Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 32, NWS Quad Cities, IA

April 17, 2026Jackson County, Iowa

NWS Quad Cities, IA issued this tornado warning at Apr 17, 2026, 2:14 PM CDT for Jackson County, Iowa. It was in force for 46 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 17, 2026, 2:14 PM CDT (19:14 UTC)
Expired
Apr 17, 2026, 3:00 PM CDT
In force
46 min
Issued by
NWS Quad Cities, IA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

County Jackson County, IA

The radar

The Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 71 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:13 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Apr 17, 2:15 PM CDTTORNADO2 Ssw Ironhills, IASpotters and chasers reported a tornado that lasted for 4 minutes. With no known damage the rating is an EFU with an estimated path of 1 mile.
Apr 17, 2:17 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG3 S Ironhills, IAPowerline snapped and sheet metal roof ripped off. Tornado possible.
Apr 17, 2:17 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG3 S Ironhills, IAPowerline snapped and sheet metal roof ripped off. Tornado possible.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this tornado warning; the first came 1 minutes after it went out.

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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Apr 17, 12:40 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 12:00Z, 7.2 hours before the alert went out and 282 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Lincoln, IL at 12:00Z on 2026-04-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 84 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Lincoln, IL at 12:00Z on 2026-04-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 65 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
84 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-150 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1053 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
27 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
65 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
164 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

593 
WFUS53 KDVN 171914
TORDVN
IAC097-172015-
/O.NEW.KDVN.TO.W.0032.260417T1914Z-260417T2015Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA/IL
214 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

The National Weather Service in the Quad Cities has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Jackson County in east central Iowa...

* Until 315 PM CDT.

* At 214 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms capable of producing a tornado
  were located along a line extending from Garry Owen to Baldwin,
  moving east at 45 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...
  Maquoketa, La Motte, Zwingle, Fulton, Hurstville, Buckhorn, Otter 
  Creek, Maquoketa Caves State Park, and Ironhills around 220 PM 
  CDT.
  Andrew and Cottonville around 225 PM CDT.

Other locations in the path of these tornadic storms include
Bellevue, Springbrook, Smiths, Spruce Creek Park, Bellevue State
Park, Green Island and Reeceville.

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 4233 9042 4228 9043 4223 9040 4221 9036
      4216 9022 4213 9020 4212 9016 4205 9088
      4228 9089 4230 9080 4230 9067 4232 9067
      4236 9045
TIME...MOT...LOC 1914Z 256DEG 39KT 4227 9082 4208 9083 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

Gunkel
3 follow-up statements
865 
WWUS53 KDVN 171925
SVSDVN

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA/IL
225 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

IAC097-172015-
/O.CON.KDVN.TO.W.0032.000000T0000Z-260417T2015Z/
Jackson IA-
225 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL
JACKSON COUNTY...

At 225 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes
were located along a line extending from Zwingle to Hurstville,
moving east at 45 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...
  Andrew, La Motte, and Cottonville around 230 PM CDT.

Other locations in the path of these tornadic storms include
Bellevue, Springbrook, Smiths, Spruce Creek Park, Bellevue State Park
and Green Island.

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 4233 9042 4228 9043 4223 9040 4221 9036
      4216 9022 4213 9079 4230 9080 4230 9067
      4232 9067 4236 9045
TIME...MOT...LOC 1925Z 256DEG 39KT 4229 9069 4210 9070 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

Gunkel
614 
WWUS53 KDVN 171937
SVSDVN

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA/IL
237 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

IAC097-172015-
/O.CON.KDVN.TO.W.0032.000000T0000Z-260417T2015Z/
Jackson IA-
237 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL
JACKSON COUNTY...

At 236 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes
were located along a line extending from near St. Donatus to near
Andrew, moving east at 45 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...
  Bellevue, Springbrook, Smiths, Spruce Creek Park, and Bellevue 
  State Park around 240 PM CDT.

