Weather alerts in Polk County, Iowa, 2014

167 weather alerts in 2014, from the National Weather Service and the Storm Prediction Center. An alert counts here when it covered this county.

Polk County and its neighbors

Each county as a circle sized by its count in 2014. Tap one for its archive.

Alerts: 167
Warnings: 50
Watches: 29
Advisories: 40
Busiest month: June45 alerts
Busiest day: June 30, 201418 alerts

Over time

By month

Warning verification

How often warnings here had a storm report inside them, and how much warning the reports had.

1 of 1 tornado warnings covering Polk County in 2014 had a tornado report inside them.

Polk County, 2014

	Warnings	With a report	False alarm ratio	Reports	Inside a warning	Mean lead time
Tornado warnings	1	1	0%	0
Severe thunderstorm warnings	18	13	28%	42	95%	29 min
Flash flood warnings	4	3	25%	3	100%	29 min

Each office's whole area, 2014

	Warnings	With a report	False alarm ratio	Reports	Inside a warning	Mean lead time
NWS Des Moines, IA: tornado warnings	57	15	74%	46	48%	12 min
NWS Des Moines, IA: severe thunderstorm warnings	301	149	50%	487	85%	25 min
NWS Des Moines, IA: flash flood warnings	62	29	53%	69	84%	111 min

An office's figures cover every county it serves, including across state lines.

Verified by the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow, which matches each storm-based warning with the local storm reports inside its polygon while it was in force, within 15 km of its edge: a tornado warning counts as verified on a tornado report, a severe thunderstorm warning on hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more, or wind damage, a flash flood warning on a flash flood report. The false alarm ratio is the share of warnings with no such report; "inside a warning" is the probability of detection, the share of reports that fell inside one; lead time runs from the warning's issue to each report inside it, counting zero for a report that came first. A warning with no report is not proof nothing happened: reports come from spotters, the public and damage surveys, and are thin where few people live.

