The continued series of thunderstorms moved across Iowa during the afternoon of the 26th and through the overnight hours of the 26th into the 27th. A stationary front remained in place from central Nebraska into northern Missouri.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS DMX wrote it up.
The continued series of thunderstorms moved across Iowa during the afternoon of the 26th and through the overnight hours of the 26th into the 27th. A stationary front remained in place from central Nebraska into northern Missouri. The front aloft remained over Iowa, setting the stage for repeated thunderstorm development. The parameters changed little from the previous event. A weakly sheared atmosphere was in place with 25 to 30 kts of shear available. CAPE values were slightly higher, in the 1000 to 2000 J/kg range. Downdraft CAPE ranged from under 400 J/kg over the east part of the CWA to 800 J/kg over the west. A substantial inversion was in place over most of the Des Moines CWA. CAPE in the -10 to -30 C layer of the atmosphere was relatively low, only 200 to 400 J/kg. Precipitable water values were in the 1.3 to 1.6 inch range, or over 2 standard deviations above normal. Thunderstorms from the previous night weakened, only to be replaced by a new round of thunderstorms that developed over northwest Iowa by mid day on the 26th. These storms moved southeast across the state, producing heavy rain across many of the areas that received heavy rainfall the night before. Highway closings were too numerous to mention with many small creeks overflowing their banks and causing flash flooding. There were several reports of road washouts and bridges being washed out. A man driving a SUV was swept away by swift flood waters Monday morning on Westbrook Street in Butler County west of Parkersburg. Severe weather was limited. The storms produced half dollar size hail in Taylor County. Hail also fell in Humboldt and Polk Counties. A funnel cloud was reported in Taylor County as well. One brief tornado touchdown was reported southwest Diagonal in Ringgold County. On the morning of the 27th, as the second MCS decayed, high winds occurred over a small part of north central into central Iowa as a wake low formed. Winds gusted to 58 MPH in Polk County at Ankeny. An RWIS site in Marshall County at Marshalltown recorded a 60 MPH wind gust. Wind damage occurred in Boone County and Hardin Counties. Sustained winds of 40 to 45 MPH were reported in Jasper and Story Counties. Scattered reports of outbuilding and tree damage were received.
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 Des Moines, IA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 26, 6:01 AM CST, 5 hours earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 701 AM CDT SUN MAY 26 2013 .SHORT TERM.../TODAY /... ISSUED AT 322 AM CDT SUN MAY 26 2013 S/WV LIFTING ACROSS IOWA THIS MORNING HAS SET OFF A DECENT LINE OF TSRA ON THE H8 FRONT. LACK OF NEWD PROGRESS OF THE FRONT AND CONTINUED FEED OF MOISTURE HAS LEAD TO SOME BIG PRECIP AMOUNTS IN THE AREA EAST KDSM. NEXT AREA DROPPING SOUTHEAST OUT OF NWRN IA MAY ENHANCE DEVELOPMENT FOR A FEW HOURS BEFORE THE LLJ WEAKENS. ALSO SCATTERED CONVECTION OVER NORTH CENTRAL MO WILL LIKELY LIFT/SPREAD INTO SRN IA THIS MORNING. WILL LIMIT POPS BY LATER THIS MORNING AND AFTERNOON OVER THE SOUTH BUT KEEP THE CLOUDS IN. RAIN CHANCES CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY OVER THE NORTHEAST. WENT BELOW MOS AND CLOSER TO THE ECMWF FOR TEMPS TODAY WITH A VERY SLOW RISE EXPECTED. A DECENT RAIN RANGE IN TEMPS FOR LATE MAY HOWEVER. .LONG TERM.../TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... ISSUED AT 322 AM CDT SUN MAY 26 2013 PERSISTENT POPS FOR THE EXTENDED WILL LEAD TO MANY ISSUES/CONCERNS WITH EXTENDED. INCREASED CONFIDENCE IN PROLONGED PRECIPITATION...WITH HIGH PRECIP RATES POSSIBLE AT TIMES ACROSS THE CWA. PWAT VALUES REMAIN HIGH THROUGH THE PERIOD...NEAR 1.5 OR HIGHER AT TIMES...WHICH IS WELL ABOVE CLIMATOLOGY FOR LATE MAY/EARLY JUNE. TONIGHT WILL SEE ANOTHER SHORTWAVE LIFTING NORTHEAST ALONG THE MO VALLEY...WITH THETA-E ADVECTION AHEAD OF SHORTWAVE...SPREADING INTO CENTRAL IOWA ALONG WITH GOOD MOISTURE TRANSPORT ON NOSE OF LLJ. SOUNDINGS ALSO INDICATE DEEP WARM CLOUD DEPTH LAYER...