Alert archive / Iowa / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 28, NWS Sioux Falls, SD
NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 15, 2026, 6:47 PM CDT for Clay County, O'Brien County, Iowa. It was in force for 43 min. 1 report 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 15, 2026, 6:47 PM CDT (23:47 UTC)
- Expired
- May 15, 2026, 7:30 PM CDT
- In force
- 43 min
- Issued by
- NWS Sioux Falls, SD
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 1.25 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Clay County, IA, O'Brien County, IA
The radar
The Sioux Falls radar (KFSD), 118 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:49 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 15, 6:49 PM CDT | HAIL 0.7 | Paullina, IA |
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 severe thunderstorm 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 5:16 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 8 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 11.8 hours before the alert went out and 261 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
- 2176 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 61 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 233 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 291 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
977
WUUS53 KFSD 152347
SVRFSD
IAC041-141-160030-
/O.NEW.KFSD.SV.W.0028.260515T2347Z-260516T0030Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
647 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026
The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Southwestern Clay County in northwestern Iowa...
Southern O'Brien County in northwestern Iowa...
* Until 730 PM CDT.
* At 647 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Paullina, or
16 miles east of Orange City, moving east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage
to roofs, siding, and trees.
* This severe thunderstorm will be near...
Paullina around 650 PM CDT.
Sutherland around 655 PM CDT.
Other locations in the path of this severe thunderstorm include
Peterson.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will send your report to the National Weather Service
office in Sioux Falls.
&&
LAT...LON 4290 9558 4291 9567 4301 9580 4316 9538
4293 9523
TIME...MOT...LOC 2347Z 249DEG 30KT 4293 9576
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
IG3 follow-up statements
633
WWUS53 KFSD 160004
SVSFSD
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
704 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026
IAC041-141-160030-
/O.CON.KFSD.SV.W.0028.000000T0000Z-260516T0030Z/
Clay IA-O'Brien IA-
704 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CDT
FOR SOUTHWESTERN CLAY AND SOUTHEASTERN O'BRIEN COUNTIES...
At 704 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Sutherland, or
15 miles north of Cherokee, moving east at 55 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to
roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include...
Peterson.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
To report severe weather contact your nearest law enforcement agency.
They will send your report to the National Weather Service office in
Sioux Falls.
&&
LAT...LON 4290 9558 4294 9562 4302 9564 4313 9536
4293 9523
TIME...MOT...LOC 0004Z 263DEG 47KT 4296 9548
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
IG209
WWUS53 KFSD 160011
SVSFSD
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
711 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026
IAC041-141-160030-
/O.CON.KFSD.SV.W.0028.000000T0000Z-260516T0030Z/
Clay IA-O'Brien IA-
711 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CDT
FOR SOUTHWESTERN CLAY AND SOUTHEASTERN O'BRIEN COUNTIES...
At 711 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Sutherland, or
16 miles southwest of Spencer In Clay County, moving east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to
roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include...
Sutherland and Peterson.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
To report severe weather contact your nearest law enforcement agency.
They will send your report to the National Weather Service office in
Sioux Falls.
&&
LAT...LON 4291 9550 4304 9553 4313 9536 4293 9523
TIME...MOT...LOC 0011Z 259DEG 32KT 4298 9540
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
IG929
WWUS53 KFSD 160022
SVSFSD
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
722 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026
IAC141-160031-
/O.CAN.KFSD.SV.W.0028.000000T0000Z-260516T0030Z/
O'Brien IA-
722 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN O'BRIEN COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
The severe thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out of
the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 100 AM CDT for
northwestern Iowa.
&&
LAT...LON 4292 9536 4302 9539 4309 9533 4293 9523
TIME...MOT...LOC 0021Z 252DEG 27KT 4300 9530
$$
IAC041-160030-
/O.CON.KFSD.SV.W.0028.000000T0000Z-260516T0030Z/
Clay IA-
722 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM CDT
FOR SOUTHWESTERN CLAY COUNTY...
At 721 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Royal, or 12
miles southwest of Spencer In Clay County, moving east at 30 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to
roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include...
Peterson.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
To report severe weather contact your nearest law enforcement agency.
They will send your report to the National Weather Service office in
Sioux Falls.
&&
LAT...LON 4292 9536 4302 9539 4309 9533 4293 9523
TIME...MOT...LOC 0021Z 252DEG 27KT 4300 9530
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
IGWhat 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 Sioux Falls, SD wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 15, 6:18 PM CDT, 29 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Thunderstorm risks grow after 5pm for a narrow portion of NW Iowa. Hail to 2 inches and 70 mph winds possible. Storms move southeast quickly with the risk ended by 9pm.
- Thunderstorms increase in coverage Saturday night into Sunday. Severe weather risks including 1.5" hail and 60 mph wind gusts will be possible.
- A significant severe weather episode will be possible late Sunday afternoon into Sunday night. Very large hail, straight line winds, and tornadoes will be possible. This risk may extend into Monday.