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 4233 9042 4228 9043 4223 9040 4221 9036
      4216 9022 4215 9060 4230 9067 4232 9067
      4236 9045
TIME...MOT...LOC 1936Z 270DEG 39KT 4232 9054 4213 9056 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

Gunkel
397 
WWUS53 KDVN 172000
SVSDVN

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA/IL
300 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

IAC097-172010-
/O.CAN.KDVN.TO.W.0032.000000T0000Z-260417T2015Z/
Jackson IA-
300 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL JACKSON COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT for northwestern
Illinois...and northeastern and east central Iowa.

&&

LAT...LON 4233 9042 4228 9043 4223 9040 4221 9036
      4216 9022 4215 9060 4230 9067 4232 9067
      4236 9045
TIME...MOT...LOC 1959Z 256DEG 39KT 4238 9021 4219 9023 

$$

McClure

What 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 Quad Cities, IA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Apr 17, 1:11 PM CDT, 1 hour 3 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • A strong storm system will bring the threat for severe storms once again to our area through this evening. SPC continues to highlight nearly our entire area in an Enhanced Risk (level 3 of 5) for severe weather.
  • A flood watch has been issued for much of the area through tonight for the potential of excessive rainfall with the final round of storms this afternoon/tonight. Soils across the area are saturated north of I-80 and very moist south of I-80.
  • Much cooler conditions are expected this weekend. Unseasonably cool temperatures in the 30s Saturday night and Sunday night will bring the potential for frost/freeze, especially in our north.
  • Area rivers are on the rise from the recent rounds of heavy rain, and heavy rainfall later today may push them even higher. Refer to the hydro section below for more details.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 17, 1:11 PM CDT, 1 hour 3 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
111 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- A strong storm system will bring the threat for severe storms
  once again to our area through this evening. SPC continues to
  highlight nearly our entire area in an Enhanced Risk (level 3
  of 5) for severe weather.

- A flood watch has been issued for much of the area through
  tonight for the potential of excessive rainfall with the final
  round of storms this afternoon/tonight. Soils across the area
  are saturated north of I-80 and very moist south of I-80.

- Much cooler conditions are expected this weekend. Unseasonably cool
  temperatures in the 30s Saturday night and Sunday night will
  bring the potential for frost/freeze, especially in our north.

- Area rivers are on the rise from the recent rounds of heavy
  rain, and heavy rainfall later today may push them even
  higher. Refer to the hydro section below for more details.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
Issued at 1252 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

Convective initiation has occurred across eastern Iowa. The
individual discrete cells will rapidly grow upscale into one or
more broken lines ahead of the cold front.

The atmosphere is becoming increasingly moist so the storms will
have plenty of fuel to produce heavy rainfall. The axis for the
heavier rain is somewhat narrow but rainfall amounts of an inch
in an hour will be possible with the stronger storms. Where
storms linger or repeat over the same areas, rainfall amounts
of 2 to 3 inches in a short time will be possible.

The pre-frontal line(s) of storms look to push east of the
Mississippi in the 6-8 PM time frame with the cold front
arriving during the mid to late evening hours. Very short range
models which had been pointing to a solid line of storms with
the front are now trending toward a scattered to broken line
with not much thunder associated with it. This 'may' be an
indication the convective allowing models are struggling with
the overall forcing from the upper level system.

The bulk of the rain looks to end across the area by midnight
but scattered rain showers along and immediately behind the
front will linger past midnight. However, the overall trend will
be decreasing areal coverage from west to east after midnight.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Issued at 306 AM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

Much colder air will continue to move into the area for the weekend
as a northwest flow pattern develops aloft. An area of high pressure
will build into the area Saturday night, which could set up our
first bout of frost/freeze conditions during the growing season.
There does appear to be a mid-level trough sweeping through the area
Saturday night, which could result in some cloud cover that could
keep our temperatures from falling too much, limiting our
frost/freeze potential. Despite this, the NBM probabilities of
freezing temperatures Saturday night are still around 50-80% along
and north of Interstate 80. Another night of frost/freeze conditions
are possible Sunday night as well, with similar exceedance
probabilities for freezing temperatures.