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE NORTH OVERNIGHT AND ANTICIPATE HEAVY RAINFALL RATES. MAY NEED A FLASH FLOOD WATCH AGAIN FOR THE OVERNIGHT PERIOD...HOWEVER HAVE HELD OFF FOR NOW WITH CURRENT HEADLINES...AND NORTHERN PORTIONS OF CWA HAVE NOT RECEIVED AS MUCH RAINFALL AS CENTRAL. EXPECT PRECIPITATION TO CONTINUE INTO THE DAY MONDAY AS THETA-E ADVECTION AND MOISTURE TRANSPORT INCREASE AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING FRONTAL BOUNDARY. NEAR FRONTAL BOUNDARY IN THE FAR WEST...SB CAPE VALUES SUPPORT CHANCES FOR SEVERE WEATHER...WITH SHEAR INCREASING 18-00Z ALONG BOUNDARY. SYSTEM LIFTS AGAIN NE ACROSS THE STATE...WITH HIGHEST PRECIPITATION CHANCES/QPF AGAIN ACROSS THE NORTH...THOUGH DEEP LAYER SATURATION WAINS TOWARDS 12Z TUESDAY. HOWEVER...AREAS OF HEAVY RAIN AGAIN LOOK POSSIBLE AS SOUTHERLY FLOW PERSISTS...WITH ADDITIONAL FLOOD/FLASH FLOOD HEADLINES POTENTIALLY NEEDED. FRONTAL BOUNDARY LINGERS INTO TUESDAY...WITH ADDITIONAL CHANCES FOR PRECIPITATION. AGAIN...NEAR FRONTAL BOUNDARY COULD SEE STRONG/SEVERE STORMS...BUT SHEAR IS A BIT WEAKER. CURRENTLY...BEST CHANCES FOR PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE NORTH...THOUGH STILL MODEL DISAGREEMENT ON LOCATION OF THE FRONT...AND MAY BE FURTHER SOUTH. LARGE AREA OF LOW PRESSURE IS SET TO IMPACT THE REGION FOR THE MIDDLE/END OF THE WEEK. MAY SEE A BREAK BETWEEN SYSTEMS AHEAD OF SECONDARY LOW FOR WEDNESDAY AND EARLY THURSDAY...THOUGH HAVE KEPT LINGERING POPS WITH MODEL UNCERTAINTIES. LOW EXPECTED TO DIG INTO SOUTHERN DAKOTAS FOR THURSDAY...WITH FRONTAL BOUNDARY SPREAD ACROSS IOWA...SLOWLY LIFTING NORTHEASTWARD THROUGH FRIDAY AS NEGATIVELY TILTED TROUGH. HOWEVER...THERE ARE STILL SIGNIFICANT MODEL DISCREPANCIES IN TIMING/LOCATION OF LOW AND FRONTAL BOUNDARY FOR THURSDAY/FRIDAY...BUT PERIOD HAS POTENTIAL TO BE ACTIVE WITH SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLE. THIS WILL NEED TO BE CLOSELY MONITORED BY FUTURE SHIFTS. && .AVIATION...26/12Z ISSUED AT 654 AM CDT SUN MAY 26 2013 WIDESPREAD IFR CIGS WILL BE SLOW TO IMPROVE TODAY WITH WARM FRONT HOLDING TO THE SOUTH OF THE TAF SITES. TSRA OVER THE NORTH AND EAST WILL WEAKEN THIS MORNING. FURTHER REDEVELOPMENT IS LIKELY TONIGHT WITH TSRA BECOMING WIDESPREAD AGAIN TONIGHT ALONG WITH CIGS BLO 010 OVER MOST OF THE STATE. && .HYDROLOGY... ISSUED AT 322 AM CDT SUN MAY 26 2013 STRONG MOISTURE FLUX INTO THE STATE CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON THE H8 WARM FRONT AND SHOULD CONTINUE TO PRESENT PROBLEMS FOR THE NEXT FEW HOURS. DOPPLER ESTIMATES SUGGEST RAINFALL OF 3 TO 5 INCHES MAY HAVE OCCURRED IN PARTS OF JASPER COUNTY. THE CURRENT FLASH FLOOD WATCH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 14Z. FEEL FLOODING THREAT WILL DIMINISH ONCE THE LLJ WEAKENS. FOR THAT REASON WOULD WANT TO HOLD OFF UNTIL AT LEAST MID DAY BEFORE ISSUING ADDITIONAL HEADLINES. OVERNIGHT TONIGHT LLJ AGAIN KICKS UP NOSING INTO IOWA WITH THETA-E ADVECTION AND CONTINUED STRONG MOISTURE TRANSPORT AHEAD OF A SHORTWAVE. POTENTIAL AGAIN EXISTS OVERNIGHT FOR AREAS OF HEAVY RAIN WITH EFFICIENT RAIN PRODUCING STORMS AS PWATS REMAIN HIGH. CHANCES FOR FLASH FLOOD AGAIN EXIST OVERNIGHT ESPECIALLY IN AREAS WHICH HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL RAINFALL. IN ADDITION...PATTERN LOOKS TO PERSIST INTO MONDAY NIGHT...THOUGH FURTHER NORTH. MAY SEE RIVERS BEGIN TO REACT TO HEAVY RAINFALL...ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTHEAST WHERE RIVERS ARE RUNNING HIGH...WITH RIVER FLOODING POSSIBLE. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 9 AM CDT THIS MORNING FOR AUDUBON-BLACK HAWK-BOONE-CALHOUN-CARROLL-CRAWFORD-DALLAS-GREENE-GRUNDY-GUTHRIE- HAMILTON-HARDIN-JASPER-MAHASKA-MARION-MARSHALL-POLK-POWESHIEK- SAC-STORY-TAMA-WAPELLO-WEBSTER. && SHORT TERM...MS MAY 13 LONG TERM...AWB AVIATION...MS MAY 13 HYDROLOGY...MS MAY 13/AWB
