A cold front produced thunderstorms with some severe storms with damaging winds to over 70 MPH and some large hail up to the size of golf balls.
Every event with a place to put it. 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 DVN wrote it up.
A cold front produced thunderstorms with some severe storms with damaging winds to over 70 MPH and some large hail up to the size of golf balls.
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 26, 2:22 AM CST, 1 hour 14 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL 322 AM CDT THU MAY 26 2016 .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 100 AM CDT Thu May 26 2016 Thunderstorms continue to increase in coverage from southern Minnesota into northern Missouri during the early morning hours. Leading storms had moved into southeast Iowa. The most intense storms were producing some hail and strong wind gusts. Warm and moist air remained in place across the area, with early morning temperatures in the mid 60s to low 70s. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 100 AM CDT Thu May 26 2016 The main forecast issues are convective trends and intensity this morning, and again from late afternoon through tonight. In the near term, strong storms are moving into the southwest portion of the forecast area. There may be some small hail, but the biggest concern would be isolated downburst winds in an environment with DCAPE above 1000 J/kg. Storms in western and north central Iowa have produced gusts over 80 mph. Deep layer shear is pretty meager to support very large hail, so again, am focused on isolated strong wind gusts through the early morning. High resolution models generally support a weakening trend for the western Iowa convection as it moves into the Quad Cities forecast area through the morning. Expect storms to exit to the east by late morning, with mainly dry conditions expected until at least late afternoon as temperatures peak again in the mid to upper 80s. From early evening through the overnight hours, there is still considerable uncertainty as to the location of remnant outflow boundaries from the morning storms. Much of the western portion of the forecast area has been included in the day 1 slight risk area, and this does appear to be favored for stronger deep layer shear and forcing from shortwave energy riding up the southwest flow aloft. A few storms could pose a wind/hail threat, but areas from northern Missouri into central Iowa should have more organized storms. .LONG TERM...(Friday THROUGH Wednesday) ISSUED AT 100 AM CDT Thu May 26 2016 Forecast focus on chances of storms through the extended along with above normal temperatures. Friday through Saturday night, looks quite active with the upper level trough coming out of the Plains and into the Midwest. Large scale ascent and a decent low-level jet should act on sufficient deep layer shear and instability to support several rounds of thunderstorms. Can't rule out a few severe thunderstorms during the period but shear is still not that impressive. Also, this is a positive-tilt trough and a weak surface low which would support a low end event. Due to more cloud cover and better coverage of showers and storms temperatures will not be as warm. Highs should be in the upper 70s to lower 80s. Sunday through Memorial Day, a quieter period with only slights or very small pops as troughing re-loads back in the Rockies. With more sunshine temperatures will be warming back into the lower to mid 80s. Tuesday through Wednesday, active pattern returns as upper level trough swings out into the Plains. Thunderstorm chances will be on the increase once again. Highs will remain above normal in the lower 80s at most locations. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z Thursday NIGHT) ISSUED AT 1153 PM CDT Wed May 25 2016 Organized thunderstorm complexes over NW MO, eastern NE and western IA will continue eastward, possibly reaching the terminals between 09z and 12z in a weakening fashion. Confidence is not yet high enough to go beyond vicinity wording for showers at CID, MLI and BRL, while a tempo group was included at DBQ. Thursday, a break between systems is likely in the morning, then another round of showers and thunderstorms is possible from late afternoon though evening, which is advertised with prob30 groups for now. Otherwise, conditions will be predominantly VFR throughout with light south to southwest surface winds. && .DVN Watches/Warnings/Advisories... IA...None. IL...None. MO...None. && SYNOPSIS...RP Kinney SHORT TERM...RP Kinney LONG TERM...Haase AVIATION...Sheets
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL 352 AM CDT THU MAY 26 2016 IAZ040>042-051>054-063>068-076>078-087>089-098-099-ILZ001-002-007- 009-015>018-024>026-034-035-MOZ009-010-270900- BUCHANAN-DELAWARE-DUBUQUE-BENTON-LINN-JONES-JACKSON-IOWA-JOHNSON- CEDAR-CLINTON-MUSCATINE-SCOTT-KEOKUK-WASHINGTON-LOUISA-JEFFERSON- HENRY IA-DES MOINES-VAN BUREN-LEE-JO DAVIESS-STEPHENSON-CARROLL- WHITESIDE-ROCK ISLAND-HENRY IL-BUREAU-PUTNAM-MERCER-HENDERSON- WARREN-HANCOCK-MCDONOUGH-SCOTLAND-CLARK- 352 AM CDT THU MAY 26 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS...NORTHWEST ILLINOIS...WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS...EAST CENTRAL IOWA...NORTHEAST IOWA...SOUTHEAST IOWA AND NORTHEAST MISSOURI. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A FEW STRONG TO POSSIBLY SEVERE STORMS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH MID MORNING. THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE ISOLATED WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH AND HAIL TO DIME SIZE. FAVORED AREAS THIS MORNING ARE ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM DUBUQUE...TO ALEDO AND MACOMB. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL ALSO PRODUCE PONDING WATER ON ROADS AND MINOR STREET FLOODING. FROM LATE AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT...MORE SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO REDEVELOP. ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS ARE POSSIBLE...MAINLY WEST OF AN IOWA CITY TO KEOKUK LINE. QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND ISOLATED WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH WILL BE THE MAIN THREATS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...SEVERAL ROUNDS OF THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED AND ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE. THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...THERE IS A NEARLY DAILY CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. HOWEVER...IT IS TOO EARLY TO DETERMINE THE RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEED EARLY THIS MORNING...MAINLY SOUTH OF A HIGHWAY 34 TO GALESBURG LINE...AND AGAIN TONIGHT...MAINLY WEST OF AN IOWA CITY TO KEOKUK LINE. RP KINNEY/HAASE
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
240 AM CDT THU MAY 26 2016
IAC087-101-107-111-177-183-MOC045-199-260830-
HENRY-JEFFERSON-KEOKUK-LEE-VAN BUREN-WASHINGTON-CLARK-SCOTLAND-
240 AM CDT THU MAY 26 2016
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS FROM
SIGOURNEY...TO KEOSAUQUA AND MEMPHIS...