The alerts

Every alert, in the order issued. Times are local, Central Time. Each opens its own page with the text, the map, the radar and the sounding.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Jan 1, 3:26 PM CST	Wind Chill Advisory	DMX	21 hr
Jan 2, 4:16 PM CST	Wind Chill Advisory	DMX	17 hr
Jan 3, 3:36 PM CST	Wind Chill Watch	DMX	13 hr
Jan 4, 4:14 AM CST	Wind Chill Warning	DMX	72 hr
Jan 6, 3:39 PM CST	Wind Chill Advisory	DMX	17 hr
Jan 9, 4:08 PM CST	Freezing Rain Advisory	DMX	29 hr
Jan 10, 7:51 PM CST	Dense Fog Advisory	DMX	4 hr
Jan 13, 3:07 PM CST	Wind Advisory	DMX	27 hr
Jan 14, 3:48 PM CST	High Wind Watch	DMX	24 hr
Jan 15, 3:51 PM CST	High Wind Warning	DMX	29 hr
Jan 16, 4:36 PM CST	Blizzard Warning	DMX	4 hr
Jan 17, 3:52 PM CST	Winter Weather Advisory	DMX	24 hr
Jan 17, 3:55 PM CST	Wind Advisory	DMX	26 hr
Jan 20, 3:42 AM CST	Wind Chill Advisory	DMX	32 hr
Jan 22, 4:07 AM CST	Wind Chill Warning	DMX	32 hr
Jan 22, 4:07 AM CST	Wind Chill Advisory	DMX	44 hr
Jan 24, 3:30 PM CST	Blizzard Watch	DMX	24 hr
Jan 25, 3:35 PM CST	High Wind Warning	DMX	31 hr
Jan 25, 3:35 PM CST	Wind Advisory	DMX	32 hr
Jan 26, 4:45 AM CST	Wind Chill Advisory	DMX	31 hr
Feb 2, 3:30 PM CST	Winter Storm Watch	DMX	24 hr
Feb 3, 3:45 PM CST	Winter Storm Warning	DMX	41 hr
Feb 5, 3:18 PM CST	Wind Chill Advisory	DMX	21 hr
Feb 6, 3:33 PM CST	Wind Chill Advisory	DMX	17 hr
Feb 9, 3:40 AM CST	Wind Chill Advisory	DMX	31 hr
Feb 16, 4:52 AM CST	Winter Weather Advisory	DMX	31 hr
Feb 18, 4:06 AM CST	Blizzard Watch	DMX	36 hr
Feb 19, 4:54 AM CST	Blizzard Warning	DMX	49 hr
Feb 19, 3:43 PM CST	Winter Storm Warning	DMX	13 hr
Feb 19, 3:43 PM CST	Winter Weather Advisory	DMX	38 hr
Feb 20, 10:44 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	31 min
Feb 20, 11:10 AM CST	Special Weather Statement	DMX	65 min
Feb 20, 11:20 AM CST	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	6 hr
Feb 25, 3:54 AM CST	Wind Chill Advisory	DMX	31 hr
Feb 26, 3:55 AM CST	Winter Weather Advisory	DMX	23 hr
Feb 26, 4:06 PM CST	Wind Chill Advisory	DMX	19 hr
Feb 28, 4:26 PM CST	Wind Chill Advisory	DMX	63 hr
Feb 28, 4:26 PM CST	Winter Weather Advisory	DMX	35 hr
Mar 11, 1:44 PM CDT	Wind Advisory	DMX	8 hr
Mar 26, 3:37 AM CDT	Wind Advisory	DMX	16 hr
Mar 29, 4:10 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MFL	50 min
Mar 31, 3:58 AM CDT	Wind Advisory	DMX	27 hr
Mar 31, 3:52 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	113 min
Apr 3, 3:54 PM CDT	Wind Advisory	DMX	23 hr
Apr 7, 5:58 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DMX	47 min
Apr 9, 3:56 AM CDT	Red Flag Warning	DMX	15 hr
Apr 12, 2:30 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	2 hr
Apr 12, 3:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	7 hr
Apr 12, 6:20 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	55 min
Apr 12, 9:07 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	38 min
Apr 12, 9:08 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	67 min
Apr 12, 9:38 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	6 hr
Apr 12, 9:46 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DMX	29 min
Apr 12, 10:31 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DMX	29 min
Apr 12, 11:26 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	64 min
Apr 13, 3:44 PM CDT	Wind Advisory	DMX	8 hr
Apr 15, 3:44 PM CDT	Fire Weather Watch	DMX	12 hr
Apr 16, 4:13 AM CDT	Red Flag Warning	DMX	14 hr
Apr 16, 4:21 AM CDT	Wind Advisory	DMX	14 hr
Apr 27, 11:23 AM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	8 hr
Apr 27, 1:59 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	61 min
Apr 28, 12:54 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	2 hr
Apr 28, 1:11 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr
Apr 28, 2:04 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	41 min
Apr 28, 3:38 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	2 hr
May 8, 1:46 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr
May 8, 5:56 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	94 min
May 8, 6:50 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	40 min
May 11, 9:16 AM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	89 min
May 11, 3:32 PM CDT	Flash Flood Watch	DMX	15 hr
May 11, 7:04 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	56 min
May 11, 7:49 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr
May 11, 9:31 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	59 min
May 11, 10:03 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	57 min
May 11, 10:26 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DMX	34 min
May 11, 10:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	65 min
May 11, 11:01 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	59 min
May 12, 11:54 AM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	2 hr
May 16, 3:21 PM CDT	Frost Advisory	DMX	16 hr
May 20, 3:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	7 hr
May 20, 5:49 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	86 min
May 20, 6:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	31 min
May 20, 6:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	47 min
May 20, 7:45 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	45 min
May 20, 9:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	35 min
May 20, 9:56 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	94 min
May 27, 2:14 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DMX	46 min
Jun 1, 4:52 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	53 min
Jun 1, 7:23 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DMX	52 min
Jun 1, 8:14 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DMX	61 min
Jun 3, 4:17 AM CDT	Flash Flood Watch	DMX	23 hr
Jun 15, 3:00 AM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	90 min
Jun 16, 10:19 AM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	116 min
Jun 16, 12:25 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	8 hr
Jun 16, 3:28 PM CDT	Flash Flood Watch	DMX	12 hr
Jun 16, 5:37 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	6 hr
Jun 16, 9:11 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	64 min
Jun 16, 9:56 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	5 hr
Jun 16, 11:11 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	64 min
Jun 17, 12:38 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	52 min
Jun 17, 12:57 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	33 min
Jun 17, 1:21 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	39 min
Jun 19, 4:25 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DMX	80 min
Jun 20, 3:44 AM CDT	Dense Fog Advisory	DMX	4 hr
Jun 22, 3:50 AM CDT	Flash Flood Watch	DMX	12 hr
Jun 26, 1:51 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	DMX	6 hr
Jun 26, 2:54 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	3 hr
Jun 26, 6:28 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	64 hr
Jun 26, 8:22 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	29 hr
Jun 27, 8:25 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	3 days
Jun 28, 2:06 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	6 hr
Jun 29, 2:02 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	118 min
Jun 29, 4:04 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr
Jun 29, 6:06 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	84 min
Jun 29, 7:32 PM CDT	Flash Flood Watch	DMX	22 hr
Jun 29, 10:10 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	65 min
Jun 30, 3:32 AM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	58 min
Jun 30, 4:03 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	63 hr
Jun 30, 4:03 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	5 days
Jun 30, 4:03 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	7 days
Jun 30, 4:06 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	10 hr
Jun 30, 7:16 AM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	89 min
Jun 30, 9:38 AM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	10 hr
Jun 30, 12:07 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	8 days
Jun 30, 1:10 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DMX	65 min
Jun 30, 1:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	50 min
Jun 30, 1:16 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	59 min
Jun 30, 1:25 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	DMX	6 hr
Jun 30, 1:27 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	93 min
Jun 30, 2:31 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	DMX	6 hr
Jun 30, 3:17 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	58 min
Jun 30, 6:46 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	DMX	12 hr
Jun 30, 8:21 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	DMX	23 hr
Jun 30, 11:31 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	25 hr
Jul 5, 9:52 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	64 hr
Jul 6, 4:44 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	61 min
Jul 6, 9:07 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	53 min
Jul 12, 3:48 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	117 min
Jul 12, 4:58 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	6 hr
Jul 13, 4:34 AM CDT	Dense Fog Advisory	DMX	2 hr
Jul 20, 3:23 PM CDT	Heat Advisory	DMX	52 hr
Aug 17, 4:36 AM CDT	Dense Fog Advisory	DMX	4 hr
Aug 20, 4:59 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	31 min
Aug 26, 4:40 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DMX	50 min
Aug 29, 7:00 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	4 days
Aug 31, 3:43 PM CDT	Flash Flood Watch	DMX	9 hr
Aug 31, 6:07 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	83 min
Aug 31, 7:12 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	6 hr
Aug 31, 8:02 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DMX	88 min
Aug 31, 8:46 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	59 min
Aug 31, 9:46 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	44 min
Aug 31, 10:10 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	DMX	6 hr
Sep 1, 12:31 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	5 days
Sep 1, 11:11 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	66 hr
Sep 9, 3:56 AM CDT	Flash Flood Watch	DMX	24 hr
Sep 9, 2:13 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DMX	62 min
Sep 10, 3:05 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	4 days
Sep 18, 9:12 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DMX	63 min
Oct 1, 8:22 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	3 days
Oct 1, 11:12 PM CDT	Dense Fog Advisory	DMX	10 hr
Oct 10, 3:15 PM CDT	Freeze Warning	DMX	18 hr
Oct 23, 3:58 PM CDT	Dense Fog Advisory	DMX	18 hr
Oct 24, 9:12 PM CDT	Dense Fog Advisory	DMX	8 hr
Nov 14, 3:39 AM CST	Winter Weather Advisory	DMX	44 hr
Nov 21, 3:48 AM CST	Freezing Rain Advisory	DMX	26 hr
Dec 5, 1:26 AM CST	Dense Fog Advisory	DMX	9 hr
Dec 21, 12:24 AM CST	Dense Fog Advisory	DMX	9 hr

