Alert archive / Iowa / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 27, NWS Sioux Falls, SD

July 1, 2026Ida County, Woodbury County, Iowa

NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued this tornado warning at Jul 1, 2026, 8:05 PM CDT for Ida County, Woodbury County, Iowa. It was in force for 40 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Jul 1, 2026, 8:05 PM CDT (01:05 UTC)
Expired
Jul 1, 2026, 8:45 PM CDT
In force
40 min
Issued by
NWS Sioux Falls, SD
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Observed
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Ida County, IA, Woodbury County, IA

The radar

The Omaha radar (KOAX), 126 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:09 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.

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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jul 1, 7:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 00:00Z, 1.1 hours before the alert went out and 127 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, Omaha, NE at 00:00Z on 2026-07-02Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2579 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, Omaha, NE at 00:00Z on 2026-07-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 64 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
2579 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-17 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1259 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
64 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
150 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.8
Supercell composite
6.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

360 
WFUS53 KFSD 020105
TORFSD
IAC093-193-020145-
/O.NEW.KFSD.TO.W.0027.260702T0105Z-260702T0145Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
805 PM CDT Wed Jul 1 2026

The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Eastern Woodbury County in west central Iowa...
  Northwestern Ida County in west central Iowa...

* Until 845 PM CDT.

* At 804 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located near Smithland, or
  20 miles west of Ida Grove, moving northeast at 30 mph.

  HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

  SOURCE...Emergency management 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.

* The tornado will be near...
  Anthon around 810 PM CDT.
  Correctionville around 815 PM CDT.
  Cushing around 820 PM CDT.

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.

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 4221 9585 4221 9601 4256 9579 4254 9561
      4246 9548
TIME...MOT...LOC 0104Z 217DEG 25KT 4230 9587 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

Dux
2 follow-up statements
362 
WWUS53 KFSD 020117
SVSFSD

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
817 PM CDT Wed Jul 1 2026

IAC093-193-020145-
/O.CON.KFSD.TO.W.0027.000000T0000Z-260702T0145Z/
Woodbury IA-Ida IA-
817 PM CDT Wed Jul 1 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 PM CDT FOR EASTERN
WOODBURY AND NORTHWESTERN IDA COUNTIES...

At 816 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located near Anthon, or 16
miles west of Ida Grove, moving northeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...TORNADO.

SOURCE...Emergency management confirmed tornado. At 802 PM a tornado 
         was reported 1  mile northeast of Smithland. 

IMPACT...Expect damage to mobile homes, roofs, and vehicles.

This tornado will be near...
  Correctionville and Cushing around 820 PM CDT.

Other locations in the path of this tornadic thunderstorm include
Holstein.

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.

If a tornado or other severe weather is spotted, report it to the
National Weather Service or your local nearest law enforcement agency
who will send your report. This act may save lives of others in the
path of dangerous weather.

&&

LAT...LON 4224 9581 4227 9597 4256 9579 4254 9561
      4246 9548
TIME...MOT...LOC 0116Z 217DEG 25KT 4237 9580 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

Dux
976 
WWUS53 KFSD 020139
SVSFSD

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
839 PM CDT Wed Jul 1 2026

IAC093-193-020145-
/O.EXP.KFSD.TO.W.0027.000000T0000Z-260702T0145Z/
Woodbury IA-Ida IA-
839 PM CDT Wed Jul 1 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EASTERN WOODBURY AND NORTHWESTERN IDA
COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 845 PM CDT...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.  However, gusty
winds are still possible with this thunderstorm.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 200 AM CDT for
west central Iowa.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
Sioux Falls.

&&

LAT...LON 4224 9581 4227 9597 4256 9579 4254 9561
      4246 9548
TIME...MOT...LOC 0135Z 217DEG 25KT 4247 9570 

$$

Dux

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 Sioux Falls, SD wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Jul 1, 6:33 PM CDT, 1 hour 32 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are possible this evening mainly near and east of the I-29 corridor. The strongest storms will be capable of damaging winds to 70+ mph and/or 2 inch diameter hail. A tornado or two cannot be ruled out.
  • Beyond this evening's threat, concerns are growing for more widespread severe storms Thursday evening into Friday and again Friday into Saturday with one or more overnight storm complexes possible.
  • Multiple rounds of rain and storms over the next few days, combined with recent rainfall, may lead to growing concerns of localized flash flooding and minor river flooding through the end of the week.
  • Above normal temperatures continue through the rest of this week and into the weekend, with humidity increasing daily. However, we'll remain below heat advisory levels.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 1, 6:33 PM CDT, 1 hour 32 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
633 PM CDT Wed Jul 1 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are possible this
  evening mainly near and east of the I-29 corridor. The
  strongest storms will be capable of damaging winds to 70+ mph
  and/or 2 inch diameter hail. A tornado or two cannot be ruled
  out.

