Late October precipitation eased drought conditions across northwest Iowa.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 FSD wrote it up.
Late October precipitation eased drought conditions across northwest Iowa.
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 Sioux Falls, SD wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Oct 31, 9:29 PM CST, 2 hours 31 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 1029 PM CDT Sun Oct 31 2021 .SHORT TERM...(This Evening through Monday) Issued at 241 PM CDT Sun Oct 31 2021 Cool temperatures in place across the region this afternoon as we close out October and move toward November. Afternoon cumulus and breezy northwesterly winds will both begin to subside as we approach the sunset hours. Those planning on completing their trick-or-treat activities through the late afternoon/early evening hours should see temperatures in the 40s with a less pleasant wind chill value in the 30s. By mid evening, temperatures continue to slide into the 30s with wind chill values working toward the upper 20s. Winds become light later tonight which should set up favorable radiational cooling conditions near/north of I-90 where cloud cover will be less of a factor. Meanwhile, to the south across Nebraska, strengthening midlevel frontogenesis and favorable positioning of an upper level jet streak will continue to result in an expanding area of snow across the NE Panhandle into the evening and overnight hours. Better forcing remains to our south but wouldn't be surprise if we sneak a flurry or sprinkle into the MO River Valley into Monday morning. This same area south of I-90 will also favor increased mid/upper level clouds as well. By Monday afternoon, may also see an increase in cumulus across SW MN as a vort lobe rotates through the base of the mid/upper level trough with soundings exhibiting occasional small hints at weak instability. Temperatures likely end up similar to today's values, or mainly 40s. .LONG TERM...(Monday Night through Sunday) Issued at 241 PM CDT Sun Oct 31 2021 Below normal temperatures continue through mid week as we sit on the backside of upper level troughing with ridging building to our west. Ensemble probabilities would suggest some low end chances of light precipitation Thursday morning but at this point looks like far better chances we stay dry. Depending on eventual cloud cover, could see some very chilly overnight periods through midweek as surface high pressure meanders across the broader region. Brief period of ridging appears possible for the second half of the week which may push afternoon temperatures closer to seasonal normals in the upper 40s to lower 50s. Fairly sizable divergence in the guidance by next weekend however as the GFS is most aggressive in developing a cutoff low across the north central US. Could be a period for added precipitation chances, but again, far too much uncertainty at this point. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Monday night) Issued at 1029 PM CDT Sun Oct 31 2021 VFR conditions expected through the TAF period. Winds will be light. && .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...NONE. MN...NONE. IA...NONE. NE...NONE. && SHORT TERM...Kalin LONG TERM...Kalin AVIATION...JM
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 608 PM CDT Sun Oct 31 2021 IAZ001>003-012>014-020>022-031-032-MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097- 098-NEZ013-014-SDZ038>040-050-052>071-012315- Lyon-Osceola-Dickinson-Sioux-O'Brien-Clay-Plymouth-Cherokee- Buena Vista-Woodbury-Ida-Lincoln-Murray-Cottonwood-Nobles-Jackson- Pipestone-Rock-Dixon-Dakota-Beadle-Kingsbury-Brookings-Gregory- Jerauld-Sanborn-Miner-Lake-Moody-Brule-Aurora-Davison-Hanson-McCook- Minnehaha-Charles Mix-Douglas-Hutchinson-Turner-Bon Homme-Yankton- Union- 608 PM CDT Sun Oct 31 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Iowa, west central Iowa, southwest Minnesota, northeast Nebraska, central South Dakota, east central South Dakota, south central South Dakota and southeast South Dakota. .DAY ONE...Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
One to two inches of rainfall at Storm Lake and Sioux Rapids at the end of October resulted in easing of the drought from severe (D2) to moderate (D1) conditions at the start of November.
One to two inches of rainfall at Cherokee at the end of October resulted in easing of the drought from severe (D2) to moderate (D1) conditions at the start of November. Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.
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, November 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: 989705, 989706.