Scattered thunderstorms developed across portions of northeast Iowa during the evening of May 30th. These storms developed ahead of an approaching warm front and some of them produced severe wind gusts.
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 ARX wrote it up.
Scattered thunderstorms developed across portions of northeast Iowa during the evening of May 30th. These storms developed ahead of an approaching warm front and some of them produced severe wind gusts. Wind gusts to 58 and 59 mph were measured by the automated weather observing equipment at the Oelwein (Fayette County) airport.
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 La Crosse, WI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 30, 5:26 PM CST, 1 hour 29 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service La Crosse WI 626 PM CDT MON MAY 30 2016 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Tuesday) Issued at 340 PM CDT Mon May 30 2016 Primary concerns through Tuesday include timing, coverage, and strength of thunderstorms as a slow moving Pacific trough moves across the Northern Plains and into the Upper MS River Valley. 30.20Z analysis shows the mid-upper level low across north-central MT with a broad surface trough from northeast ND into western NE. The warm front is well defined by developing cumulus this afternoon and stretches across southwest MN into central IA. This front will lift northward this evening and overnight, bringing a chance for showers and storms for most of the forecast area. Increasing moisture transport behind the front will allow elevated instability to increase up to 1000 J/kg, but with weak overall shear, not expecting any severe convection overnight. Attention then turns to Tuesday as the low and surface cold front march slowly eastward across MN. Trends in the 30.12Z models show a much slower frontal progression, such that it doesn't reach the far western forecast area until near 00Z Wednesday. With the front serving as the primary focus for additional thunderstorm development, there could be a several hour break in convective activity Tuesday morning into the early afternoon, especially east of the MS River. By Tuesday afternoon however, MLCAPE increases to between 1000 and 2000 J/kg. Deep layer shear is rather weak, but there is upwards of 30 kts below 3 km. Because of this, primary convective mode should be multi-cellular with some strong to severe storms possible. Primary threats with the strongest storms will be damaging wind, large hail, and heavy downpours. For now, forecast area is highlighted by a marginal risk, but wouldn't be surprised if a small area is eventually upgraded to a slight risk if higher instability/shear values can be realized. Will also want to watch for areas of heavy rain given PWATS increasing to near 1.5 inches and upper level flow parallel to the surface front. Not expecting flooding at this time with much of the area still below normal precipitation for the month of May, but heavy rain may result in rises on area rivers and some issues in urban areas. All said, slowed the eastward progression of higher POPs Tuesday afternoon and evening, exiting the easternmost forecast area by 12Z Wednesday. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday night through Monday) Issued at 340 PM CDT Mon May 30 2016 Wednesday will be mostly dry, but could see some lingering showers and isolated thunderstorms in post frontal air mass. It will be a cooler and breezy day with highs in the 70s and westerly wind gusts up to 25 mph. Thursday will be cool and dry with surface high pressure dominating the regional weather pattern. Synoptic pattern still on track for a major shift Friday into early next week with an amplifying ridge across the intermountain west, putting the eastern half of the CONUS in a broad trough with northwest flow aloft across the forecast area. This increases the chance for showers and thunderstorms with short-waves dropping south from Canada. The strongest of these is forecast to move through the area Friday night into Saturday, but chance POPs still seem reasonable at this time. Higher confidence in temperatures with daily highs generally in the 70s and lows in the 50s. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Tuesday evening) Issued at 626 PM CDT Mon May 30 2016 Scattered showers and thunderstorms will move across the TAF sites tonight with more widespread showers and storms on Tuesday. Some periods if MVFR to IFR conditions are possible in the steadier rain. Otherwise, VFR conditions are expected. && .ARX Watches/Warnings/Advisories... WI...None. MN...None. IA...None. && SHORT TERM...ROGERS LONG TERM...ROGERS AVIATION...WETENKAMP