- If you have outdoor plans Sunday afternoon through Monday, the time is now to prepare and have alternative plans in place.
Area forecast discussion, May 15, 6:18 PM CDT, 29 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 618 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Thunderstorm risks grow after 5pm for a narrow portion of NW Iowa. Hail to 2 inches and 70 mph winds possible. Storms move southeast quickly with the risk ended by 9pm. - Thunderstorms increase in coverage Saturday night into Sunday. Severe weather risks including 1.5" hail and 60 mph wind gusts will be possible. - A significant severe weather episode will be possible late Sunday afternoon into Sunday night. Very large hail, straight line winds, and tornadoes will be possible. This risk may extend into Monday. - If you have outdoor plans Sunday afternoon through Monday, the time is now to prepare and have alternative plans in place. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 129 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026 THIS AFTERNOON: Poorly defined "cool" front continues to slowly sink southeast this afternoon now entering southern Minnesota and far northwestern Iowa as of 1pm. Southerly winds are slowly advecting 50 dewpoints into the area ahead of the boundary, but generally models have been too quick to pull higher dew point air northward. By late this afternoon a weak impulse in the 700:500 mb layer will arrive into the Tri-State. This increased lift combined with slight pressure rises to the northwest of the front should create a bit more convergence sufficient for convection development in a portion of NW Iowa (along and southeast of a line from Sioux City to Spencer). Soundings indicate MLCAPE values may approach 1000- 1500 J/KG, with an increase in effective bulk shear towards 40+ knots. In any storm that develops, large hail (potentially 2" or greater) will be possible as mid-lvl lapse rates break the 8C/KM mark. Inverted V soundings along the periphery of the CWA boundary in NW Iowa would suggest downburst potential increases as well. With the mean wind increasing from the west northwest, storms should begin to congeal into one or more linear clusters as they head into central Iowa. The peak timing for development and impact falls within the 6pm to 9pm timeframe. TONIGHT: Storms move southeast of the forecast area very early in the overnight period, leaving quiet and dry conditions overhead. Soundings show a pronounced low-mid lvl dry layer advecting southward through the night. SATURDAY: The aforementioned frontal boundary will be pushed by convection closer to I-80 by Saturday morning, leaving dry and quiet conditions in the local area for most of Saturday. A persistent easterly 850 mb wind fetch is not expected to bring meaningful moisture northward through the day with the surface boundary tracking northward towards Highway 20 by mid-evening. Temperatures under filtered sunshine peak in the lower 80s, and with persistent low RH and breezy easterly surface winds fire danger may be elevated. SATURDAY NIGHT: Today's guidance has slowed the northward advection of rich theta-e air northward which will likely keep the area convection free deep into the evening. We will be watching areas of central and southern Nebraska tied to surface low pressure and the existing warm front that remains in place. Convection is expected to develop as a stronger wave ejects into the Plains. One or more clusters of strong to severe storms will attempt to track north or northeast along the advancing elevated moisture axis and towards the MO River valley after midnight. MUCAPE remains somewhat marginal with the initial surge of moisture, and mid-lvl lapse rates are only in the 6.5-7 C/KM range throughout the hail growth zone. Nevertheless, effective shear may just be strong enough to produce a few elevated supercells capable of larger hail into Sunday morning. Tend to feel the straight line wind risk may be lower, but should the surface front lift northward or boundary layer become only loosely stabilized, then a few stronger gusts could transport down through the MO River Valley into NW Iowa into daybreak. SUNDAY-SUNDAY NIGHT: Significant severe weather potential is possible Sunday afternoon into Sunday night. After morning convection lifts northeast of the CWA early in the morning, guidance is becoming more confident in a period of shortwave subsidence moving overhead through a large part of the daytime hours of Sunday. While we'll enter a quiet period, moderate to extreme instability will continue to advect northward into the Tri-State area with some models hinting at potential for AOA 3000 J/KG by mid-afternoon. Soundings across the area suggest an EML will hold in place into at least the mid afternoon hours as we wait for a deeper trough to lift into the Plains. This trough should work to push the effective warm front further north while reinforcing a pre-existing cold front across central NE/SD. The arrival of deeper synoptic lift after 21Z could lead to explosive convective development by early evening. With the large reservoir of instability, bulk shear over 50 knots, and strong low-lvl buoyancy all modes of severe weather will be likely. Numerous sounding analogs suggest 2-4" hail in any discrete or initial updraft that forms. Storms staying discrete is somewhat in question, with guidance hinting that the potential for quick upscale growth into a linear line with embedded supercells progressing east northeast instead. The increase in the low-lvl flow after dark and and slight backing of surface winds could lead to a much greater potential of QLCS activity into the late evening and overnight hours as storms track into Iowa and Minnesota. As we move past midnight, models suggest the highest severe weather threat will migrate eastward with the line. However, there remains a high degree of uncertainty in the evolution after midnight. ECMWF/NAM/CMC