By product

Every kind of product issued here, grouped by hazard. Each opens the same place narrowed to that product.

Product	Alerts
Severe storms
Severe Thunderstorm Warning	18
Tornado Warning	1
Severe Thunderstorm Watch	6
Tornado Watch	10
Mesoscale Discussion	34
Special Weather Statement	14
Flooding
Areal Flood Warning	2
Flash Flood Warning	4
River Flood Warning	14
Flash Flood Watch	7
Winter
Blizzard Warning	2
Winter Storm Warning	2
Blizzard Watch	2
Winter Storm Watch	1
Freezing Rain Advisory	2
Winter Weather Advisory	6
Heat
Heat Advisory	1
Cold
Freeze Warning	1
Wind Chill Warning	2
Wind Chill Watch	1
Frost Advisory	1
Wind Chill Advisory	12
Wind and dust
High Wind Warning	2
High Wind Watch	1
Wind Advisory	9
Fire
Red Flag Warning	2
Fire Weather Watch	1
Fog and smoke
Dense Fog Advisory	9

The busiest days

Days with the most alerts issued, by UTC date.

Nearby

Alerts in force now Tornadoes on record Forecast The radar archive 2013 2015

Sources

National Weather Service watches, warnings, advisories and statements from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's VTEC archive, which reconstructs tornado, severe thunderstorm, flash flood and marine warnings back to 1986 from the NWS text archive. Storm Prediction Center watches and mesoscale discussions from SPC's archive through the Mesonet. County centers from the US Census Bureau. Warning verification from the Mesonet's Cow. Rebuilt daily.