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 459 AM CDT SUN MAY 26 2013 IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-070>073-081>085-092>097-271100- EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO- POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-BUTLER-BREMER-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON- WARREN-ADAMS-UNION-CLARKE-LUCAS-MONROE-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD-DECATUR-WAYNE- APPANOOSE-DAVIS- 459 AM CDT SUN MAY 26 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY TODAY AND TONIGHT. CHANCES FOR SEVERE WEATHER ARE LOW...BUT SOME STORMS COULD PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AND FLOODING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL PERSIST PERIODICALLY INTO NEXT WEEK...MAINLY DURING THE NIGHTTIME AND EARLY MORNING HOURS. SOME STORMS WILL PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL...POSSIBLY LEADING TO FLASH FLOODING OR AREAL FLOODING. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER MONDAY AND TUESDAY...WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS THE MAIN THREAT...BUT AN ISOLATED TORNADO MAY BE POSSIBLE AS WELL. SEVERE WEATHER MAY ALSO BE POSSIBLE AGAIN THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED THROUGH THE WEEKEND. IAZ033>039-044>050-057>062-074-075-086-271100- SAC-CALHOUN-WEBSTER-HAMILTON-HARDIN-GRUNDY-BLACK HAWK-CRAWFORD- CARROLL-GREENE-BOONE-STORY-MARSHALL-TAMA-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK- JASPER-POWESHIEK-MARION-MAHASKA-WAPELLO- 459 AM CDT SUN MAY 26 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY TODAY AND TONIGHT. CHANCES FOR SEVERE WEATHER ARE LOW...BUT STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL AND LOCAL FLASH FLOODING. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT UNTIL 9 AM SUNDAY MORNING. PLEASE REFER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES FOR FURTHER DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL PERSIST PERIODICALLY INTO NEXT WEEK...MAINLY DURING THE NIGHTTIME AND EARLY MORNING HOURS. SOME STORMS WILL PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL...POSSIBLY LEADING TO FLASH FLOODING OR AREAL FLOODING. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER MONDAY AND TUESDAY...WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS THE MAIN THREAT...BUT AN ISOLATED TORNADO MAY BE POSSIBLE AS WELL. SEVERE WEATHER MAY ALSO BE POSSIBLE AGAIN THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED THROUGH THE WEEKEND. AWB
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1031 AM CDT SUN MAY 26 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1030 AM HEAVY RAIN PARKERSBURG 42.57N 92.78W
05/26/2013 E2.78 INCH BUTLER IA CO-OP OBSERVER
&&
JJOHNSONPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1033 AM CDT SUN MAY 26 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1015 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 NNE GRINNELL AIRPORT 41.75N 92.71W
05/26/2013 E4.50 INCH POWESHIEK IA TRAINED SPOTTER
TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED 4.5 INCHES OF RAIN SINCE 6 PM
SATURDAY
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1111 AM CDT SUN MAY 26 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0911 AM FLASH FLOOD 5 ENE POPEJOY 42.63N 93.35W
05/26/2013 FRANKLIN IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
6 INCHES OF WATER OVER 70TH AVENUE NEAR THE HEATHER
AVENUE INTERSECTION.
0928 AM FLASH FLOOD 8 N IOWA FALLS 42.63N 93.24W
05/26/2013 FRANKLIN IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
IN THE TOWN OF BRADFORD...WATER OVER NETTLE AVENUE
BETWEEN 3RD STREET AND 5TH STREET.
1009 AM FLASH FLOOD 2 E LATIMER 42.77N 93.32W
05/26/2013 FRANKLIN IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
WATER OVER JONQUIL AVENUE ABOUT 1.5 MILES NORTH OF
HIGHWAY 3 DUE TO THE SPRING CREEK OUT OF ITS BANKS.