A quieter weather pattern will persist into early next week as a
broad upper ridge remains in place through the central US. A larger
trough begins to take shape across the western US into the latter
portion of the week. Therefore, some warming and a move toward some
smaller precipitation chances (20-40%) start to return to the area
by Thursday with a larger storm system potentially nearing the
region for Friday.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 1225 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

Convective initiation has begun over eastern Iowa with surface
winds gusting to 30 knots. Very short range models indicate
rapid upscale growth of TSRA through 00z/18. Discrete TSRA cells
will grow upscale into a line that congeals along the
Mississippi River by 00z/18. Based on forecast soundings,
probability is high for wind gusts over 50 knots with the
discrete cells and as the line forms. By 06z/18 the cold front
will have swept through the area with widespread MVFR conditions
and winds gusting up to 25 knots.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
Issued at 1136 AM CDT Thu Apr 16 2026

Discussion...

Over the past five days, multiple rounds of heavy rain have
impacted eastern Iowa, northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.
Rainfall amounts have run from 2 to 5 inches of rain; much of
this rain has been north of Highway 30.

Another round of heavy rain is forecast this afternoon and
evening with amounts running from a half inch to around 1.5
inches. With area soils running from moist to near saturation,
this additional rainfall will quickly run off into area
waterways resulting in new or increased river flooding along
with the potential for flash flooding.

Much of this rain is forecast to fall across southeast Iowa,
west central Illinois and into northern Illinois. River basins
impacted would be the Rock, lower Iowa, Skunk, Des Moines and La
Moine.

Rock River...

Based on overall river forecasts and another round of heavy rain
expected today, confidence is high (>80%) that the entire
length of the Rock River will reach flood stage by the weekend
and remain above flood stage into much of next week.

Mississippi River...

Routed flow coming down from the upper Mississippi, Wisconsin,
Rock, Iowa and other tributary rivers will cause general rises
along the length of the Mississippi. Based on the current routed
flow and another round of heavy rain, confidence is high (>80%)
that the Mississippi will reach flood stage from Muscatine down
through Keithsburg and at Gregory Landing. Gladstone and
Burlington are already above flood stage and will see additional
rises as the additional routed flow arrives over the weekend
and into next week.

Iowa Tributary Rivers...

Rivers in eastern Iowa are running high from the rounds of heavy
rain. Flood warnings continue for the lower Wapsipinicon River
near DeWitt and the Iowa River above Coralville near Marengo.
Based on routed flow, the lower Cedar River near Conesville will
go above flood stage over the weekend.

The North Skunk River near Sigourney is forecast to go above
flood stage tonight with general rises expected farther
downstream and on the Skunk River.

&&

.DVN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IA...Flood Watch through late tonight for IAZ040>042-052>054-
     064>068-077-078-088-089-099.
IL...Flood Watch through late tonight for ILZ001-002-007-009-
     015>018-024>026-034-035.
MO...Flood Watch through late tonight for MOZ010.

&&

SHORT TERM...08
LONG TERM...Schultz
AVIATION...08
HYDROLOGY...08
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 17, 3:23 AM CDT, 10 hours 51 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
323 AM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

IAZ040>042-051>054-063>068-076>078-087>089-098-099-ILZ001-002-007-
009-015>018-024>026-034-035-MOZ009-010-180900-
Buchanan-Delaware-Dubuque-Benton-Linn-Jones-Jackson-Iowa-Johnson-
Cedar-Clinton-Muscatine-Scott-Keokuk-Washington-Louisa-Jefferson-
Henry IA-Des Moines-Van Buren-Lee-Jo Daviess-Stephenson-Carroll-
Whiteside-Rock Island-Henry IL-Bureau-Putnam-Mercer-Henderson-
Warren-Hancock-McDonough-Scotland-Clark-
323 AM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central
Illinois...northwest Illinois...west central Illinois...east
central Iowa...northeast Iowa...southeast Iowa and northeast
Missouri.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

An Enhanced Risk (Level 3 of 5) for severe weather remains in
place across the area for this afternoon and evening. Damaging
winds and tornadoes, some possibly strong, are the primary
threats. Localized flash flooding is also possible.

