Tornadoes and Flooding in Iowa, May 10, 2001

Name: Tornadoes and Flooding in Iowa, May 10, 2001
Start: 2001-05-10T16:10
End: 2001-05-10T20:23
Location: Iowa

May 10, 2001 · NWS DVN · 46 events in 12 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 20 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $198,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 46

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS DVN wrote it up.

Event summary for 5/10/01:Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms developed over Central Iowa during the afternoon ahead of a slow moving cold front. The thunderstorms continued to develop and increase in coverage as they moved into Eastern Iowa during the late afternoon and evening. The storms were aided by strong surface based instability and a strong wind maxima in the mid levels of the atmosphere. Numerous reports of funnel clouds were received. The thunderstorms also produced penny to golfball sized hail and strong damaging winds. There were 3 brief tornado touchdowns. One occurred near Aurora in Buchanan County, with the others occurring near Backbone State Park in Delaware County, and in LeClaire in Scott County. No damage was reported with either the Buchanan or Delaware County tornadoes, however the LeClaire tornado caused widespread tree damage. Some of the storms produced torrential rain, leading to minor flooding.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Quad Cities, IA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 10, 2:02 PM CST, 2 hours 8 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 10, 2:02 PM CST, 2 hours 8 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
220 PM CDT THU MAY 10 2001

COLD FRONT IS ON THE MOVE ACROSS IA THIS AFTERNOON.  CONVECTION
DEVELOPING ALONG THE FRONT AS IT PUSHES INTO THE HIGHEST INSTABILITY
AND STRONGEST MOISTURE CONVERGENCE OVER SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA...WILL
MOVE EAST INTO OUR CWA THIS EVENING/TONIGHT.

NEXT QUESTION IS POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WITH THESE STORMS.  SEVERAL
FACTORS POINT TO A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE TONIGHT...INCLUDING LOW
LIS LESS THAN -5...AMPLE BOUNDARY LAYER MOISTURE WITH DEW POINTS IN
THE 60S...HIGH CAPE GREATER THAN 1800...CLOSER PROXIMITY TO THE
FRONT TODAY THAN YESTERDAY...AND A SHORT WAVE MOVING OUT OF NEBRASKA
THIS EVENING.  THIS WAVE WILL ENHANCE CONVECTION AND HELP PUSH THE
FRONT THROUGH TONIGHT. LOW LEVEL JET PROGGED TO KICK IN THIS
EVENING...WHICH WILL SUSTAIN THE STORMS OVERNIGHT.  RISK OF HEAVY
RAIN SHOULD BE MINIMIZED BY ZONAL FLOW ALOFT AND  PROGRESS OF THE
FRONT THROUGH THE CWFA.

BEYOND TONIGHT...WILL KEEP CHANCE OF SHOWERS FOR POST FRONTAL
PRECIPITATION FRIDAY MORNING AND TAPER IT OFF BY AFTERNOON FROM
NORTH TO SOUTH. SURFACE RIDGE PUSHING INTO THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI
VALLEY WILL BRING COOLER TEMPS BY SATURDAY. RIDGE HOLDS THROUGH
SATURDAY NIGHT BUT SLIPS INTO THE GULF COAST BY SUNDAY...WHICH WILL
CUT OFF THE DEEP MOISTURE INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK.  WARM FRONT AGAIN
PROGGED FOR MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY...SO WILL lINTRODUCE LOW POPS
FOR MONDAY NIGHT TUESDAY.  AS MENTIONED...MOISTURE AVAILABILITY WILL
BE IN QUESTION SO WILL BE CONSERVATIVE AT THIS POINT.

.DVN...
IA...NONE.
IL...NONE.
MO...NONE.

33

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 10, 3:33 PM CST, 37 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
433 PM CDT THU MAY 10 2001

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0415 PM    LADORA                    IA   .5 INCH HAIL
05/10/01   IOWA                           REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

Local storm report, May 10, 3:52 PM CST, 18 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
452 PM CDT THU MAY 10 2001

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0448 PM    FAIRBANK                  IA   .5 INCH HAIL
05/10/01   BUCHANAN                       REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

The radar

The Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 70 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:10 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

16 hail, 16 funnel cloud, 7 thunderstorm wind, 3 tornado, 3 flood, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Buchanan

When: May 10, 4:10 PM CST
Where: Buchanan County, 2 mi NE of Hazleton
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 42.000, -91.250

Quarter sized hail stripped trees of leaves and covered the ground to a depth of 1 to 2 inches.

