Low pressure over Wyoming moved east through the morning and deepened rapidly, creating quickly intensifying southeasterly winds in the afternoon across the area. Winds gusted over 40 mph across the area and were strongest in the west with gusts over 50 mph.
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 DMX wrote it up.
Low pressure over Wyoming moved east through the morning and deepened rapidly, creating quickly intensifying southeasterly winds in the afternoon across the area. Winds gusted over 40 mph across the area and were strongest in the west with gusts over 50 mph. A few locations in western Iowa reported damage associated with the winds. The wind was also accompanied by very dry air so a Red Flag Warning was in effect at the time.
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 6, 2:12 AM CST, 31 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Des Moines IA 312 AM CDT Sat Apr 6 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - High Fire Danger Today West and Windy - Red Flag Warning - Band of showers/storms tonight - high PoP 70% of quick hit showers - Mild much of next week with only a small chance for showers (20%) Wednesday into Thursday and this may be removed with time. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 312 AM CDT Sat Apr 6 2024 .Short Term /Today through Sunday/... Confidence Short Term: High Low pressure over Wyoming this morning will move east and rapidly deepen today as it moves to western Nebraska by 00z Sunday. This will quickly intensify southeasterly winds this afternoon over much of the area with an emphasis on western to northwest areas. With warming temperatures and little moisture return, mixing will help lower dew points enough to create a high fire danger. After working through the new data, have updated the Fire Weather Watch to an RFW and expanded south a couple of counties. Highs today will not be exceptionally warm, but the combination of factors will keep the fire danger high into the evening hours. Tonight a lobe of vorticity and warm air advection, with limited moisture, will swing east across the region and result in a line of showers and broken convection. Looking at a subjective H850 analysis tonight, there is a lack of moisture return from the Gulf. Models continue to advertise some light rainfall amounts and in the heavier showers a couple of tenths of moisture will be possible. As the band shifts east and north, much of the rainfall will end over central to western areas by 12z Sunday while the north sees some additional showers tomorrow. Eventually the filling upper level low and occluding sfc low will drift into southern MN and keep a few showers over northern Iowa into Sunday night. Highs today will reach the upper 50s east to the lower to mid 60s west. Tonight mins will remain in the upper 30s northeast to the mid 40s west/southwest. Tomorrow will be cooler in the north where highs will be held in the lower 50s while south in the warm sector, highs will be in the lower to mid 60s south of US30 and especially milder south of I80. .Long Term /Sunday Night through Friday/... Confidence: Medium to High With the surface low still bringing some showers over northern Iowa Sunday night into early Monday, clouds will remain over much of the area with milder mid 60s in the south and mid 50s over the north. The low finally lifts far enough north by Monday evening to end the chances for showers in our area. Cloud cover Monday will vary over the area with more clouds north of I80 versus south of I80 in the afternoon. None the less, the eclipse will still be noted most areas as less light penetrates the cloud decks present. Another weak wave will track southeast on Tuesday and keep our area in weak northwest flow for most of the day. With cooler H850 temperatures on Tuesday highs will most likely be a shade cooler than our forecasts suggest. Will make any needed adjustments tomorrow. For much of midweek to the end of the period, we should remain rain free. A deepening upper level low over the lower Mississippi River Valley will lift nearly due northeast and track across Ohio by late Thursday into Friday. Though the GEFs mean and GFS operational have some precipitation into our area Wednesday and Wednesday evening, the Euro deterministic remains dry. The GEFs members show little support for any rain this far west with only 2 of 20 members backing the system into Iowa. We may need to trim PoP and rainfall chances back for later in the week as the NBM seems to be overforecasting PoPs at this time. Highs are on track with H850 temps in the lower to middle single digits, supporting highs in the 50s and 60s for this time of year. For warm weather enthusiasts, we rocket up to 7 to 9C by Friday afternoon and eventually hit the teens at H850 for the weekend. This will likely propel highs from the mid to upper 60s Friday to well into the 70s/80 by the weekend. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/... Issued at 1130 PM CDT Fri Apr 5 2024 VFR conditions will prevail through the TAF period. Strong and gusty southeast winds will develop on Saturday and persist through Saturday night, resulting in frequent 20 KT crosswinds mainly on SW-NE runways. Scattered showers will also move into the area late in the TAF period, reaching FOD/DSM by roughly 03Z Saturday evening and the other terminals near or after 06Z. However, any impacts are expected to be minimal, with perhaps briefly reduced visibility, and have included only VCSH mention at FOD/DSM for now. