT...LOC 0251Z 235DEG 49KT 4349 9411
$$
IAC109-189-180315-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0040.000000T0000Z-260518T0315Z/
Kossuth IA-Winnebago IA-
952 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1015 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN KOSSUTH AND NORTHWESTERN WINNEBAGO COUNTIES...
At 951 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located over Elmore, or 20
miles southeast of Fairmont, moving northeast at 55 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 tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
northeastern Kossuth and northwestern Winnebago Counties, including
the following locations... Ledyard, Rake, and Lakota.
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 4332 9421 4350 9443 4350 9382
TIME...MOT...LOC 0251Z 235DEG 49KT 4349 9411
TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
Donavon718 WWUS53 KDMX 180309 SVSDMX Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Des Moines IA 1009 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026 IAC109-189-180318- /O.EXP.KDMX.TO.W.0040.000000T0000Z-260518T0315Z/ Kossuth IA-Winnebago IA- 1009 PM CDT Sun May 17 2026 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN KOSSUTH AND NORTHWESTERN WINNEBAGO COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 1015 PM CDT... The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area. Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire. A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 100 AM CDT for north central Iowa. LAT...LON 4332 9421 4350 9443 4350 9382 TIME...MOT...LOC 0308Z 235DEG 49KT 4360 9390 $$ Donavon
The office that day
Everything else NWS Des Moines, IA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 8:19 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Calhoun, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Sac | 56 min |
| May 17, 8:34 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Calhoun, Carroll, Crawford, Greene, Sac | 56 min |
| May 17, 8:35 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Calhoun, Pocahontas, Sac | 40 min |
| May 17, 8:59 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Emmet, Palo Alto | 46 min |
| May 17, 9:02 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Calhoun, Hamilton, Humboldt, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Pocahontas and 2 more | 43 min |
| May 17, 9:05 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Calhoun, Hamilton, Humboldt, Pocahontas, Webster, Wright | 40 min |
| May 17, 9:08 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Humboldt, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Pocahontas | 52 min |
| May 17, 9:12 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Calhoun, Hamilton, Webster | 48 min |
| May 17, 9:15 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Emmet | 30 min |
| May 17, 9:26 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Audubon, Boone, Calhoun, Carroll, Crawford, Dallas and 5 more | 79 min |
| May 17, 9:28 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Cerro Gordo, Emmet, Franklin, Hancock, Humboldt, Kossuth and 4 more | 62 min |
| May 17, 9:31 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Adair, Adams, Cass | 59 min |
| May 17, 9:35 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Kossuth, Winnebago, Worth | 40 min |
| May 17, 9:42 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Calhoun, Franklin, Hamilton, Hardin, Humboldt, Webster and 1 more | 63 min |
| May 17, 9:45 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Franklin, Hamilton, Hardin, Humboldt, Webster, Wright | 45 min |
| May 17, 9:56 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Hamilton, Hardin, Webster | 38 min |
| May 17, 10:07 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Winnebago, Worth | 38 min |
| May 17, 10:11 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Butler, Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Hancock, Wright | 37 min |
| May 17, 10:19 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Cerro Gordo | 26 min |
| May 17, 10:23 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Adair, Dallas, Guthrie, Madison, Polk, Warren | 24 min |
| May 18, 10:51 AM CDT | Flood Watch | DMX | Adams, Clarke, Decatur, Ringgold, Taylor, Union and 1 more | 16 hr |
| May 18, 5:34 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Adams, Taylor | 56 min |
| May 18, 5:40 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Taylor | 65 min |
| May 18, 6:22 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Ringgold, Taylor, Union | 53 min |
| May 18, 6:31 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Ringgold, Taylor | 59 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.