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 707 PM CDT MON MAY 30 2016 MNZ079-086>088-095-096-WIZ017-029-032>034-041>044-053>055-061- 311115- WABASHA-DODGE-OLMSTED-WINONA-FILLMORE-HOUSTON-TAYLOR-CLARK- BUFFALO-TREMPEALEAU-JACKSON-LA CROSSE-MONROE-JUNEAU-ADAMS-VERNON- CRAWFORD-RICHLAND-GRANT- 707 PM CDT MON MAY 30 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST IOWA...SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...AND SOUTHWEST INTO CENTRAL WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND NORTHEAST IOWA THIS EVENING THEN SPREAD NORTHEAST ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AFTER MIDNIGHT. THE MAIN THREAT FROM THESE STORMS WILL BE LIGHTNING...SMALL HAIL...AND SOME BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TUESDAY INTO TUESDAY NIGHT. A FEW OF THESE STORMS MAY BECOME STRONG TO SEVERE IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE MAIN SEVERE WEATHER THREATS WILL BE HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS AND WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH. LOCALIZED HEAVY RAINFALL COULD BE SEEN AS WELL WHICH MAY PRODUCE SOME PONDING OF WATER. THERE ARE ADDITIONAL CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON INTO THE WEEKEND. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED THROUGH TONIGHT. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... NO WEBINAR IS SCHEDULED. IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ094-311115- MITCHELL-HOWARD-WINNESHIEK-ALLAMAKEE-FLOYD-CHICKASAW-FAYETTE- CLAYTON-MOWER- 707 PM CDT MON MAY 30 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL IOWA...NORTHEAST IOWA AND SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE...MAINLY THIS EVENING. HAIL UP TO NICKEL SIZE AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH WILL BE THE MAIN THREATS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TUESDAY INTO TUESDAY NIGHT. A FEW OF THESE STORMS MAY BECOME STRONG TO SEVERE IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE MAIN SEVERE WEATHER THREATS WILL BE HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS AND WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH. LOCALIZED HEAVY RAINFALL COULD BE SEEN AS WELL WHICH MAY PRODUCE SOME PONDING OF WATER. THERE ARE ADDITIONAL CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON INTO THE WEEKEND. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED TONIGHT. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... NO WEBINAR IS SCHEDULED. WETENKAMP
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI 700 PM CDT MON MAY 30 2016 IAZ018-310030- FLOYD- 700 PM CDT MON MAY 30 2016 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WESTERN FLOYD COUNTY... AT 700 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER ROCKFORD...OR 12 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MASON CITY...MOVING NORTH AT 25 MPH. WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH AND DIME SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR... RUDD AND NORA SPRINGS AROUND 715 PM CDT. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE. LAT...LON 4321 9302 4321 9275 4295 9289 4297 9303 TIME...MOT...LOC 0000Z 195DEG 21KT 4305 9299 WETENKAMP
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
738 PM CDT MON MAY 30 2016
IAZ008-018-310115-
FLOYD-MITCHELL-
738 PM CDT MON MAY 30 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT MITCHELL AND NORTHWESTERN FLOYD
COUNTIES...
AT 737 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR RUDD...OR NEAR
OSAGE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
OSAGE AROUND 800 PM CDT.
STACYVILLE AROUND 815 PM CDT.
OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE MITCHELL...ORCHARD...
IDLEWILDE STATE PARK...BROWNVILLE AND ROCK CREEK.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
LAT...LON 4346 9284 4333 9255 4330 9256 4309 9280
4318 9301
TIME...MOT...LOC 0037Z 212DEG 15KT 4320 9286
WETENKAMPSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
742 PM CDT MON MAY 30 2016
IAZ029-310115-
FAYETTE-
742 PM CDT MON MAY 30 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN FAYETTE COUNTY...
AT 742 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER FAIRBANK...OR
NEAR OELWEIN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND DIME SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
OELWEIN...MAYNARD...WESTGATE.
THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO
STATIONS AND AVAILABLE TELEVISION STATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
LAT...LON 4264 9208 4284 9208 4291 9204 4276 9173
4264 9188
TIME...MOT...LOC 0042Z 209DEG 14KT 4266 9205
WETENKAMPThe La Crosse radar (KARX), 141 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:56 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A wind gust of 58 mph was measured by the automated weather observing equipment at the Oelwein airport.
A wind gust of 59 mph was measured by the automated weather observing equipment at the Oelwein airport.
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: 630071, 630072.