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 310 AM CDT Sat Apr 6 2024 Critical fire weather conditions are expected across the northwest and west today due to a combination of strengthening southeast winds and modestly low RH values. Confidence remains high in strong winds developing today as pressure gradient tightens quickly with deepening low in the high Plains of Nebraska. Soundings have continued to indicate the potential for gusts in excess of 40 mph during the afternoon into early evening when mixing is maximized. RH values are generally above the 25% cutoff, however they still drop into the upper 20s to lower 30s over a good portion of the northwest and portions of our western forecast area. While grasses have started greening, much of the fuel material remains relatively cured, particularly in the north and northwest where the RH values are lowest. In the southwest, a few areas of both Audubon and Cass Counties also are above criteria and have added them as well. The potential for extreme fire behavior will be maximized on this afternoon into the early evening, when temperatures will drop and winds will relax into the evening hours. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Red Flag Warning from 1 PM this afternoon to 7 PM CDT this evening for IAZ004-005-015-023-024-033-034-044-045-057-070. Wind Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 1 AM CDT Sunday for IAZ004-005-015-023-024-033>035-044>046-057-058-070-071-081-092. && DISCUSSION...REV AVIATION...Lee FIRE WEATHER...REV
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Des Moines IA 309 PM CDT Fri Apr 5 2024 IAZ006-007-016-017-025>028-036>039-047>050-059>062-072>075- 082>086-093>097-062015- Winnebago-Worth-Hancock-Cerro Gordo-Wright-Franklin-Butler-Bremer- Hamilton-Hardin-Grundy-Black Hawk-Boone-Story-Marshall-Tama- Dallas-Polk-Jasper-Poweshiek-Madison-Warren-Marion-Mahaska-Union- Clarke-Lucas-Monroe-Wapello-Ringgold-Decatur-Wayne-Appanoose- Davis- 309 PM CDT Fri Apr 5 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Iowa. .DAY ONE...Tonight No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Gusty winds are expected on Saturday. The gusty winds combined with low humidities will result in elevated fire weather conditions Saturday afternoon through much of central Iowa. Chances for thunderstorms return to the forecast Saturday night into Sunday. The severe weather potential appears low at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters will not be needed through Saturday. IAZ035-046-057-058-070-071-081-092-062015- Webster-Greene-Audubon-Guthrie-Cass-Adair-Adams-Taylor- 309 PM CDT Fri Apr 5 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Iowa. .DAY ONE...Tonight No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday A Wind Advisory is in effect for the area Saturday. Please refer to the National Weather Service website at weather.gov/desmoines for additional details. The strong winds combined with low humidities will result in elevated fire weather conditions Saturday afternoon. Chances for thunderstorms return to the forecast Saturday night into Sunday. The severe weather potential appears low at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters will not be needed through Saturday. IAZ004-005-015-023-024-033-034-044-045-062015- Emmet-Kossuth-Palo Alto-Pocahontas-Humboldt-Sac-Calhoun-Crawford- Carroll- 309 PM CDT Fri Apr 5 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Iowa. .DAY ONE...Tonight No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday A Wind Advisory and Fire Weather Watch is in effect for the area Saturday. Please refer to the National Weather Service website at weather.gov/desmoines for additional details. Chances for thunderstorms return to the forecast Saturday night into Sunday. The severe weather potential appears low at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters will not be needed through Saturday.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Des Moines IA 332 AM CDT Sat Apr 6 2024 IAZ006-007-016-017-025>028-035>039-046>050-058>062-071>075- 081>084-092>095-070000- Winnebago-Worth-Hancock-Cerro Gordo-Wright-Franklin-Butler-Bremer- Webster-Hamilton-Hardin-Grundy-Black Hawk-Greene-Boone-Story- Marshall-Tama-Guthrie-Dallas-Polk-Jasper-Poweshiek-Adair-Madison- Warren-Marion-Mahaska-Adams-Union-Clarke-Lucas-Taylor-Ringgold- Decatur-Wayne- Including the cities of Forest City, Lake Mills, Northwood, Manly, Garner, Britt, Kanawha, Mason City, Clear Lake, Eagle Grove, Clarion, Belmond, Hampton, Parkersburg, Clarksville, Shell Rock, Greene, Aplington, Allison, Dumont, Waverly, Fort Dodge, Webster City, Iowa Falls, Eldora, Ackley, Grundy Center, Reinbeck, Conrad, Dike, Wellsburg, Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Jefferson, Boone, Ames, Marshalltown, Tama, Toledo, Traer, Dysart, Gladbrook, Guthrie Center, Panora, Bayard, Casey, Perry, Waukee, Adel, Des Moines, Newton, Grinnell, Greenfield, Stuart, Adair, Fontanelle, Winterset, Earlham, Indianola, Norwalk, Carlisle, Pella, Knoxville, Oskaloosa, Corning, Creston, Osceola, Chariton, Bedford, Lenox, New Market, Mount Ayr, Lamoni, Leon, Corydon, Seymour, Allerton, and Humeston 332 AM CDT Sat Apr 6 2024 ...Elevated Fire Weather Conditions this Afternoon... The combination of low relative humidity values, gusty southeasterly winds, and dry fuels will result in elevated fire weather conditions for this afternoon across much of central Iowa. Afternoon relative humidity values will fall to around 25 to 30 percent with winds of 20 to 25 mph, gusting up to 40 mph, at times. Under these conditions, fires could start and spread easily. Please exercise caution with any activities that involve outdoor fires or create sparks, including campfires, grilling, and operating large equipment. Cigarettes should be disposed of and extinguished properly. Please heed any local burn bans.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Broadcast media relayed a report that tin was torn form a building on Henry Wallace Road.
A grocery store facade was damaged, sufficient enough to close the store.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Iowa in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, April 2024
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: 1171164, 1171165.