Tornado, Buchanan

When: May 10, 4:14 PM CST
Where: Buchanan County, 1 mi W of Aurora
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 42.471, -91.838 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A tornado touched down briefly at the west edge of Aurora. No damage was reported.

Hail, Buchanan

When: May 10, 4:24 PM CST
Where: Buchanan County, Aurora
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 42.471, -91.838 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Quarter sized hail reported by emergency management.

Lightning, Buchanan

When: May 10, 4:30 PM CST
Where: Buchanan County, 2 mi N of Aurora
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 42.471, -91.838 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning struck a barn and sparked a fire, which destroyed the building. No injuries occurred. Reported by newspaper.

Tornado, Delaware

When: May 10, 4:38 PM CST
Where: Delaware County, 3 mi N of Dundee
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.633, -91.583

A tornado touched down briefly just west of Backbone State Park. No damage was reported.

Hail, Iowa

When: May 10, 4:55 PM CST
Where: Iowa County, Victor
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.967, -90.833

Quarter sized hail reported by law enforcement.

Hail, Delaware

When: May 10, 5:10 PM CST
Where: Delaware County, 2 mi N of Colesburg
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.667, -91.267

Quarter sized hail reported by emergency management.

Hail, Iowa

When: May 10, 5:15 PM CST
Where: Iowa County, Ladora
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.686, -92.065 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Quarter sized hail reported by law enforcement.

Hail, Iowa

When: May 10, 5:15 PM CST
Where: Iowa County, Marengo
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.686, -92.065 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Quarter sized hail reported by law enforcement.

Funnel Cloud, Iowa

When: May 10, 5:24 PM CST
Where: Iowa County, 3 mi NE of Ladora
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.400, -92.367

Reported by trained storm spotter.

Funnel Cloud, Benton

When: May 10, 5:44 PM CST
Where: Benton County, 1 mi W of Walford
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.617, -90.583

Reported by trained storm spotter.

Hail, Benton

When: May 10, 5:44 PM CST
Where: Benton County, 1 mi W of Walford
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.080, -92.066 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Quarter sized hail reported by trained storm spotter.

Thunderstorm Wind, Benton

When: May 10, 5:51 PM CST
Where: Benton County, Vinton
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.600, -90.283

60 mph wind gust estimated by trained storm spotter.

Hail, Linn

When: May 10, 5:52 PM CST
Where: Linn County, 2 mi W of Fairfax
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.583, -91.017

Golfball sized hail reported by trained storm spotter.

Hail, Linn

When: May 10, 5:52 PM CST
Where: Linn County, Cedar Rapids
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.079, -91.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Quarter sized hail reported by trained storm spotter.

Funnel Cloud, Johnson

When: May 10, 5:55 PM CST
Where: Johnson County, 5 mi NW of Oxford
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 42.633, -91.867

Reported by law enforcement.

Funnel Cloud, Johnson

When: May 10, 5:58 PM CST
Where: Johnson County, 2 mi W of Swisher
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 42.617, -91.750

Reported by law enforcement.

Hail, Linn

When: May 10, 6:06 PM CST
Where: Linn County, Cedar Rapids
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.617, -91.733

Golfball sized hail reported by trained storm spotter. Several vehicles had either minor dents or needed extensive body work. Reported by newspaper.

Funnel Cloud, Linn

When: May 10, 6:06 PM CST
Where: Linn County, (Cid)cedar Rapids Ar
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 42.633, -91.550

Reported by public.

Funnel Cloud, Linn

When: May 10, 6:06 PM CST
Where: Linn County, Fairfax
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.733, -92.300

Reported by trained storm spotter.

Hail, Linn

When: May 10, 6:10 PM CST
Where: Linn County, Cedar Rapids
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.667, -91.200

Quarter to golfball sized hail covering the ground. Reported by trained storm spotter.

Flood, Linn

When: May 10, 6:15 PM CST
Where: Linn County, Cedar Rapids
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.750, -92.183

1.67 inches of rain fell in just over one hour causing minor street flooding. Reported by trained storm spotter.

Flood, Benton

When: May 10, 6:17 PM CST
Where: Benton County, Vinton
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.800, -92.067

Minor street flooding reported by emergency management.

Hail, Linn

When: May 10, 6:20 PM CST
Where: Linn County, Alburnett
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.079, -91.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Quarter sized hail reported by trained storm spotter.

Funnel Cloud, Linn

When: May 10, 6:20 PM CST
Where: Linn County, Cedar Rapids
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 42.079, -91.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Reported by public.

Funnel Cloud, Linn

When: May 10, 6:25 PM CST
Where: Linn County, 2 mi S of Prairieburg
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.883, -91.867

Reported by trained storm spotter.

