Iowa was placed within the warm sector of a strong surface low pressure system, and the tight pressure gradient and deep mixing allowed for gusty south winds. A handful of station even gusted over 50 kts with some damage reported.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 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 DMX wrote it up.
Iowa was placed within the warm sector of a strong surface low pressure system, and the tight pressure gradient and deep mixing allowed for gusty south winds. A handful of station even gusted over 50 kts with some damage reported. Meanwhile, a dryline initiated convection across parts of northern Iowa in the late afternoon and evening. These storm primarily produced strong winds, though quarter sized hail was reported by one observer. Later that night, the cold front brought through another round of non-severe thunderstorms.
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 Des Moines, IA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 30, 1:33 PM CST, 25 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Des Moines IA 233 PM CDT Mon May 30 2022 .DISCUSSION.../Tonight through Monday/ Issued at 228 PM CDT Mon May 30 2022 Take Home Points: *Strong/gusty south winds today *Strong to severe storms possible later today/tonight *Storms linger SE Tuesday *Cooler and quieter beyond tonight/Tuesday Discussion: Today/Tonight... Lots of goodies one can pick up on satellite ahead of the strong to severe weather potential later today/tonight. As of early this afternoon you can clearly pick up on the potent shortwave rounding the base of the negatively tilted trough that is responsible for aiding a deepening surface low, a strong dry slot/dry air intrusion moving northward through portions of C/E Nebraska and E South Dakota, and the explosive convection along its leading edge. Additionally on visible satellite imagery, a sharp surface dry line is seen sliding into E Nebraska and drops back into C Kansas. Ahead of the surface dry line, satellite imagery corroborates hi-res guidance depictions of an area of potent low- mid level moisture transport with mid-level cellular cloud cover. Many of the aforementioned goodies will affect portions of Iowa tonight as the parent trough continues to translate northeastward, leading to the potential for strong to severe storms as well as a potential sting jet. Before touching the storms, strong winds will continue within the warm sector due to a tightcentral surface pressure gradient and deep mixing tapping into 40 to 50 kt mid-level winds. No changes were made to the Wind Advisory with a number of sites realizing advisory level sustained winds and gusts. A possible sting jet setup looks to be forming, via satellite and guidance, and may affect portions of NW Iowa, SE South Dakota, and SW Minnesota later this evening. Hi- res guidance has suggested pockets of 60 to 70 mph, but confidence is limited enough into this CWA that no additional products or changes have been hoisted. Compounding the sting jet potential will be ongoing or preceding convection. Regardless, should continue to be watched in addition to storms. Now to the storms... The greatest potential for severe weather will remain to the northwest of the state into portions of eastern South Dakota into southwest and central Minnesota, more concurrent with the surface low track. Back into Iowa, while there is broad ascent in the low to mid-levels, a 700mb capping inversion will remain in place through much of the afternoon. As the better low-mid level moisture transport and bit cooler 700 mb temps advect in, the cap will slowly erode ahead of the dry line, which remains expected to convect in/around 00z. Hi-res guidance has been fairly consistent in two likely areas of initial dry line related convection, one near/north of the IA-MN border by Emmet County closer to the nose of the dry slot, and another near/south of the IA-MO border by Taylor County where better convergence is expected along the dry line. These storms will be our best shot at isolated/supercellular convection. Atmospheric profiles will be fair with expected MLCAPE 2000-2500 J/kg, lapse rates increasing to around 7.5 deg C/km in the mid- levels and cyclonically curved hodographs in the lowest 1-2 km. Deeper hodograph profiles do not appear as supportive, but with the sheer amount of expected effective shear, 50 to 60+ kts, it may not matter. Effective inflow layers suggest inflow may not have a large streamwise component, but any that begin to take on a right mover motion will see that increase and have increased potential for longevity. Working against it though is the stronger 700mb cap as you move eastward off the dry line. All modes of severe weather would be possible with these storms, most likely around the 00z to 05z window before it is largely overrun by the cold front and/or moves into a more unfavorable eastward environment. Phew, enough about part/round one. As we work past 00z, the surface cold front will begin to work into western Iowa, about 2-3 counties west of the dry line. Hi-res model trends through the morning and early afternoon have been for more increasing convection along the line, generally around the 02-03z time frame. The area of initial convection will carry much of the same pros/cons as mentioned above, though convection is expected to fairly quickly take on a linear/QLCS formation. Initial storms will carry the greatest potential for severe modes, with large hail and damaging winds the most likely here. Tornado threat will be more limited, especially as convection becomes linear, with deep layer shear largely