- Beyond this evening's threat, concerns are growing for more
  widespread severe storms Thursday evening into Friday and
  again Friday into Saturday with one or more overnight storm
  complexes possible.

- Multiple rounds of rain and storms over the next few days,
  combined with recent rainfall, may lead to growing concerns
  of localized flash flooding and minor river flooding through
  the end of the week.

- Above normal temperatures continue through the rest of this
  week and into the weekend, with humidity increasing daily.
  However, we'll remain below heat advisory levels.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 240 PM CDT Wed Jul 1 2026

Skies have mostly cleared out from last night's storms except over
portions of northwest Iowa where clouds linger from remnant showers
that moved through during the mid morning hours. This is also where
a boundary is roughly located that will be the focus for stronger
convection to develop late this afternoon into the early evening.
The latest HRRR runs have been trending convective initiation
farther west into northeast Nebraska, and this is likely because
those areas have cleared quicker and have thus been able to
destabilize more efficiently whereas clouds have lingered over
portions of northwest Iowa. Latest mesoanalysis shows around
1500-2000 J/kg of MLCAPE that will increase into the afternoon
in an uncapped environment. A weak wave will also move across
the area and help develop showers and storms by about 4-5 pm.
Due to the lack of CIN across a fairly large area, there is a
chance that numerous thunderstorms quickly develop around the
over the Highway 20 corridor of northwest Iowa and far northeast
Nebraska. If we get numerous storms developing at once, storms
may be competing for the strongest updraft and thus lowering the
overall severe threat. But if convection remains more isolated,
storms initially will be capable of 2 inch diameter hail and
damaging wind gusts to 70 mph. A tornado cannot be ruled out if
a storm can get rooted to the boundary. Storms will push
eastward and grow northward through the evening and possibly
merge into organized clusters which will enhance the damaging
wind threat to greater than 70 mph as storms push into northern
Iowa and southern Minnesota. These stronger storms will exit the
area around midnight, but additional weaker showers and
thunderstorms will continue to develop overnight over northwest
Iowa along the boundary as the low level jet feeds more moisture
into the area. The main threat with this would be if these
showers/storms train over the same area, it could result in
minor flash flooding.

Troughing over the western US will continue to send upper waves
through the region heading into the day on Thursday and Friday. A
very weak wave on Thursday morning may set off a few showers and
storms along a boundary over eastern Nebraska and western Iowa, but
guidance is in fairly good agreement that the more intense
parts of this convection will remain south of the area. Heading
into Thursday afternoon, daytime heating should result in the
cap eroding especially over portions of south-central South
Dakota, which may allow for isolated supercells to develop given
the 40-45 kts of bulk shear that will be in place. With lapse
rates around 7.5-8 C/km, large hail to 2 inches in diameter will
be the main threat with these storms, along with 70 mph
straight-line wind gusts. The tornado threat looks low, though
there may be brief window in the early evening as these storms
move east where the low level jet can help increase 0-1 km SRH
before storms turn more elevated heading into the later evening
hours. This afternoon supercell threat is a conditional one as
overall forcing will be weak.

The main threat for severe storms will arrive overnight Thursday
into Friday as a stronger wave ejects across the northern
Plains towards Thursday evening and fires up isolated to
scattered thunderstorms over western South Dakota. These
thunderstorms look to develop into either an organized line or
into a few linear clusters and then progress through our area
from west to east during the overnight time frame. Due to the
linear nature of these storms, damaging straight-line winds to
70+ mph will be the main severe weather threat with this round.
If storms form into a few different clusters and trail one
another (thus move over the same area multiple times), will
also have to watch out of a threat for flash flooding Thursday
night/Friday morning. Yet another wave moves through the area on
Friday, which will likely form more strong to severe
thunderstorms especially in the afternoon and early evening
hours. Uncertainty in how storms evolve Thursday night and
differences amongst guidance precludes details on the exact
threats for Friday, but certainly keep up to date with the
latest forecast especially if you have outdoor plans for the
July Fourth weekend. Speaking of July Fourth, the day itself
will feature another wave passing through the region; however,
uncertainty remains high on where any storms develop. The
01.12Z GEFS keeps the best chances of rain near and south of the
Missouri River Valley while the EC Ensemble keeps it east of
the area. Bottom line, there will be at least a broad area of 20-40%
PoPs in place especially heading into Saturday night until the
spread in guidance can be better resolved. From Sunday onwards,
the active upper pattern may relax a bit as upper ridging tries
to build in over the intermountain West.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 630 PM CDT Wed Jul 1 2026