Funnel Cloud, Linn

When: May 10, 6:25 PM CST
Where: Linn County, 1 mi W of Mt Vernon
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.167, -92.033

Two funnel clouds reported by trained storm spotters.

Flood, Benton

When: May 10, 6:33 PM CST
Where: Benton County, 4 mi S of Vinton
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.917, -91.817

Water covered portions of U.S. Highway 218. Reported by emergency management.

Thunderstorm Wind, Linn

When: May 10, 6:35 PM CST
Where: Linn County, Palo
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.000, -91.650

Grain silos and a cabin were damaged. Reported by trained storm spotters.

Thunderstorm Wind, Linn

When: May 10, 6:39 PM CST
Where: Linn County, Toddville
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 42.079, -91.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous trees and power lines downed. Reported by emergency management.

Funnel Cloud, Johnson

When: May 10, 6:43 PM CST
Where: Johnson County, Coralville
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 41.672, -91.588 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two funnel clouds reported by public.

Hail, Iowa

When: May 10, 6:45 PM CST
Where: Iowa County, Ladora
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.000, -91.650

Penny sized hail reported by trained storm spotter.

Funnel Cloud, Jones

When: May 10, 6:50 PM CST
Where: Jones County, Olin
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.121, -91.131 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Reported by trained spotter.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jones

When: May 10, 6:50 PM CST
Where: Jones County, Morley
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.121, -91.131 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

60 mph wind gust estimated by trained storm spotter.

Funnel Cloud, Johnson

When: May 10, 6:57 PM CST
Where: Johnson County, 2 mi W of Tiffin
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 42.000, -91.650

Reported by public.

Funnel Cloud, Johnson

When: May 10, 7:04 PM CST
Where: Johnson County, 3 mi W of Iowa City
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 41.672, -91.588 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Reported by public.

Hail, Johnson

When: May 10, 7:15 PM CST
Where: Johnson County, 3 mi SW of Iowa City
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.672, -91.588 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Penny sized hail reported by a trained storm spotter.

Hail, Clinton

When: May 10, 7:25 PM CST
Where: Clinton County, Lost Nation
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 42.150, -91.617

Golfball sized hail reported by law enforcement.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cedar

When: May 10, 7:33 PM CST
Where: Cedar County, Springdale
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.772, -91.132 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

65 mph wind gust measured by trained storm spotter.

Funnel Cloud, Clinton

When: May 10, 7:33 PM CST
Where: Clinton County, 7 mi N of Calamus
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 41.898, -90.532 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Reported by public.

Funnel Cloud, Johnson

When: May 10, 7:37 PM CST
Where: Johnson County, 3 mi E of Amish
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 41.672, -91.588 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Reported by public.

Thunderstorm Wind, Muscatine

When: May 10, 7:45 PM CST
Where: Muscatine County, Wilton
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 41.750, -92.183

Several large tree limbs downed. Reported by Newspaper.

Hail, Keokuk

When: May 10, 7:48 PM CST
Where: Keokuk County, What Cheer
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.337, -92.179 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Quarter sized hail reported by trained storm spotter.

Thunderstorm Wind, Scott

When: May 10, 7:55 PM CST
Where: Scott County, Davenport Arpt
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.067, -91.783

58 mph wind gust measured by ASOS equipment.

Funnel Cloud, Scott

When: May 10, 7:55 PM CST
Where: Scott County, 1 mi NW of Blue Grass
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.100, -91.717

Two funnel clouds reported by trained storm spotter.

Tornado, Scott

When: May 10, 8:18 PM CST to 8:23 PM CST
Where: Scott County, Le Claire
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.5 mi
Path width: 70 yd
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.637, -90.623 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A tornado touched down in northwest LeClaire, Iowa and was on the ground for 5 minutes carving a one half mile path to the Mississippi River. The tornado was on the ground about the length of Walnut Street in northern LeClaire, east to the Mississippi River across Highway 67. Numerous trees and power lines were downed. No injuries or fatalities occurred.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
Funnel Cloud: A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Iowa in 2001 Every state in 2001 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Iowa, 2001 Warnings in Iowa, May 2001

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5250793, 5250794, 5250795, 5249623, 5250796, 5250797, 5250798, 5250799, 5250800, 5250801, 5250802, 5250803, 5250804, 5250805, 5250806, 5249348, 5249349, 5249350, 5249351, 5249470, 5249471, 5249522, 5249523, 5249524, 5249525, 5249526, 5249527, 5249528, 5249529, 5249530, 5249531, 5249532, 5249533, 5249534, 5249535, 5249536, 5249537, 5249538, 5249539, 5249540, and more.