The busy weather week continued May 26th, as more fast moving storms moved north over the Midwest. These storms brought heavy rain and damaging winds to portions of Iowa and Illinois.
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.
The busy weather week continued May 26th, as more fast moving storms moved north over the Midwest. These storms brought heavy rain and damaging winds to portions of Iowa and Illinois.
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, 1:36 PM CST, 3 hours 4 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL 236 PM CDT Tue May 26 2020 .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 235 PM CDT Tue May 26 2020 Strong low level flow from the southeast is paired with warm and humid air over the region east of a surface low in southwest Iowa is bringing another day of fast moving, strong to severe storms. Shear values are more favorable for low level rotation in the far western CWA as well as central Iowa. Farther east, we are very much unstable, but less sheared, and this should result in more isolated coverage and threats more limited to isolated downburst winds. && .SHORT TERM...(This Evening through Wednesday) ISSUED AT 235 PM CDT Tue May 26 2020 Fast moving storms today with downburst winds bring the primary threat! Storms today are much faster moving, and organized loosely into spiral bands. This will result in very narrow swaths of training through this evening, likely in eastern Iowa. CAPE values should continue to be in the 1000 to 2000 J/KG through early evening, and with stronger southerly flow, outflow boundaries will be less of a player than yesterday. Tonight, coverage will both shift north and decrease. Tomorrow is similar, through with less strong winds aloft will bring another day of scattered storms. This could bring severe storms along the convergent line which will be closer to the CWA at Wednesday. Any slower moving storms would be likely to bring heavy rainfall amounts over 2 inches in a short period. ERVIN .LONG TERM...(Wednesday Night through Tuesday) ISSUED AT 235 PM CDT Tue May 26 2020 The stretch of warm, unsettled weather will come to an Thursday night as the upper trough and associated surface boundary advance eastward. The NW flow that follows over the weekend will bring a sharp change to dry weather and below normal temperatures, before much warmer temperatures and chances for showers and thunderstorms return next week. Wednesday night through Thursday: Environment will be favorable for scattered showers and thunderstorms, becoming more focused as the surface trough pushes through late Thursday. The main threat will be heavy rainfall and an increasing risk for flash flooding due to the cumulative effect of consecutive days of at least localized heavy rainfall. There will also be at least a low risk for damaging winds from stronger storms. With the likelihood for more widespread clouds, Thursday's highs will be limited to the 70s. A northwest flow and surface high that follows will return highs to the 70s over the weekend with overall dry weather. Rising heights and advancing upper ridge will then bring a warming trend going into next week. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Wednesday Afternoon) ISSUED AT 1234 PM CDT Tue May 26 2020 Another day of breezy south winds, and scattered to isolated storms with gusty winds will impact our area through evening. Overnight, storms cannot be ruled out, but coverage should decrease to one or two per hours in the entire area. Thus, our forecast of tempo thunder is restricted to BRL through CID/DBQ where afternoon and early evening storms will more likely impact. MLI could get one, but coverage may miss them to the west. IFR conditions with a strong gust of wind are likely in any storm. This conditions will be very brief due to the fast movement of small storms. && .DVN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IA...NONE. IL...NONE. MO...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...Ervin SHORT TERM...Ervin LONG TERM...Sheets AVIATION...Ervin
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL 815 AM CDT Tue May 26 2020 IAZ040>042-051>054-063>068-076>078-087>089-098-099-ILZ001-002-007- 009-015>018-024>026-034-035-MOZ009-010-271315- 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- 815 AM CDT Tue May 26 2020 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 Scattered thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening. A few storms could produce damaging winds, and isolated tornadoes. All storms will also be capable of producing heavy rainfall, which could lead to localized flash flooding. The Rock River is experiencing flooding. Please see the latest Flood Statements and Flood Warnings for details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY Rounds of showers and scattered thunderstorms are expected Wednesday through Thursday ahead of a slow moving front. The primary threat will be heavy rain, which could cause localized flooding. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters may be needed this afternoon and evening.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
323 PM CDT TUE MAY 26 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0316 PM HAIL 2 NNE CEDAR RAPIDS 42.00N 91.66W
05/26/2020 E0.25 INCH LINN IA TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
PSSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA/IL
406 PM CDT Tue May 26 2020
IAC105-262130-
Jones-
406 PM CDT Tue May 26 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WESTERN JONES COUNTY UNTIL 430
PM CDT...
