Thunderstorms moved across northeast Iowa during the early morning of April 6th. A lightning strike from one of these storms started a house fire outside of Charles City (Floyd County).
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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 ARX wrote it up.
Thunderstorms moved across northeast Iowa during the early morning of April 6th. A lightning strike from one of these storms started a house fire outside of Charles City (Floyd County). The damage to the home was contained to the attic and roof. No injuries occurred.
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 Apr 6, 2:22 AM CST, 25 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service La Crosse WI 322 AM CDT Tue Apr 6 2021 .SHORT TERM...(Today through Wednesday) Issued at 322 AM CDT Tue Apr 6 2021 Early this morning, clusters of showers and storms were moving east across the region, with the strongest storms near and north of I-94 producing gusty winds/likely small hail. However, some of the showers across NE IA/SE MN have produced 40 to 50 mph wind gusts due to downward transfer of stronger winds just off the surface. These showers/storms will continue to trek east early today, likely gradually diminishing. The main forecast concerns today through Wednesday will be with rain chances and temps. A surface boundary was draped from southern MN through northwest WI early today. With guidance suggesting little southward push of the boundary through the day, another very warm day is likely with highs likely at least well into the 70s for much of the region, pending cloud cover. As for precip, the overall trend is drier relative to the previous forecast into tonight. Isentropic ascent and low-level moisture advection will continue through the day with some hints of a weak lead shortwave trough getting kicked out across the Upper MS Valley this afternoon ahead of the main upper low out over the Rockies. With limited capping, this could help increase shower/storm potential later in the day into tonight, especially near and north of I-90, closer to the front, with this precip lifting north overnight. However, will have to monitor trends through the day with global models/CAMS somewhat at odds with how widespread convection will be this afternoon/evening, especially across SE MN through NC WI. Did trend drier relative to the previous forecast into tonight, but do expect increasing shower/storm chances on Wednesday. Depending on cloud cover and boundary placement, highs could reach the 70s again on Wednesday, especially areas farther east. The overall severe weather threat through Wednesday still looks low at this time with SBCAPE up to around 1000 J/kg possible, but limited deep layer shear. .LONG TERM...(Wednesday night through Monday) Issued at 322 AM CDT Tue Apr 6 2021 Main forecast concerns in the long term are on rainfall amounts, thunderstorms chances, and the impact cloud cover and periods of rainfall could have on high temperatures. Stacked low moves into the Upper Mississippi River Valley Wednesday night bringing continued rounds of showers to the area and possibly a few thunderstorms. The low will meander northeast into the Great Lakes through Friday with continued showers across the area. The big question will be how warm can temperatures get with the showers and cloud cover around the area. Ahead of the the low, warmer air will continue to be drawn into the region so we should see highs in the upper 50s to lower 60s on Thursday. After that, the low slides right over the area later in the day on Thursday, so highs could be reached earlier in the day. Lows could be a few degrees warmer than currently forecast for Wednesday night too. The low finally lifts off to the northeast late Friday, but a second trough dumbbells around the low from the west bringing cooler air and additional showers to the area. Highs on Saturday will mainly be in the lower 50s. Ridging builds over the area on Sunday ahead of another trough moving toward the region out of the Northern Plains. Expect highs on Sunday to edge into the lower 60s across much of the area. Another low then deepens over the the Upper Mississippi River Valley and western Great Lakes early next week brining even cooler air into the region along with additional showers. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Tuesday night) Issued at 1059 PM CDT Mon Apr 5 2021 The main concern for the overnight hours is whether any of the ongoing convection across Minnesota is going to move across either site. This activity has developed ahead of a cold front as a short wave trough moves across far southern Canada. The latest hi-res meso-scale guidance is split on what the activity will do. The HRRR runs have been lifting the activity to the northeast in conjunction with the more sustained forcing from the short wave trough. However, the 06.00Z NAMnest and NSSL WRF suggest the possiblity of the activity developing a cold pool and moving more east/southeast withing the CAPE axis that the RAP shows nosing into the area overnight. While not specifically adding a mention of any showers or storms overnight, did adjust the forecast grids to at least acknowledge this possibility and some mention may need to be added starting around 08Z or so. Otherwise, not a lot of activity is expected until Tuesday afternoon tied to a short wave trough approaching from the southwest. Most of the meso-scale models suggest the next round may develop to the north of both sites but based on forecast pops, was obligated to at least include a vicinity in the late afternoon and evening hours. && .ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...None. MN...None. IA...None. && SHORT TERM...JM LONG TERM...Wetenkamp AVIATION...04