AT 238 AM CDT...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM NEAR HEDRICK TO 9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BATAVIA TO NEAR
GREENSBURG...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH AND HALF INCH HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE
STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
FAIRFIELD...KAHOKA...SIGOURNEY...MEMPHIS...KEOSAUQUA...WELLMAN...WAYLAND...
HEDRICK...BRIGHTON...RICHLAND...BATAVIA...BIRMINGHAM...MILTON...BONAPARTE...
DELTA...LIBERTYVILLE...STOCKPORT...LOCKRIDGE...MAHARISHI VEDIC CITY AND
WYACONDA.
THESE STORMS MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
LAT...LON 4134 9241 4150 9180 4107 9164 4039 9165
4030 9206 4030 9233 4060 9233 4060 9218
4116 9218 4116 9241
TIME...MOT...LOC 0738Z 244DEG 42KT 4119 9239 4087 9227 4035 9227
RP KINNEYSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
335 AM CDT THU MAY 26 2016
ILC067-071-IAC057-087-101-111-177-MOC045-199-260915-
HANCOCK-HENDERSON-HENRY-JEFFERSON-LEE-VAN BUREN-DES
MOINES-CLARK-SCOTLAND-
335 AM CDT THU MAY 26 2016
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS ALONG AND
SOUTH OF A FAIRFIELD IOWA TO BIGGSVILLE ILLINOIS LINE...
AT 332 AM CDT...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM HILLSBORO TO NEAR MENDON...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45
MPH. ADDITIONAL STORMS WERE DEVELOPING ACROSS FAR NORTHEAST MISSOURI.
ISOLATED WIND GUSTS OF 50 TO 55 MPH AND DIME SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE
WITH THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
BURLINGTON...FORT MADISON...KEOKUK...MOUNT PLEASANT...CARTHAGE...KAHOKA...
MEMPHIS...OQUAWKA...NAUVOO...KEOSAUQUA...WEST BURLINGTON...HAMILTON...NEW
LONDON...WARSAW...MEDIAPOLIS...LA HARPE...WEST POINT...DALLAS CITY...
DANVILLE AND DONNELLSON.
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY
CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
THESE STORMS MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
LAT...LON 4019 9116 4022 9151 4025 9152 4026 9195
4030 9195 4030 9235 4059 9235 4060 9218
4097 9218 4107 9094 4047 9091 4019 9091
TIME...MOT...LOC 0832Z 223DEG 44KT 4085 9171 4009 9135
RP KINNEYSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
417 AM CDT THU MAY 26 2016
ILC067-071-109-131-187-IAC057-111-115-MOC045-261000-
WARREN-HANCOCK-HENDERSON-MCDONOUGH-MERCER-LEE-LOUISA-DES
MOINES-CLARK-
417 AM CDT THU MAY 26 2016
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS EAST OF A LINE
FROM KAHOKA MISSOURI TO WAPELLO IOWA...
AT 414 AM CDT...THE LEADING EDGE OF AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
WAS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NEAR MEDIAPOLIS TO NEAR
AUGUSTA...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
WIND GUSTS OF 50 TO 55 MPH AND HALF INCH HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE
STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
BURLINGTON...MACOMB...FORT MADISON...KEOKUK...MONMOUTH...ALEDO...CARTHAGE...
KAHOKA...WAPELLO...OQUAWKA...NAUVOO...BUSHNELL...WEST BURLINGTON...
HAMILTON...BURGESS...WARSAW...MEDIAPOLIS...COLCHESTER...LA HARPE AND
ROSEVILLE.
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY
CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
THESE STORMS MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
LAT...LON 4020 9150 4025 9152 4026 9195 4072 9139
4122 9129 4132 9045 4028 9045 4028 9091
4019 9091
TIME...MOT...LOC 0914Z 238DEG 36KT 4105 9114 4024 9088
RP KINNEYThe La Crosse radar (KARX), 146 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 09:33 UTC.
15 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A report was received of a 20 inch diameter limb on wires just south of 3rd and Benton in Hazleton.
Several tree branches and a flag pole were blown down.
Report from the AWOS site at Independence.
Report of sustained winds of 50 MPH with gusts to near 70 MPH for the past 10 minutes.
The estimated max wind speeds were received from a trained spotter.
Winds were reported to gust to about 60 MPH for roughly a minute.
Reports of the electrical power out in the neighborhood.
Report of large tree limbs that are blown down.
This report was received via the county emergency manager with winds estimated up to 50 MPH.
A local coop observer reported a cattle shed was destroyed and blown into a farm field.
Report from a local coop observer of a tree blown down onto an unoccupied house in Stanley.
The local coop observer reported a 30 to 40 foot tall tree was blown down into a farm field near 115th street and Reed avenue.
The local coop observer reported a large tree was snapped in city park and second tree was down onto a Van at 103 main street.
The local coop observer reported a 2 foot diameter tree was snapped about 4 to 5 feet above the ground at 1435 165th street. This is roughly 2 miles South Southeast of Dundee.
A report of 3 inch diameter branches that are down.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Iowa in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, May 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: 636891, 636893, 636883, 636888, 636887, 636881, 636884, 636895, 636879, 636889, 636898, 636899, 636901, 636904, 636882, 636897, 636892.