Weather alerts in Polk County, Iowa, 2015

151 weather alerts in 2015, 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 2015. Tap one for its archive.

Alerts: 151
Warnings: 48
Watches: 25
Advisories: 30
Busiest month: June33 alerts
Busiest day: June 25, 20159 alerts

Over time

By month

Warning verification

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

0 of 3 tornado reports fell inside a warning.

Polk County, 2015

	Warnings	With a report	False alarm ratio	Reports	Inside a warning	Mean lead time
Tornado warnings	0			3	0%
Severe thunderstorm warnings	9	5	44%	12	83%	16 min
Flash flood warnings	2	2	0%	7	43%	125 min

Each office's whole area, 2015

	Warnings	With a report	False alarm ratio	Reports	Inside a warning	Mean lead time
NWS Des Moines, IA: tornado warnings	38	14	63%	37	62%	13 min
NWS Des Moines, IA: severe thunderstorm warnings	201	101	50%	301	78%	19 min
NWS Des Moines, IA: flash flood warnings	39	22	44%	86	86%	121 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 3, 3:51 AM CST	Winter Weather Advisory	DMX	26 hr
Jan 4, 4:00 AM CST	Winter Storm Watch	DMX	24 hr
Jan 4, 6:07 AM CST	Wind Chill Advisory	DMX	27 hr
Jan 4, 3:42 PM CST	Winter Storm Warning	DMX	31 hr
Jan 5, 12:25 PM CST	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	6 hr
Jan 6, 4:15 AM CST	Wind Chill Warning	DMX	32 hr
Jan 6, 4:15 AM CST	Wind Chill Advisory	DMX	53 hr
Jan 7, 3:44 PM CST	Winter Weather Advisory	DMX	38 hr
Jan 8, 4:57 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	DMX	48 min
Jan 9, 5:38 AM CST	Wind Chill Advisory	DMX	6 hr
Jan 28, 3:36 PM CST	Wind Advisory	DMX	17 hr
Jan 30, 10:48 AM CST	Winter Storm Watch	DMX	17 hr
Jan 31, 3:31 AM CST	Winter Storm Warning	DMX	41 hr
Jan 31, 10:13 PM CST	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	6 hr
Feb 17, 3:51 AM CST	Wind Chill Advisory	DMX	32 hr
Feb 20, 3:08 PM CST	Wind Chill Advisory	DMX	67 hr
Feb 24, 11:34 AM CST	Winter Storm Watch	DMX	4 hr
Feb 24, 3:19 PM CST	Winter Storm Warning	DMX	30 hr
Feb 24, 3:19 PM CST	Winter Weather Advisory	DMX	30 hr
Feb 26, 9:48 PM CST	Wind Chill Advisory	DMX	11 hr
Mar 2, 4:11 PM CST	Winter Weather Advisory	DMX	19 hr
Mar 14, 11:06 AM CDT	Fire Weather Watch	DMX	17 hr
Mar 15, 3:41 AM CDT	Red Flag Warning	DMX	15 hr
Mar 16, 3:43 AM CDT	Red Flag Warning	DMX	15 hr
Mar 28, 3:44 PM CDT	Wind Advisory	DMX	26 hr
Mar 30, 4:14 AM CDT	Red Flag Warning	DMX	15 hr
Mar 31, 3:38 PM CDT	Fire Weather Watch	DMX	12 hr
Apr 1, 3:46 AM CDT	Red Flag Warning	DMX	15 hr
Apr 8, 12:09 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DMX	36 min
Apr 8, 12:23 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	37 min
Apr 12, 10:48 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DMX	42 min
Apr 18, 6:49 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DMX	41 min
Apr 20, 3:45 AM CDT	Wind Advisory	DMX	15 hr
Apr 22, 3:23 PM CDT	Freeze Warning	DMX	17 hr
May 10, 9:19 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	56 min
May 15, 12:05 AM CDT	Dense Fog Advisory	DMX	9 hr
May 25, 5:33 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	6 hr
May 25, 8:18 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	87 min
Jun 6, 3:37 PM CDT	Flash Flood Watch	DMX	12 hr
Jun 6, 11:23 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	6 hr
Jun 7, 1:43 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DMX	47 min
Jun 7, 1:56 AM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	2 hr
Jun 7, 2:32 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DMX	43 min
Jun 10, 2:12 PM CDT	Flash Flood Watch	DMX	38 hr
Jun 10, 8:38 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DMX	52 min
Jun 11, 12:52 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	8 days
Jun 11, 12:53 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	7 days