Showers and thunderstorms will develop in northeast NE and
northwest IA this evening. Hail and strong winds are likely with
the stronger storms. A few storms could reach parts of southeast
SD to near the MN/IA border in northwest IA. Outside of the
thunderstorms, mainly VFR conditions are expected. Some patchy
MVFR fog will be possible but somewhat low confidence on just
where.

&&

.FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SD...None.
MN...None.
IA...None.
NE...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...Samet
AVIATION...08
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 1, 4:25 PM CDT, 3 hours 40 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
425 PM CDT Wed Jul 1 2026

MNZ071-072-097-SDZ038>040-050-052>066-068-069-022130-
Lincoln-Lyon-Pipestone-Beadle-Kingsbury-Brookings-Gregory-Jerauld-
Sanborn-Miner-Lake-Moody-Brule-Aurora-Davison-Hanson-McCook-
Minnehaha-Charles Mix-Douglas-Hutchinson-Turner-Bon Homme-Yankton-
425 PM CDT Wed Jul 1 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Minnesota, central
South Dakota, east central South Dakota, south central South Dakota
and southeast South Dakota.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Isolated thunderstorms may be possible late this evening and through
the overnight hours. At this time, any strong storm could produce
localized 60 mph winds and ping pong ball size hail. However the
greatest storm risk this evening and overnight will be across
southern Minnesota and northwest Iowa.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

Risks for strong to severe thunderstorms continue Thursday and
Thursday night with the potential all severe weather hazards at
times. Isolated to scattered strong storms Thursday afternoon and
evening, may be replaced by a larger complex of storms Thursday
night into Friday. Any storm during the upcoming 24 hours will be
capable of 70+ mph winds and 2 inch hail.

Multiple severe weather risks will be possible Friday and Saturday.
While a great deal of uncertainty remains in storm timing and
placement, it's important to monitor the forecast over the coming
days heading into the holiday weekend.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

IAZ001>003-012>014-020>022-031-032-MNZ080-081-089-090-098-NEZ013-014-
SDZ067-070-071-022130-
Lyon-Osceola-Dickinson-Sioux-O'Brien-Clay-Plymouth-Cherokee-
Buena Vista-Woodbury-Ida-Murray-Cottonwood-Nobles-Jackson-Rock-Dixon-
Dakota-Lincoln-Union-
425 PM CDT Wed Jul 1 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Iowa, west central
Iowa, southwest Minnesota, northeast Nebraska and southeast South
Dakota.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Scattered strong to severe storms are expected to develop Wednesday
evening and continue into the early overnight hours. The primary
risks will be 70 mph winds and 2 inch hail.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

Risks for strong to severe thunderstorms continue Thursday and
Thursday night with the potential all severe weather hazards at
times. Isolated to scattered strong storms Thursday afternoon and
evening, may be replaced by a larger complex of storms Thursday
night into Friday. Any storm during the upcoming 24 hours will be
capable of 70+ mph winds and 2 inch hail.

Multiple severe weather risks will be possible Friday and Saturday.
While a great deal of uncertainty remains in storm timing and
placement, it's important to monitor the forecast over the coming
days heading into the holiday weekend.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will be needed from 7pm to 1am.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 1, 2:09 PM CDT, 5 hours 56 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
209 PM CDT Wed Jul 1 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0416 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 E Sioux Falls         43.56N 96.67W
07/01/2026                   Minnehaha          SD   NWS Employee

            Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 3
            E Sioux Falls. Multiple reports of large
            tree branches down on the east side of Sioux
            Falls. Time estimated via radar.

&&

BP

The office that day

Everything else NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 1, 8:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFSDBuena Vista, Cherokee, Ida30 min
Jul 2, 4:38 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFSDWoodbury15 min
Jul 2, 7:26 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFSDCherokee, Plymouth21 min
Jul 2, 8:48 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFSDLyon, O'Brien, Osceola, Sioux42 min
Jul 2, 1:17 PM CDTFlood WatchFSDBuena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Ida, Lyon and 5 more16 hr

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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.