1010 AM FLASH FLOOD 4 SSE COULTER 42.68N 93.34W
05/26/2013 FRANKLIN IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
BRIDGE CLOSED ON INDIGO AVENUE JUST SOUTH OF 110TH STREET
DUE TO CREEK OUT OF ITS BANKS.
1016 AM FLASH FLOOD 6 N IOWA FALLS 42.60N 93.27W
05/26/2013 FRANKLIN IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
50TH STREET/COUNTY HIGHWAY 65 WASHED OUT JUST WEST OF
MALLARD AVENUE.
&&
PODRAZIKPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1127 AM CDT SUN MAY 26 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1115 AM FLASH FLOOD 5 ESE IOWA FALLS 42.48N 93.18W
05/26/2013 HARDIN IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
P AVENUE WASHED OUT NEAR THE 155TH STREET INTERSECTION
1115 AM FLASH FLOOD 4 S ACKLEY 42.50N 93.05W
05/26/2013 HARDIN IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
WATER OVER COUNTY HIGHWAY S56 NEAR THE 140TH STREET
INTERSECTION
&&
PODRAZIKSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 1141 AM CDT SUN MAY 26 2013 IAZ005>007-016-017-024>027-035>038-261845- KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT- FRANKLIN-BUTLER-WEBSTER-HAMILTON-HARDIN-GRUNDY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALGONA...FOREST CITY...NORTHWOOD... GARNER...MASON CITY...HUMBOLDT...CLARION...HAMPTON...ALLISON... FORT DODGE...WEBSTER CITY...ELDORA...GRUNDY CENTER 1141 AM CDT SUN MAY 26 2013 ...STRONG SOUTHEAST WINDS EXPECTED UNTIL EARL THIS AFTERNOON... STRONG AND GUSTY SOUTHEAST WINDS FROM 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL IOWA THROUGH AROUND 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON. AFTER 1 PM...THE WINDS WILL DECREASE TO 15 TO 25 MPH FROM THE SOUTHEAST.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1147 AM CDT SUN MAY 26 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1134 AM NON-TSTM WND GST STEAMBOAT ROCK 42.41N 93.07W
05/26/2013 E52 MPH HARDIN IA MESONET
&&The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 53 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:58 UTC.
10 flash flood, 7 flood, 6 hail, 6 high wind, 1 heavy rain, 1 tornado, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
North Skunk River was out of its banks along I-80.
Minerva Creek out of its banks and flooding 50 acres near 148th and S52. Water approaching the bridge. Gravel road 155th was under water.
NWS CO-OP observer and Emergency Manager report flash flooding in and near Zearing. Highway 65 is under water in two places, including south 140th St. County pavement E18 is closed in several places east and west of Zearing.
Marshall County dispatch reports flooded roads in Marshalltown and the northern part of the county. Major Highways 14 and 146 are under water and closed with numerous stranded vehicles in Marshalltown.
Rainfall since midnight was 3.92 inches.
Marshall County Sheriff reports that Highway 14 remained closed due to flooding north of Marshalltown. Highway 330 south of Albion is also closed.
Newburg road near intersection of Highway F17 and Highway 63 is closed for a distance of about 100 yards.
Special observation from the airport observer.
A brief tornado touchdown occurred.
Flash flooding reported on 90th St. between 360th and 370th Ave.
Numerous road closings due to flooding throughout Poweshiek County including 400th Ave west of Grinnell and several roads in the Searsboro and Montezuma area.
Rainfall of three quarters of an inch as well.
Twenty sections of county roads were closed due to flooding, many along the North Skunk River.
Highway 146 is closed from Highway 63 at New Sharon north to the Poweshiek County line due to flooding on the North Skunk River.
Beaver Creek out of its banks and flooding about a mile long section of Iowa Highway 57 west of Parkersburg. Iowa DOT has already closed that section of the highway with water reaching several houses.
Highway 63 east of town and highway 146 north of town flooded by the North Skunk River.
Highway 25 railroad underpass flooded. Highway has been closed.
Water over the spillway and road in Springbrook State Park. DNR is evacuating the park.
Water flowing over Quail Road.
Trees were blown down and outbuildings were damaged.
Measured at the Ankeny Airport.
Tree limbs were blown down as well as a few power lines.
Flood waters moving over highway 141 from water flowing out of fields.
Terrace Ave, a gravel road levee, is failing and water is flowing into New Hartford.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flood, Butler | 2013-05-27 | 71 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Iowa in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Iowa, 2013Warnings in Iowa, May 2013
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: 442534, 442503, 442504, 442505, 442494, 442500, 442506, 442507, 442502, 442501, 442496, 442495, 442508, 442535, 442498, 442497, 442536, 442537, 442538, 442499, 442539, 442540, 442541, 442542, 442550, 442547, 442548, 442546, 442551, 442543, 442544, 442549.