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service La Crosse WI 152 PM CDT Mon Apr 5 2021 IAZ008>011-018-019-029-030-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-WIZ017-029- 032>034-041>044-053>055-061-061900- Mitchell-Howard-Winneshiek-Allamakee-Floyd-Chickasaw-Fayette- Clayton-Wabasha-Dodge-Olmsted-Winona-Mower-Fillmore-Houston- Taylor-Clark-Buffalo-Trempealeau-Jackson-La Crosse-Monroe-Juneau- Adams-Vernon-Crawford-Richland-Grant- 152 PM CDT Mon Apr 5 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southeast Minnesota...northeast Iowa and southwest into central Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...Tonight Scattered storms possible tonight, mostly north of Interstate 94. A few storms could be strong with gusty winds and small hail. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday Thunderstorms chances for Tuesday and Wednesday. A few strong storms possible later Wednesday with mainly a wind threat. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... No action needed. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... No webinar is scheduled. Rieck
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
949 PM CDT MON APR 5 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0500 PM HEAVY RAIN EASTMAN 43.17N 91.02W
04/05/2021 M0.11 INCH CRAWFORD WI PUBLIC
&&
JSBSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
212 AM CDT Tue Apr 6 2021
IAZ008-009-018-019-MNZ079-086-087-094-095-060815-
Floyd-Chickasaw-Howard-Mitchell-Wabasha-Olmsted-Dodge-Fillmore-Mower-
212 AM CDT Tue Apr 6 2021
...Showers And Thunderstorms With Strong Winds...
At 210 AM CDT, radar indicated showers and thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from near Owatonna to near Manly. Movement
was east at 30 mph.
Wind gusts to 35 to 45 mph are possible with these showers and
storms.
Locations impacted include...
Rochester, Austin, Osage, Dodge Center, Mantorville, Kasson,
Stewartville, Byron, Spring Valley, Hayfield, Oronoco, Grand Meadow,
St. Ansgar, Le Roy, Adams, Riceville, West Concord, Brownsdale, Lyle
and Claremont.
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
LAT...LON 4420 9304 4419 9255 4423 9255 4424 9229
4309 9237 4316 9302 4350 9303 4350 9305
4356 9305
TIME...MOT...LOC 0710Z 272DEG 28KT 4409 9315 4334 9319
WetenkampSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
220 AM CDT Tue Apr 6 2021
WIZ017-029-034-060815-
Jackson-Taylor-Clark-
220 AM CDT Tue Apr 6 2021
...Thunderstorms With Gusty Winds and Small Hail This Morning...
At 217 AM CDT, radar indicated the leading edge of thunderstorms was
located along a line extending from 9 miles north of Owen to 7 miles
southwest of Greenwood to 6 miles south of Black River Falls.
Movement was east at 35 mph.
Wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph and pea size hail are possible with these
storms.
These storms will be near...
Greenwood around 225 AM CDT.
Loyal around 235 AM CDT.
Other locations impacted by these storms include Highway 73 And 98,
The Black River Correctional Center, Atwood, Tioga, I 94 Exit 98,
Potters Flowage, Perry Creek Recreation Area, Lynn, North Branch and
Eidsvold.
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
LAT...LON 4503 9020 4503 9031 4425 9032 4424 9114
4459 9117 4460 9092 4511 9092 4512 9020
TIME...MOT...LOC 0717Z 273DEG 29KT 4509 9054 4468 9069 4420 9090
WetenkampPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
259 AM CDT TUE APR 6 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0235 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 E AUSTIN 43.67N 92.93W
04/06/2021 M46 MPH MOWER MN AWOS
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
322 AM CDT TUE APR 6 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0255 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 SE DODGE CENTER 44.02N 92.83W
04/06/2021 M46 MPH DODGE MN AWOS
&&The La Crosse radar (KARX), 146 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 08:46 UTC.
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
A house fire outside of Charles City was started by a lightning strike as thunderstorms moved across northeast Iowa during the morning of April 6th. The damage from the fire was limited to the attic and roof of the home and no injuries occurred.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Iowa in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, April 2021
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: 955059.