Good low level lapses rates, 150-200 J/KG 0-3KM CAPE and decent surface vorticity led to the development of three landspout tornadoes across northern Iowa during the late afternoon hours. All remained in rural areas with no damage other than to crops.
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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.
Good low level lapses rates, 150-200 J/KG 0-3KM CAPE and decent surface vorticity led to the development of three landspout tornadoes across northern Iowa during the late afternoon hours. All remained in rural areas with no damage other than to crops.
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 Jul 27, 2:05 PM CST, 2 hours 10 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Des Moines IA 305 PM CDT Wed Jul 27 2016 .SHORT TERM.../Tonight/ Issued at 305 PM CDT Wed Jul 27 2016 Main forecast challenge will focus on progression of surface boundary tonight and potential convection. Currently...weak surface front passing into northwest Iowa this afternoon with instability axis ahead of the front. Expect to see scattered convection develop along this boundary later this afternoon/evening as it pushes southeast into central Iowa. Of recent concern...there is good 0-3km cape of 100-200 J/KG in northwest/north central Iowa this afternoon, decent surface vorticity and lapse rates have increased to near 8C/KM recently. This could lead to the development of a couple of landspouts near the shear axis with the initial updrafts/convection. These type of circulations are difficult to see on radar although they are often visually striking. Will continue to monitor closely over the next few hours. The scattered convection is expected to move east and south through central Iowa tonight as the boundary progresses through the state. Despite the possibility of landspouts, the overall severe threat will be low given weak shear. Anticipate the storms to diminish in coverage later tonight toward morning as the instability decreases. Otherwise, status will settle southward into the northern half or so of the forecast area in area of weak cold advection late tonight. .LONG TERM.../Thursday through Wednesday/ Issued at 305 PM CDT Wed Jul 27 2016 Lingering showers are anticipated in the northeast and east central portions of the state on Thursday near trof axis. This activity will likely graze the eastern portions of the forecast area during the day although most locations will remain dry on Thursday. Stratus will likely be in place on Thursday morning across a good portion of the forecast area before breaking up into a broken field of cumulus by afternoon. Temperatures will remain quite cool through the day with light north winds. There will be a threat of isolated convection remaining in and around Iowa through Friday and into the weekend, however no large/organized areas of convection are anticipated during this time nor is much in the way of severe weather expected. This means storms will be somewhat hap-hazard in nature and difficult to pinpoint, especially at this point in time. Temperatures are forecast to moderate later in the weekend a climb above normal into early next week as upper ridging builds into the central United States. Highs into the 90s are expected by Monday in southwest Iowa expanding to the north and east on Tuesday and Wednesday. High humidity levels will likely contribute to rather sultry conditions by then. && .AVIATION.../For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Thursday afternoon/ Issued at 1253 PM CDT Wed Jul 27 2016 VFR conditions are expected through this evening across central Iowa although scattered thunderstorms are expected. Will see widespread status move into the state from the north overnight and into most of the TAF locations with widespread MVFR to IFR ceiling heights. These low clouds will linger into Thursday morning with restrictions continuing. Surface winds will be light and variable for much of the forecast period. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None. && SHORT TERM...Cogil LONG TERM...Cogil AVIATION...Cogil
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 341 PM CDT WED JUL 27 2016 IAZ026>028-036>039-046>050-057>062-070>075-081>086-092>097-281100- FRANKLIN-BUTLER-BREMER-HAMILTON-HARDIN-GRUNDY-BLACK HAWK-GREENE- BOONE-STORY-MARSHALL-TAMA-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK-JASPER- POWESHIEK-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-WARREN-MARION-MAHASKA-ADAMS-UNION- CLARKE-LUCAS-MONROE-WAPELLO-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD-DECATUR-WAYNE- APPANOOSE-DAVIS- 341 PM CDT WED JUL 27 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT. THERE RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER REMAINS LOW. IF SEVERE WEATHER DID OCCUR...THEN THE PRIMARY THREAT WOULD BE LOCALIZED DAMAGING WINDS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY PERIODIC THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL EXIST DURING THE PERIOD. THERE IS A LOW RISK OF SEVERE STORMS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS UNLIKELY THROUGH TONIGHT. IAZ004>007-015>017-023>025-033>035-044-045-281100- EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO- POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-SAC-CALHOUN-WEBSTER-CRAWFORD-CARROLL- 341 PM CDT WED JUL 27 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THIS EVENING. THERE IS A LOW RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER...HOWEVER A BRIEF TORNADO OR DAMAGING WIND GUST WILL BE REMAIN POSSIBLE .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY PERIODIC THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL EXIST DURING THE PERIOD. THERE IS A LOW RISK OF SEVERE STORMS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS UNLIKELY THIS EVENING.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 502 PM CDT WED JUL 27 2016 IAZ005-006-016-023>025-033>035-044-045-280000- KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-HANCOCK-POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-SAC-CALHOUN- WEBSTER-CRAWFORD-CARROLL- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALGONA...FOREST CITY...LAKE MILLS... GARNER...BRITT...KANAWHA...POCAHONTAS...LAURENS...ROLFE...FONDA... GILMORE CITY...HUMBOLDT...EAGLE GROVE...CLARION...BELMOND... SAC CITY...LAKE VIEW...ODEBOLT...WALL LAKE...SCHALLER...EARLY... ROCKWELL CITY...MANSON...LAKE CITY...POMEROY...FORT DODGE... DENISON...CARROLL 502 PM CDT WED JUL 27 2016 ...CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR FUNNEL CLOUDS... CURRENT ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUNNEL CLOUDS. USUALLY...THESE FUNNEL CLOUDS CAN FORM FROM SHOWERS AND WEAK THUNDERSTORMS. THESE FUNNELS ARE NORMALLY BRIEF...DROP ONLY A FEW HUNDRED FEET FROM THE CLOUD BASE...AND RARELY BECOME A TORNADO OR CAUSE DAMAGE. HOWEVER...IF ONE IS SPOTTED...PLEASE IMMEDIATELY REPORT IT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. IF A TORNADO WARNING WOULD BECOME NECESSARY...TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION. LEE
The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 160 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:15 UTC.
3 tornado, 3 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
Small, brief landspout tornado reported by law enforcement. No damage reported. Location estimated based on radar.
Emergency Manager reported strong rotation and a funnel cloud going descending and retracting. Funnel was descending towards the ground at the time of the report.
Trained spotter in the town of Kiester, MN reported seeing a funnel south of town in far northern Winnebago County. Report relayed by NWS Twin Cities.
This was a short-lived tornado that was photographed from multiple angles. No damage was reported.
This well-defined tornado was photographed from multiple angles. Track estimated based on photos and radar. Crop damage reported along the track.
Trained spotter reported a funnel cloud at least half way to the ground. Spotter reported possibly seeing debris under the funnel as well.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Iowa in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Iowa, 2016Warnings in Iowa, July 2016
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: 640375, 641300, 641298, 640376, 640377, 641297.