Jun 11, 1:27 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	42 hr
Jun 15, 3:18 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	DMX	6 hr
Jun 15, 4:17 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	55 hr
Jun 15, 5:25 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	40 hr
Jun 20, 12:48 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	117 min
Jun 20, 3:10 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	2 hr
Jun 20, 3:49 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr
Jun 20, 6:33 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	57 min
Jun 20, 10:12 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	63 min
Jun 22, 1:22 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	113 min
Jun 23, 3:59 PM CDT	Flash Flood Watch	DMX	38 hr
Jun 24, 12:39 AM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	66 min
Jun 24, 5:58 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	2 hr
Jun 24, 6:21 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	5 hr
Jun 24, 11:26 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	3 hr
Jun 25, 12:59 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	DMX	6 hr
Jun 25, 1:25 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	35 min
Jun 25, 1:54 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	6 days
Jun 25, 1:54 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	5 days
Jun 25, 1:54 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	5 days
Jun 25, 2:27 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	6 days
Jun 25, 5:07 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	4 days
Jun 25, 6:57 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	DMX	9 hr
Jun 28, 4:38 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DMX	52 min
Jul 11, 3:19 PM CDT	Heat Advisory	DMX	28 hr
Jul 11, 3:19 PM CDT	Heat Advisory	DMX	52 hr
Jul 15, 11:52 PM CDT	Flash Flood Watch	DMX	10 hr
Jul 18, 4:12 AM CDT	Heat Advisory	DMX	12 hr
Jul 24, 11:16 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DMX	59 min
Jul 26, 1:13 AM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	3 hr
Jul 26, 4:49 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	26 min
Jul 27, 11:41 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DMX	64 min
Jul 27, 12:13 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	32 min
Jul 27, 12:40 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	3 hr
Jul 27, 12:45 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DMX	45 min
Jul 28, 3:40 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	2 hr
Jul 28, 3:59 PM CDT	Flash Flood Watch	DMX	11 hr
Jul 28, 7:56 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DMX	34 min
Jul 28, 8:04 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	116 min
Jul 28, 9:39 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	34 hr
Jul 28, 11:58 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	57 hr
Aug 2, 4:48 AM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	2 hr
Aug 2, 5:22 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	38 min
Aug 2, 6:22 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	53 min
Aug 8, 3:42 PM CDT	Flash Flood Watch	DMX	15 hr
Aug 8, 11:33 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	42 min
Aug 9, 12:18 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DMX	57 min
Aug 22, 2:13 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	62 min
Aug 22, 2:55 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	65 min
Aug 22, 3:48 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	8 hr
Aug 22, 6:21 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	84 min
Aug 22, 8:49 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	116 min
Aug 28, 3:01 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	64 hr
Aug 29, 7:36 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	4 days
