Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 73, NWS Des Moines, IA
NWS Des Moines, IA issued this tornado warning at Aug 7, 2026, 3:53 PM CDT for Black Hawk County, Bremer County, Iowa. It was in force for 22 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
- Aug 7, 2026, 3:53 PM CDT (20:53 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 7, 2026, 4:15 PM CDT
- In force
- 22 min
- Issued by
- NWS Des Moines, IA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Observed
- Hail
- 0.75 in
Counties Black Hawk County, IA, Bremer County, IA
The radar
The La Crosse radar (KARX), 151 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:56 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 7, 3:58 PM CDT | HAIL 1.25 | 5 Se Readlyn, IA | Report from mPING: Half Dollar (1.25 in.). |
| Aug 7, 4:02 PM CDT | HAIL 1.25 | 5 N Dunkerton, IA | Report via mPING. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
The watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 7, 1:40 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 8 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 8.9 hours before the alert went out and 266 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
- 506 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -343 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1332 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 33 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 211 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 250 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.3
The text
As transmitted.
587
WFUS53 KDMX 072053
TORDMX
IAC013-017-072115-
/O.NEW.KDMX.TO.W.0073.260807T2053Z-260807T2115Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
353 PM CDT Fri Aug 7 2026
The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Northeastern Black Hawk County in northeastern Iowa...
Southeastern Bremer County in northeastern Iowa...
* Until 415 PM CDT.
* At 353 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located over Readlyn, or 13
miles west of Oelwein, moving east at 40 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 Black Hawk and southeastern Bremer Counties, including
the following locations... Readlyn.
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 4265 9229 4277 9225 4275 9208 4259 9209
TIME...MOT...LOC 2053Z 288DEG 37KT 4271 9218
TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
HagenhoffWhat forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this tornado 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 tornado warning went out at Aug 7, 2:45 PM CDT, 1 hour 8 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Scattered thunderstorms through early this evening. A few severe storms remain possible.
- Mostly dry tonight into Saturday.
- Additional thunderstorm chances late Saturday night into Sunday.
- Active weather will persist through much of next week.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 7, 2:45 PM CDT, 1 hour 8 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Des Moines IA 245 PM CDT Fri Aug 7 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Scattered thunderstorms through early this evening. A few severe storms remain possible. - Mostly dry tonight into Saturday. - Additional thunderstorm chances late Saturday night into Sunday. - Active weather will persist through much of next week. && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/... Issued at 243 PM CDT Fri Aug 7 2026 Thunderstorms are ongoing over north central Iowa in advance of a boundary that is moving in from the northwest. MLCAPE values of 2000- 3000 J/kg along with mid-level lapse rates at 8-8.5 C/km have led to strong initial updrafts with 65 dBZ over 20 kft occurring. The primary storm initialization is on a pre-frontal trough that has extended into northern Iowa from west to east. Expect much of the activity this afternoon to remain associated with the current storm cluster with the potential for some additional development back west/southwest along the pre-frontal trough. These storms will maintain a damaging wind and large hail threat through the remainder of the afternoon as the entire system settles south/southeast. These storms should exit south into Missouri by early this evening. The remainder of tonight into much of Saturday is expected to be dry. Much drier dew points will settle into the state behind the boundary with dew point values falling into the low 50s north to low to mid 60s south. Deep layer drying will also be occurring which will further support the dry forecast. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... Issued at 243 PM CDT Fri Aug 7 2026 Return flow begins Saturday night as high pressure moves to the east of the state. Strong theta- e advection and an increasing low level jet of 40-45 kts will lead to increasing instability and thunderstorm chances. Upper high pressure over Hudson Bay combined with upper high pressure over the Four Corners region, will lead to progressive westerly flow over much of the northern CONUS with periodic embedded short waves passing across Iowa. This flow will also keep a surface boundary in the Midwest area and resulting in several chances for thunderstorms before Canadian high pressure arrives early next week. PWAT values of 1.50-2.00" will be common during active storm periods that could lead to an aggregate heavy rain threat through the week. Temperatures will be seasonal and mainly in the 80s through midweek the gradual cooling as the Canadian high pressure approaches for the end of next week. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 1237 PM CDT Fri Aug 7 2026 Morning fog has transitioned to a dissipating MVFR stratus layer. In addition, new MVFR cumulus has developed from this residual moisture. Expect these cigs to continue to rise and diminish this afternoon. A boundary will enter the state this afternoon and will bring thunderstorms from north to south into the early evening. MVFR or lower vsbys and cigs are possible in vicinity of storms. Outflow winds are also possible with gusts over 35 kt. Otherwise, the wind will be mostly 12 kts or less. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM...Donavon LONG TERM...Donavon AVIATION...Donavon
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 7, 12:50 PM CDT, 3 hours 3 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Des Moines IA 1250 PM CDT Fri Aug 7 2026 IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>050-057>062-070>075- 081>086-092>097-081800- Emmet-Kossuth-Winnebago-Worth-Palo Alto-Hancock-Cerro Gordo- Pocahontas-Humboldt-Wright-Franklin-Butler-Bremer-Sac-Calhoun- Webster-Hamilton-Hardin-Grundy-Black Hawk-Crawford-Carroll-Greene- Boone-Story-Marshall-Tama-Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Polk-Jasper- Poweshiek-Cass-Adair-Madison-Warren-Marion-Mahaska-Adams-Union- Clarke-Lucas-Monroe-Wapello-Taylor-Ringgold-Decatur-Wayne- Appanoose-Davis- 1250 PM CDT Fri Aug 7 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Iowa. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight There is a Slight (Level 2 of 5) Risk for severe weather across much of Iowa today. Large hail is the primary threat but damaging winds and a tornado is possible. There is a Marginal (Level 1 of 4) Risk for excessive rainfall across much of Iowa today. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday There is a Marginal (Level 1 of 5) Risk for severe weather across much of Iowa Saturday and again on Sunday. Damaging winds are the primary threat. There is a Marginal (Level 1 of 4) Risk for excessive rainfall across much of Iowa Saturday and again on Sunday. Shower and thunderstorm chances will continue through the weekend. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed, but any storm reports are appreciated.
In the hours before
Local storm report, Aug 7, 1:22 PM CDT, 2 hours 31 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
122 PM CDT Fri Aug 7 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0113 PM Hail Forest City 43.26N 93.64W
08/07/2026 E1.00 Inch Winnebago IA Public
From social media.
&&
TDRLocal storm report, Aug 7, 2:12 PM CDT, 1 hour 41 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
212 PM CDT Fri Aug 7 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0149 PM Hail 2 WNW Thornton 42.95N 93.43W
08/07/2026 E1.00 Inch Cerro Gordo IA Public
Report from mPING. Time estimated via radar.
&&
TDRLocal storm report, Aug 7, 2:52 PM CDT, 1 hour 1 minute before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
252 PM CDT Fri Aug 7 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0142 PM Hail Manly 43.29N 93.20W
08/07/2026 E1.50 Inch Worth IA Public
Time estimated via radar.
&&
TDRLocal storm report, Aug 7, 3:05 PM CDT, 48 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
305 PM CDT Fri Aug 7 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0254 PM Hail 7 E Greene 42.89N 92.67W
08/07/2026 E1.25 Inch Butler IA Public
Report via mPING. Time estimated via radar.
&&
TDRThe office that day
Everything else NWS Des Moines, IA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 7, 2:52 AM CDT | Dense Fog Advisory | DMX | Adair, Adams, Appanoose, Audubon, Black Hawk, Boone and 44 more | 6 hr |
| Aug 7, 12:46 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Winnebago, Worth | 29 min |
| Aug 7, 1:07 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Winnebago, Worth | 23 min |
| Aug 7, 1:12 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Hancock, Wright | 48 min |
| Aug 7, 1:25 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Winnebago, Worth | 50 min |
| Aug 7, 1:37 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Cerro Gordo, Hancock | 53 min |
| Aug 7, 2:52 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Bremer, Butler | 38 min |
| Aug 7, 3:49 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Black Hawk, Bremer | 26 min |
| Aug 7, 4:16 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Black Hawk, Grundy, Tama | 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.