At 406 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Amber, or near
Anamosa, moving northwest at 35 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Anamosa, Monticello, Langworthy, Central Park, Jones County
Fairgrounds and Monticello Municipal Airport.
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
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.
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They can relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in the Quad Cities.
LAT...LON 4203 9114 4202 9119 4202 9121 4219 9136
4229 9136 4230 9126 4229 9112
TIME...MOT...LOC 2106Z 156DEG 31KT 4209 9122
GibbsSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Quad Cities IA/IL 441 PM CDT Tue May 26 2020 IAC055-061-105-262215- Dubuque-Jones-Delaware- 441 PM CDT Tue May 26 2020 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN DUBUQUE...NORTH CENTRAL JONES AND EASTERN DELAWARE COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM CDT... At 441 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Monticello, or 13 miles northeast of Anamosa, moving north at 35 mph. Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and pea size hail are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Dyersville, Monticello, Earlville, Hopkinton, Delhi, Worthington, Delaware, Oneida, Jones County Fairgrounds, Pictured Rocks Wildlife Area, New Wine Park, Camp Courageous, Petersburg, Turtle Creek Park and Monticello Municipal Airport. If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. 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. 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 4220 9103 4220 9124 4256 9146 4257 9113 TIME...MOT...LOC 2141Z 160DEG 32KT 4229 9117 Gibbs
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Quad Cities IA/IL 454 PM CDT Tue May 26 2020 IAC113-262230- Linn- 454 PM CDT Tue May 26 2020 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL LINN COUNTY UNTIL 530 PM CDT... At 454 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Bertram, or near Cedar Rapids, moving north at 40 mph. Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Cedar Rapids, Marion, Hiawatha, Mount Vernon, Robins, Center Point, Lisbon, Ely, Central City, Springville, Alburnett, Shueyville, Bertram, Whittier, Toddville, Waubeek, Squaw Creek Park, Linn County Fairgrounds, Pinicon Ridge Park and Marion Airport. This includes Interstate 380 between mile markers 14 and 38. If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. 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. 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 4222 9147 4186 9139 4186 9166 4219 9183 TIME...MOT...LOC 2154Z 162DEG 36KT 4193 9156 Gibbs
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
455 PM CDT TUE MAY 26 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0445 PM TSTM WND DMG SOLON 41.80N 91.49W
05/26/2020 JOHNSON IA TRAINED SPOTTER
SPOTTER ESTIMATED 50-60 MPH WINDS WHICH BLEW
OVER A FLAG POLE CEMENTED IN THE GROUND.
&&
PSSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA/IL
523 PM CDT Tue May 26 2020
ILC011-073-195-262300-
Whiteside-Henry-Bureau-
523 PM CDT Tue May 26 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EASTERN WHITESIDE...NORTHEASTERN
HENRY AND NORTHWESTERN BUREAU COUNTIES UNTIL 600 PM CDT...
At 523 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Deer Grove, or
12 miles south of Rock Falls, moving north at 35 mph.
Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph are possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Sterling, Rock Falls, Morrison, Prophetstown, Walnut, Tampico,
Lyndon, Deer Grove, Emerson, Yorktown, Round Grove, New Bedford,
Thomas, Yeoward Addition, Whiteside County Airport, Galt,
Prophetstown State Recreation Area, Hamilton Corners, Como and
Whiteside County Fairgrounds.
This includes Interstate 88 between mile markers 25 and 44.
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
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.
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 4146 8983 4179 9003 4188 8968 4174 8963
4159 8963 4158 8958 4151 8955
TIME...MOT...LOC 2223Z 163DEG 32KT 4159 8973
GibbsThe Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 67 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:40 UTC.
8 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees were uprooted and large limbs snapped off. Nearby power poles snapped off near the base.
Several reports of tree damage and power pole damage received from the Sterling Rock Falls area. There are numerous power outages on the north side of the city of Sterling.
A large tree was topped off by high winds.
Law enforcement reported a power pole blown down.
A power pole was blown down.
A tree was blown down.
Power poles blown down near Orangeville.
Outbuilding roof partially ripped off. Pictures via social media.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Illinois in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, May 2020
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: 892920, 892921, 892922, 892923, 892924, 892925, 892926, 892927.