Aug 30, 6:08 AM CDT	Dense Fog Advisory	DMX	4 hr
Sep 6, 4:06 AM CDT	Flash Flood Watch	DMX	28 hr
Sep 6, 6:02 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	7 hr
Sep 6, 8:42 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	93 min
Sep 6, 9:12 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	28 min
Sep 6, 9:39 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DMX	51 min
Sep 6, 11:41 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	64 min
Sep 7, 4:21 AM CDT	Flash Flood Watch	DMX	30 hr
Sep 7, 10:48 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	4 days
Sep 8, 1:43 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	41 hr
Sep 17, 5:47 PM CDT	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	118 min
Oct 11, 3:59 PM CDT	Wind Advisory	DMX	26 hr
Oct 16, 3:54 AM CDT	Frost Advisory	DMX	29 hr
Oct 18, 2:56 PM CDT	Red Flag Warning	DMX	28 hr
Oct 21, 9:07 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DMX	53 min
Nov 3, 8:35 AM CST	Dense Fog Advisory	DMX	2 hr
Nov 5, 3:17 PM CST	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	118 min
Nov 10, 3:20 AM CST	High Wind Watch	DMX	24 hr
Nov 10, 3:39 PM CST	High Wind Warning	DMX	38 hr
Nov 10, 3:39 PM CST	Wind Advisory	DMX	50 hr
Nov 11, 10:17 AM CST	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	118 min
Nov 11, 11:25 AM CST	Tornado Watch	SPC	6 hr
Nov 11, 1:42 PM CST	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	93 min
Nov 11, 2:13 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	DMX	92 min
Nov 11, 3:07 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	53 min
Nov 11, 3:52 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	53 min
Nov 18, 3:12 PM CST	Wind Advisory	DMX	27 hr
Nov 18, 4:05 PM CST	Winter Storm Watch	DMX	36 hr
Nov 19, 3:41 PM CST	Winter Storm Warning	DMX	38 hr
Nov 20, 1:51 PM CST	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	5 hr
Nov 20, 7:33 PM CST	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	4 hr
Nov 25, 4:39 PM CST	Winter Weather Advisory	DMX	34 hr
Nov 29, 3:46 PM CST	Winter Weather Advisory	DMX	36 hr
Dec 6, 8:12 PM CST	Dense Fog Advisory	DMX	15 hr
Dec 12, 4:10 PM CST	Dense Fog Advisory	DMX	12 hr
Dec 13, 7:47 AM CST	Flood Watch	DMX	25 hr
Dec 13, 1:03 PM CST	River Flood Warning	DMX	12 days
Dec 13, 1:03 PM CST	River Flood Warning	DMX	9 days
Dec 13, 9:27 PM CST	River Flood Warning	DMX	6 days
Dec 13, 9:27 PM CST	River Flood Warning	DMX	6 days
Dec 14, 8:45 AM CST	River Flood Warning	DMX	56 hr
Dec 14, 9:59 AM CST	River Flood Warning	DMX	31 hr
Dec 14, 11:32 AM CST	River Flood Warning	DMX	4 days
Dec 24, 3:27 AM CST	Winter Weather Advisory	DMX	15 hr
Dec 25, 4:38 AM CST	Dense Fog Advisory	DMX	4 hr
Dec 25, 9:10 AM CST	Dense Fog Advisory	DMX	6 hr
Dec 26, 3:46 PM CST	Winter Storm Watch	DMX	23 hr
Dec 27, 4:46 AM CST	Winter Storm Warning	DMX	49 hr
Dec 28, 3:35 AM CST	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	6 hr
Dec 28, 3:42 PM CST	Mesoscale Discussion	SPC	4 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	9
Severe Thunderstorm Watch	4
Tornado Watch	4
Mesoscale Discussion	32
Special Weather Statement	16
Flooding
Areal Flood Warning	1
Flash Flood Warning	2
River Flood Warning	23
Flash Flood Watch	8
Flood Watch	1
Winter
Winter Storm Warning	5
Winter Storm Watch	5
Winter Weather Advisory	7
Heat
Heat Advisory	3
Cold
Freeze Warning	1
Wind Chill Warning	1
Frost Advisory	1
Wind Chill Advisory	6
Wind and dust
High Wind Warning	1
High Wind Watch	1
Wind Advisory	6
Fire
Red Flag Warning	5
Fire Weather Watch	2
Fog and smoke
Dense Fog Advisory	7

The busiest days

Days with the most alerts issued, by UTC date.

Nearby

Alerts in force now Tornadoes on record Forecast The radar archive 2014 2016

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.