Early to mid April in Iowa was marked by exceptionally dry, warm, and breezy conditions. This resulted in several days of Red Flag Warning issuances across the area when relative humidity dropped under 25 percent, winds gusted over 30 mph, and much above average temperatures climbed into the low 80s.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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.
Early to mid April in Iowa was marked by exceptionally dry, warm, and breezy conditions. This resulted in several days of Red Flag Warning issuances across the area when relative humidity dropped under 25 percent, winds gusted over 30 mph, and much above average temperatures climbed into the low 80s. This resulted in a number of fires that became uncontrolled through the first half of the month. On April 13th, one fire resulted in an individual becoming severely burned.
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 Apr 13, 5:34 AM CST, 3 hours 26 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Des Moines IA 634 AM CDT Thu Apr 13 2023 ...Updated for the 12z Aviation Discussion... .DISCUSSION.../Today through Wednesday/ Issued at 236 AM CDT Thu Apr 13 2023 Key Messages: - Red Flag Warning today for critical fire weather conditions - Thunderstorms return to the forecast late Friday into Saturday followed by cooler temperatures Discussion: With little change to the pattern across the central US, Iowa will see another day of critical fire weather conditions. While winds have relaxed overnight with a thermal inversion, expect deep mixing to ensue quickly as diurnal heating ramps up through the morning. Based on model soundings, gusts of 25-35+ mph will last through the afternoon with relative humidity dropping near to under 25%, especially across northern Iowa. Temperatures are also expected to once again soar into the 80s areawide, warmest to the north and west deep mixing is maximized under the ridge. The trough approaching by Friday continues to slow, which may allow for another short window for fire concerns on Friday as warm and breezy conditions continue, though with increasing moisture some of this will be mitigated. Burning should still be avoided, and headlines will be reconsidered in future updates as new data is available. By Friday evening the trough will begin to dig across Iowa with the surface low centered south of the area. Modest CAPE into Iowa should be sufficient for a few stronger thunderstorms which may produce hail. Showers and thunderstorms will continue through Saturday as the front slowly passes across the state, with continued low end severe potential. Precipitation will linger overnight into early Sunday morning as temperatures continue to drop into the 30s. This brings snow, yes snow, chances back to part of northern Iowa. Model soundings are marginal on ice introduction so confidence is low at this time but expect some rain snow mix is possible. Of note, a few models (namely the GFS) are flagging a pocket of higher accumulations across northern Iowa. For now this looks to be an outlier, but will be worth watching for in future model runs. With day day of highs in the 40s and 50s Sunday, temperatures gradually warm into next week. Next chance for precipitation does not arrive until mid week. && .AVIATION.../For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Friday morning/ Issued at 633 AM CDT Thu Apr 13 2023 VFR conditions will persist through the TAF period. Winds will increase after sunrise, gusting over 20kts across all sites. Strongest gusts are forecast central and west at sites KFOD/KDSM/KMCW where gusts over 30kts are possible. Surface winds will diminish this evening with low level wind shear once again expected to develop. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Red Flag Warning from noon today to 8 PM CDT this evening for IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>050-057>062-070>075- 081>086-092>097. && DISCUSSION...Hagenhoff AVIATION...Hagenhoff
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Des Moines IA 318 AM CDT Thu Apr 13 2023 IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>050-057>062-070>075- 081>086-092>097-141100- 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-Tama-Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Polk-Jasper- Poweshiek-Cass-Adair-Madison-Warren-Marion-Mahaska-Adams-Union- Clarke-Lucas-Monroe-Wapello-Taylor-Ringgold-Decatur-Wayne- Appanoose-Davis- 318 AM CDT Thu Apr 13 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for all of central Iowa. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the area again this afternoon and early evening. Refer to the National Weather Service Web site at weather.gov/desmoines for more details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Showers and thunderstorms return to the forecast late Friday through Saturday evening. A few may produce small hail and gusty wind. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. Small
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
One person conducting a controlled burn was severely injured when the fire became uncontrolled. The fire quickly spread and engulfed the individual who was using a tractor to stop further spread of the fire.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Iowa in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, April 2023
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: 1089892.