are holding back the upper trough to the west, and actually allow deeper instability to lift back northward into Monday morning. The persistent 40-50 knot LLJ could lead to scattered hail producing supercells continuing into Monday morning. Still very uncertain. MONDAY: A continued severe weather risks seems plausible on Monday depending on what happens overnight. Should the GFS based models hold true, then both surface based and elevated instability slides east of the area. However ECMWF/NAM solutions would pull the surface front back westward while leaving a large degree of elevated instability westward. There's just too much uncertainty to get into specifics, but Monday could also feature potential for higher end severe weather especially in areas along or east of I-90. TUESDAY-THURSDAY: We'll see a distinct cooldown in temperatures as we head towards the middle of the week. Highs on Tuesday with a cooler northwest wind only rise into the the upper 50s. A slow recovery towards the lower to middle 60s is possible by Wednesday. The pattern through the rest of the week remains quasi-zonal, suggesting one more more weak disturbances moving through the flow creating a few rain chances by the second half of the week. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/... Issued at 617 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026 Showers and thunderstorms are ongoing over northwest Iowa at issuance. These storms have a history of producing large hail and damaging wind gusts. Storms will move to the east northeast over the next few hours, clearing the CWA around 16.04Z. Otherwise, VFR conditions are expected for the duration of this period. Breezy northwest winds will decrease over the next couple of hours, becoming light and variable overnight. Saturday morning winds become north to northeast and increase to 5-10 kts. Through the afternoon winds become more east and breezy with gusts 16-22 kts that will continue beyond the end of the period. && .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. MN...None. IA...None. NE...None. && DISCUSSION...Dux AVIATION...AJP
Hazardous weather outlook, May 15, 6:24 PM CDT, 23 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 624 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026 IAZ001>003-012>014-020>022-031-032-MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097- 098-NEZ013-014-SDZ038>040-050-052>071-162330- Lyon-Osceola-Dickinson-Sioux-O'Brien-Clay-Plymouth-Cherokee- Buena Vista-Woodbury-Ida-Lincoln-Murray-Cottonwood-Nobles-Jackson- Pipestone-Rock-Dixon-Dakota-Beadle-Kingsbury-Brookings-Gregory- Jerauld-Sanborn-Miner-Lake-Moody-Brule-Aurora-Davison-Hanson-McCook- Minnehaha-Charles Mix-Douglas-Hutchinson-Turner-Bon Homme-Yankton- Union- 624 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Iowa, west central Iowa, southwest Minnesota, northeast Nebraska, central South Dakota, east central South Dakota, south central South Dakota and southeast South Dakota. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Storm chances return this afternoon and evening, mainly for northwestern Iowa. Strong to severe storms may produce hail to 2 inches in diameter and wind gusts to 75 mph. Have multiple ways to receive warnings! .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Locally elevated to near critical fire conditions are possible Saturday due to very low relative humidity and light winds. Thunderstorms return Saturday night into Monday. Strong to severe storms are possible. Although confidence is low in exact timing and coverage, greatest risk remains Sunday afternoon and early evening. Monitor the forecast especially if you have outdoor plans. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed.
In the hours before
Local storm report, May 15, 5:29 PM CDT, 1 hour 18 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
529 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0520 PM Hail 5 WNW Terril 43.33N 95.05W
05/15/2026 M1.00 Inch Dickinson IA Trained Spotter
&&
TRMLocal storm report, May 15, 5:41 PM CDT, 1 hour 6 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
541 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0524 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 4 ESE Arnolds Park 43.35N 95.05W
05/15/2026 E60 MPH Dickinson IA Trained Spotter
Brief 60 mph wind gust, pea hail, and 0.05
inch rain before storm took off to the east.
&&
TRMLocal storm report, May 15, 6:17 PM CDT, 30 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
617 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0600 PM Hail 6 NNW Hornick 42.31N 96.13W
05/15/2026 E1.00 Inch Woodbury IA Trained Spotter
Hail covered the ground, with stones as big
as quarters. No wind and a decent amount of
rain.
&&
TRMLocal storm report, May 15, 6:38 PM CDT, 9 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
638 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0619 PM Hail 3 SSW Anthon 42.35N 95.88W
05/15/2026 E1.00 Inch Woodbury IA Trained Spotter
&&
TRMLocal storm report, May 15, 6:45 PM CDT, 2 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
645 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0632 PM Hail 2 SW Correctionville 42.46N 95.81W
05/15/2026 E1.00 Inch Woodbury IA Fire Dept/Rescue
&&
TRMThe office that day
Everything else NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 5:23 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Clay, Dickinson | 9 min |
| May 15, 5:55 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Ida, Woodbury | 50 min |
| May 15, 6:08 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Cherokee, O'Brien, Plymouth, Sioux | 52 min |
| May 15, 6:31 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Buena Vista | 29 min |
| May 15, 6:45 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Buena Vista, Cherokee, Ida, Woodbury | 45 min |
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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.