Southerly winds will gust to around 40 mph this afternoon prior to
the severe thunderstorm development.

Area rivers are experiencing flooding. Please see the latest Flood
Statements and Flood Warnings for details.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

Much colder air will bring the potential for frost and freeze
conditions to parts of the area Saturday night and Sunday night.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is likely for this afternoon and evening.

JTS

The office that day

Everything else NWS Quad Cities, IA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 17, 11:21 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNMuscatine, Scott10 days
Apr 17, 11:21 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNMuscatine21 days
Apr 17, 12:46 PM CDTFlood WatchDVNBuchanan, Cedar, Clinton, Delaware, Des Moines, Dubuque and 10 more12 hr
Apr 17, 12:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNDelaware, Dubuque, Jones, Linn58 min
Apr 17, 12:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNCedar, Clinton, Jackson, Johnson, Jones, Linn61 min
Apr 17, 1:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNDelaware, Dubuque, Jackson, Jones65 min
Apr 17, 1:45 PM CDTTornado WarningDVNDubuque, Jackson45 min
Apr 17, 1:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNClinton, Dubuque, Jackson, Jones64 min
Apr 17, 2:11 PM CDTTornado WarningDVNDubuque, Jackson49 min
Apr 17, 2:23 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDVNDubuque, Jackson6 hr
Apr 17, 2:48 PM CDTTornado WarningDVNJackson42 min
Apr 17, 3:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNBenton, Iowa, Johnson, Linn66 min
Apr 17, 3:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNDubuque, Jackson35 min
Apr 17, 3:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNBenton, Buchanan, Iowa, Johnson, Linn76 min
Apr 17, 3:47 PM CDTTornado WarningDVNBenton, Linn43 min
Apr 17, 4:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNBuchanan, Delaware, Dubuque60 min
Apr 17, 4:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNHenry, Jefferson, Keokuk, Van Buren, Washington77 min
Apr 17, 4:18 PM CDTTornado WarningDVNBuchanan, Delaware, Jones, Linn42 min
Apr 17, 4:22 PM CDTTornado WarningDVNJones, Linn38 min
Apr 17, 4:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNDes Moines, Lee, Van Buren54 min
Apr 17, 4:27 PM CDTTornado WarningDVNJefferson, Van Buren48 min
Apr 17, 4:36 PM CDTTornado WarningDVNHenry, Jefferson, Keokuk, Washington54 min
Apr 17, 4:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatDVNDubuque, Jackson, Jones57 min
Apr 17, 4:53 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNDelaware, Dubuque52 min
Apr 17, 4:54 PM CDTTornado WarningDVNDelaware, Dubuque, Jackson66 min
Apr 17, 4:58 PM CDTTornado WarningDVNDubuque, Jackson, Jones62 min
Apr 17, 5:08 PM CDTTornado WarningDVNCedar, Johnson, Louisa, Muscatine, Washington52 min
Apr 17, 5:12 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatDVNCedar, Johnson, Louisa, Muscatine, Washington63 min
Apr 17, 5:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNLee41 min
Apr 17, 5:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNCedar, Dubuque, Jones, Linn31 min
Apr 17, 5:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatDVNDes Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Lee, Louisa, Van Buren and 1 more63 min
Apr 17, 5:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatDVNJackson75 min
Apr 17, 5:43 PM CDTTornado WarningDVNCedar, Clinton, Scott62 min
Apr 17, 5:46 PM CDTTornado WarningDVNDes Moines, Henry, Louisa24 min
Apr 17, 5:47 PM CDTTornado WarningDVNLee43 min
Apr 17, 5:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatDVNClinton, Muscatine, Scott54 min
Apr 17, 5:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatDVNLee50 min
Apr 17, 6:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatDVNClinton, Muscatine, Scott42 min
Apr 17, 6:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatDVNLee59 min
Apr 17, 6:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatDVNClinton68 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.