Alert archive / Iowa / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 29, NWS Sioux Falls, SD
NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 15, 2026, 7:18 PM CDT for Buena Vista County, Clay County, Iowa. It was in force for 42 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, 7:18 PM CDT (00:18 UTC)
- Expired
- May 15, 2026, 8:00 PM CDT
- In force
- 42 min
- Issued by
- NWS Sioux Falls, SD
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 1.0 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Buena Vista County, IA, Clay County, IA
The radar
The Sioux Falls radar (KFSD), 148 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:20 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, 7:30 PM CDT | HAIL 1.25 | 2 Nnw Greenville, IA | Report from social media. |
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 severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 12 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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 5:16 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 8 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 00:00Z, 0.3 hours before the alert went out and 201 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
- 798 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -87 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 2723 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 36 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 102 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 147 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 2.0
The text
As transmitted.
147
WUUS53 KFSD 160018
SVRFSD
IAC021-041-160100-
/O.NEW.KFSD.SV.W.0029.260516T0018Z-260516T0100Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
718 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026
The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Northeastern Buena Vista County in northwestern Iowa...
Central Clay County in northwestern Iowa...
* Until 800 PM CDT.
* At 718 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from near Royal to near Sioux Rapids to near Marathon,
moving east at 50 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.
* Severe thunderstorms will be near...
Spencer In Clay County, Marathon, and Webb around 725 PM CDT.
Lost Island Lake around 735 PM CDT.
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 4275 9521 4279 9527 4288 9528 4293 9524
4309 9534 4321 9491 4275 9492
TIME...MOT...LOC 0018Z 254DEG 45KT 4305 9521 4293 9510 4283 9509
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
IG4 follow-up statements
652
WWUS53 KFSD 160025
SVSFSD
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
725 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026
IAC021-041-160100-
/O.CON.KFSD.SV.W.0029.000000T0000Z-260516T0100Z/
Buena Vista IA-Clay IA-
725 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT
FOR NORTHEASTERN BUENA VISTA AND CENTRAL CLAY COUNTIES...
At 725 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from near Greenville to near Webb to near Marathon, moving
east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Golf ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail
damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind
damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
These severe storms will be near...
Albert City, Marathon, and Webb around 730 PM CDT.
Other locations in the path of these severe thunderstorms include
Lost Island Lake.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
These storms are producing large hail. SEEK SHELTER NOW inside a
sturdy structure and stay away from windows.
To report severe weather contact your nearest law enforcement agency.
They will send your report to the National Weather Service office in
Sioux Falls.
&&
LAT...LON 4275 9521 4279 9527 4288 9528 4293 9524
4309 9534 4321 9491 4275 9492
TIME...MOT...LOC 0025Z 255DEG 36KT 4305 9517 4293 9506 4283 9505
THUNDERSTORM DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
IG042
WWUS53 KFSD 160035
SVSFSD
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
735 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026
IAC021-041-160100-
/O.CON.KFSD.SV.W.0029.000000T0000Z-260516T0100Z/
Buena Vista IA-Clay IA-
735 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT
FOR NORTHEASTERN BUENA VISTA AND EASTERN CLAY COUNTIES...
At 735 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from near Greenville to Webb to Marathon, moving east at 35
mph.
HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail
damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind
damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
These severe storms will be near...
Marathon around 740 PM CDT.
Other locations in the path of these severe thunderstorms include
Lost Island Lake.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
These storms are producing large hail. SEEK SHELTER NOW inside a
sturdy structure and stay away from windows.
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 4275 9517 4291 9518 4313 9518 4321 9491
4275 9492
TIME...MOT...LOC 0035Z 248DEG 28KT 4307 9510 4295 9499 4285 9500
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
IG011
WWUS53 KFSD 160045
SVSFSD
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
745 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026
IAC021-041-160100-
/O.CON.KFSD.SV.W.0029.000000T0000Z-260516T0100Z/
Buena Vista IA-Clay IA-
745 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT
FOR NORTHEASTERN BUENA VISTA AND SOUTHEASTERN CLAY COUNTIES...
At 745 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from near Silver Lake to Rush Lake to near Laurens, moving
east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail
damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind
damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
These severe storms will be near...
Lost Island Lake around 750 PM CDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
These storms are producing large hail. SEEK SHELTER NOW inside a
sturdy structure and stay away from windows.
To report severe weather contact your nearest law enforcement agency.
They will send your report to the National Weather Service office in
Sioux Falls.
&&
LAT...LON 4276 9507 4316 9507 4319 9491 4275 9492
TIME...MOT...LOC 0045Z 254DEG 34KT 4309 9498 4297 9487 4287 9488
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
IG072 WWUS53 KFSD 160056 SVSFSD Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 756 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026 IAC021-041-160106- /O.EXP.KFSD.SV.W.0029.000000T0000Z-260516T0100Z/ Buena Vista IA-Clay IA- 756 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026 ...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN BUENA VISTA AND SOUTHEASTERN CLAY COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 800 PM CDT... The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the area. Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 100 AM CDT for northwestern Iowa. && LAT...LON 4276 9507 4316 9507 4319 9491 4275 9492 TIME...MOT...LOC 0056Z 254DEG 45KT 4312 9483 4300 9472 4290 9473 $$ Meyers
What 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, 1 hour 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, 1 hour 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, 54 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, 6:17 PM CDT, 1 hour 1 minute 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, 40 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, 33 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
&&
TRMLocal storm report, May 15, 6:51 PM CDT, 27 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
651 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0636 PM Hail 3 SSE Alta 42.63N 95.27W
05/15/2026 E0.88 Inch Buena Vista IA Trained Spotter
&&
TRMLocal storm report, May 15, 7:01 PM CDT, 17 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
701 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0643 PM Hail Newell 42.60N 95.00W
05/15/2026 E1.00 Inch Buena Vista IA Trained Spotter
&&
TRMLocal storm report, May 15, 7:17 PM CDT, 1 minute before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
717 PM CDT Fri May 15 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0649 PM Hail Paullina 42.98N 95.69W
05/15/2026 E0.70 Inch O'Brien IA Trained Spotter
&&
TRMThe office that day
Everything else NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 7:31 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Ida, Woodbury | 44 min |
| May 15, 8:13 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, O'Brien | 35 min |
| May 15, 8:27 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Buena Vista, Cherokee | 63 min |
| May 15, 8:33 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Ida | 14 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.