Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 9, NWS Des Moines, IA

April 15, 20264 counties in Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this tornado warning at Apr 15, 2026, 4:58 PM CDT for 4 counties in Iowa. It was in force for 34 min. 3 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: Apr 15, 2026, 4:58 PM CDT (21:58 UTC)
Expired: Apr 15, 2026, 5:32 PM CDT
In force: 34 min
Issued by: NWS Des Moines, IA
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 1.5 in

Counties Clarke County, IA, Decatur County, IA, Lucas County, IA, Wayne County, IA

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 92 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:58 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
Apr 15, 5:38 PM CDT	HAIL 1	3 W Chariton, IA	Largest hail was quarter sized.
Apr 15, 5:41 PM CDT	HAIL 1.5	1 S Chariton, IA	Report from mPING: Ping Pong Ball (1.50 in.).
Apr 15, 5:42 PM CDT	HAIL 1	1 Nw Chariton, IA	Quarter-sized hail on NW side of Chariton.

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
Apr 15, 3:40 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 12:00Z, 10.0 hours before the alert went out and 274 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.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.

Mixed-layer CAPE: 721 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -64 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 567 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 54 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 372 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 364 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 1.8
Supercell composite: 8.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

818 
WFUS53 KDMX 152158
TORDMX
IAC039-053-117-185-152245-
/O.NEW.KDMX.TO.W.0009.260415T2158Z-260415T2245Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
458 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Lucas County in south central Iowa...
  Northeastern Decatur County in south central Iowa...
  Northwestern Wayne County in south central Iowa...
  Southeastern Clarke County in south central Iowa...

* Until 545 PM CDT.

* At 457 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Van Wert, or 9 miles north of Leon, moving east at
  45 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and ping pong ball size hail.

  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.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Le Roy around 505 PM CDT.
  Humeston and Derby around 515 PM CDT.
  Russell and Red Haw Lake State Park around 535 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Red
Haw Lake State Park, Derby, Millerton, Lucas, Woodburn, Van Wert,
Williamson, Weldon, Humeston, and Le Roy.

This includes Interstate 35 between mile markers 20 and 29.
 
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.

&&

LAT...LON 4082 9389 4095 9389 4112 9323 4084 9318
TIME...MOT...LOC 2157Z 261DEG 39KT 4088 9379 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN

$$

Donavon

3 follow-up statements

743 
WWUS53 KDMX 152208
SVSDMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
508 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

IAC039-053-117-185-152245-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-260415T2245Z/
Lucas IA-Decatur IA-Wayne IA-Clarke IA-
508 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM CDT FOR LUCAS...
NORTHEASTERN DECATUR...NORTHWESTERN WAYNE AND SOUTHEASTERN CLARKE
COUNTIES...

At 508 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Le Roy, or 12 miles southeast of Osceola, moving
east at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and ping pong ball size hail.

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.

This dangerous storm will be near...
  Humeston and Derby around 515 PM CDT.
  Red Haw Lake State Park around 530 PM CDT.
  Russell around 535 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Williamson, Weldon, Red Haw Lake State Park, Derby, Humeston,
Millerton, Lucas, Le Roy, Chariton Municipal Airport, and Woodburn.

This includes Interstate 35 between mile markers 22 and 29.
 
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.

&&

LAT...LON 4086 9380 4097 9381 4112 9323 4084 9318
TIME...MOT...LOC 2208Z 261DEG 39KT 4090 9363 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN

$$

Donavon

397 
WWUS53 KDMX 152217
SVSDMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
517 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

IAC039-053-117-185-152245-
/O.CON.KDMX.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-260415T2245Z/
Lucas IA-Decatur IA-Wayne IA-Clarke IA-
517 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM CDT FOR LUCAS...
NORTHEASTERN DECATUR...NORTHWESTERN WAYNE AND SOUTHEASTERN CLARKE
COUNTIES...

At 516 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Le Roy, or 12 miles southeast of Osceola, moving
east at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and ping pong ball size hail.

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.

This dangerous storm will be near...
  Derby around 525 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Williamson, Red Haw Lake State Park, Derby, Lucas, Chariton Municipal
Airport, Woodburn, and Russell.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 4089 9366 4100 9368 4112 9323 4084 9318
TIME...MOT...LOC 2216Z 266DEG 23KT 4091 9360 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN

$$

Donavon

635 
WWUS53 KDMX 152232
SVSDMX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
532 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

IAC039-053-117-185-152241-
/O.CAN.KDMX.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-260415T2245Z/
Lucas IA-Decatur IA-Wayne IA-Clarke IA-
532 PM CDT Wed Apr 15 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR LUCAS...NORTHEASTERN DECATUR...
NORTHWESTERN WAYNE AND SOUTHEASTERN CLARKE COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning no longer poses 
a tornado threat therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for south central
Iowa.

Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for
the area.

LAT...LON 4089 9366 4100 9368 4112 9323 4084 9318
TIME...MOT...LOC 2228Z 261DEG 39KT 4094 9338 

$$

Donavon

The office that day

Everything else NWS Des Moines, IA issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 14, 11:34 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Jasper, Poweshiek, Tama	41 min
Apr 14, 11:42 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Adams, Taylor	48 min
Apr 15, 12:10 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Adams, Ringgold, Taylor, Union	50 min
Apr 15, 12:45 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Adair, Clarke, Decatur, Madison, Ringgold, Union	45 min
Apr 15, 11:22 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	DMX	Audubon, Carroll, Crawford	38 min
Apr 15, 11:54 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	DMX	Audubon, Calhoun, Carroll, Crawford, Greene, Guthrie and 1 more	66 min
Apr 15, 12:49 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	DMX	Boone, Calhoun, Greene, Hamilton, Webster	56 min
Apr 15, 2:06 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Franklin, Grundy, Hamilton, Hardin, Marshall, Story	39 min
Apr 15, 3:05 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Jasper, Polk, Story	40 min
Apr 15, 3:06 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Grundy, Marshall, Tama	39 min
Apr 15, 3:17 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Adair, Dallas, Madison	14 min
Apr 15, 3:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Jasper, Marshall, Story	49 min
Apr 15, 3:59 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Adair, Clarke, Madison, Union	26 min
Apr 15, 4:11 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Marshall, Tama	49 min
Apr 15, 4:23 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Madison, Warren	37 min
Apr 15, 4:25 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Carroll, Crawford	19 min
Apr 15, 4:26 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Black Hawk	19 min
Apr 15, 4:31 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Clarke, Decatur, Ringgold, Union	44 min
Apr 15, 4:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Jasper, Polk	13 min
Apr 15, 4:50 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Tama	25 min
Apr 15, 5:24 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Decatur, Wayne	17 min
Apr 15, 5:28 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Lucas, Marion, Monroe	47 min
Apr 15, 6:09 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Wapello	36 min
Apr 15, 6:36 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Lucas, Monroe, Wayne	25 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Iowa, 2026 Every tornado warning in 2026 Tornadoes 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.