parallel, but cannot be fully ruled out. Hail threat will be greatest with initial storms as well, though periodic severe hail may continue through the evening with strong LLJ and moisture advection fueling storms. Tuesday... Cold front will lose steam overnight, eventually hanging up somewhere over the SE third of the state. That will allow storms to continue over the area into and potentially through much of Tuesday before high pressure influence shoves the front out. Strong to severe potential for the SE/SC CWA is difficult to quantify at the moment, but current guidance suggests that it is unlikely. The strong to severe threat Tuesday will most likely be pushed east/south of the CWA where there will be enough clearing to charge up the atmosphere. A hydro threat may be possible should multiple rounds of storms be experienced. That said, antecedent conditions are on the dry side, river flows are low, and it would take quite a bit of rainfall for a true hydro threat to be realized. Beyond Tuesday... Conditions become quieter and cooler through much of the rest of the forecast as large scale flow takes on more zonal to northwest to zonal flow orientations. The next widespread shower/storm potential does not look to move through until next weekend, though central and southern areas may see some lighter rain Wed/Wed night. In the meantime, highs largely fall back into the 70s. && .AVIATION.../For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Tuesday afternoon/ Issued at 1231 PM CDT Mon May 30 2022 The main concerns within the TAF window continue to revolve strong southerly winds and storm development. Southerly winds have continued to pick up steam through the morning with a strong pressure gradient in place and mixing depth increasing. Expect sustained winds, 25 to 30+ mph and gusts in excess of 40 mph. Strongest winds are likely to be over portions of northwest Iowa, where pockets of gusts could push in excess of 50 mph later today with a possible sting jet development. Storms then are expected to initiate around/after 00z and continue through the overnight hours. Most likely areas to be affected are KDSM/KALO/KOTM and a bit less certainty for KFOD/KMCW. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for IAZ004>007-015>017- 023>028-033>039-044>049-057>060-070>073-081>083-092-093. && DISCUSSION...Curtis AVIATION...Curtis
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Des Moines IA 323 AM CDT Mon May 30 2022 IAZ050-061-062-074-075-084>086-094>097-310830- Tama-Jasper-Poweshiek-Marion-Mahaska-Lucas-Monroe-Wapello-Decatur- Wayne-Appanoose-Davis- 323 AM CDT Mon May 30 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Iowa. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight Scattered thunderstorms are expected tonight. A severe storm is possible. Gusty winds will occur today with gusts over 40 mph possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday There is a slight risk for severe storms on Tuesday. Thunderstorms are also in the forecast for Wednesday and Wednesday night and again by next weekend. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is possible on Tuesday. IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>049-057>060-070>073- 081>083-092-093-310830- Emmet-Kossuth-Winnebago-Worth-Palo Alto-Hancock-Cerro Gordo- Pocahontas-Humboldt-Wright-Franklin-Butler-Bremer-Sac-Calhoun- Webster-Hamilton-Hardin-Grundy-Black Hawk-Crawford-Carroll-Greene- Boone-Story-Marshall-Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Polk-Cass-Adair- Madison-Warren-Adams-Union-Clarke-Taylor-Ringgold- 323 AM CDT Mon May 30 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Iowa. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight A few thunderstorms are possible this morning though the severe weather threat is low. More widespread storms are expected to develop late this afternoon and into the overnight. Severe storms with large hail, damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes are possible. A Wind Advisory is in effect for the area today. Please refer to the National Weather Service website at weather.gov/desmoines for further details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday There is a slight risk for severe storms on Tuesday over southeast Iowa. Thunderstorms are also in the forecast for Wednesday and Wednesday night over southern Iowa and again for much of the area by next weekend. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is possible later today and tonight.
The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 143 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:56 UTC.
6 high wind, 5 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Personal weather station recorded a 64 mph non-thunderstorm wind gust.
AWOS recorded a 59 mph non-thunderstorm wind gust.
AWOS recorded a 45 mph non-thunderstorm sustained wind.
Cattle barns a complete loss. Delayed report, time estimated from radar.
ASOS recorded a 60 mph non-thunderstorm wind gust.
AWOS recorded a 58 mph non-thunderstorm wind gust.
Public report of quarter sized hail.
Large tree blown over on a power line.
Widespread tree damage in town with a few shingles blown off roofs. Delayed report, time estimated by radar.
Tree branch down over the roadway. Delayed report, time estimated by radar.
Personal weather station measured a 59 mph wind gust.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Iowa in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, May 2022
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: 1025416, 1025417, 1025418, 1025410, 1025419, 1025420, 1025411, 1025421, 1025412, 1025413, 1025414, 1025415.