Tornadoes in Iowa, May 24, 2024

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
247 AM CDT Fri May 24 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Severe storms expected this morning with the primary risks
  being damaging winds, large hail and a few tornadoes

- Heavy rainfall in a short period of time may lead to flash
  flooding with the storms this morning.

- More chances for strong to severe storms into Saturday
  night/early Sunday along with heavy rainfall.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 247 AM CDT Fri May 24 2024

Impressive warm advection and moisture transport northward into the
state early this morning on a rather intense low level jet.  This is
allowing rather rapid destabilization across much of the forecast
area with MUCAPES rising an impressive 2000 J/KG across western
Iowa.  Convection in Nebraska has continued to organize over the
past few hours with a QLCS now moving through eastern Nebraska. CAM
output indicates the convection moves eastward into Iowa along the
instability gradient with the line accelerating into the state.
Damaging winds are expected with the surging bowing segments with
gusts of 60kts+ possible.  The 0-3km shear vector is 30-35kts and
generally perpendicular to the line, therefore embedded QLCS
tornadoes will be possible as well.  The line is expected to
traverse the forecast area with 4-5 hours with the bulk of the
severe activity done by 8 to 9 am this morning.  However, the
boundary remains farther west with redevelopment expected near the
boundary given the strong forcing from the nearby upper system. This
convection is expected to persist ahead of the boundary into the
early afternoon but ends with the passage of the front.  Some
concerns for excessive rainfall also exists given our recent wetness
and will be monitoring closely for any necessary headlines.
Ohterwise, breezy west winds are forecast on the backside of the
boundary with increasing subsidence and decent mixing.

The departure of the system to the east by this evening leaves high
pressure across the state.  Winds decouple quickly this evening with
light and variable winds overnight and clear skies.  However, warm
advection renews in western Iowa after midnight with increasing
southwest flow aloft ahead of the next system passing through the
intermountain west.  Temperatures in the west are likely to become
steady overnight as the winds become light southerly on the backside
of the high.  The warm advection persists through Saturday with
clouds increasing.  However, the big surge in theta-e advection
arrives Saturday evening as the shortwave passes through the Plains
and forcing intensifies.  A low level jet intensifies to 50kts+
across KS/MO pointing into Iowa.  Convection is expected to develop
and spread into southern and central Iowa on Saturday evening with
additional threat of heavy rainfall and some severe storms as well.

Into later periods, shortwaves dropping southeast into the region
into the early portion of the week bring additional chances of
precipitation along with keeping temperatures at or below normal
into the start of the week.  Upper ridging slides into the central
United States toward the middle and later half of the work week with
warming temperatures and possibly a brief break from the wet
weather.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 1240 AM CDT Fri May 24 2024

Showers and thunderstorms are expected overnight into Friday
morning with MVFR to locally IFR conditions in and around
thunderstorms. Locally strong winds are also expected with the
storms as well with fast movement to the east. The convection is
expected to continue ahead of front in the morning with the
precipitation ending by afternoon as a front pushes through the
state. Strong west winds are expected on Friday afternoon in the
wake of the front before rapidly decoupling on Friday evening
becoming light by the end of the period.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
Issued at 247 AM CDT Fri May 24 2024

Both short-term (flash flooding) and longer-term (river flooding)
hydro concerns will continue over the next few days due to the
combination of current hydrologic conditions and QPF.

The evolving QLCS is likely to bring heavy rainfall to portions
of central Iowa this morning with a quick shot of precipitation
as the system passes through the area. However, convection prior
and then redevelopment along the boundary into the morning and
early afternoon may lead to flash flooding. Current 1 hour
guidance is generally from 1.3"-2.0" across much of central and
northern Iowa and have included much of the particularly wet
areas within the watch.

River flooding is more of a concern especially regarding how the
forecast rainfall will affect already high river levels. River
flooding continues or is forecast across portions of the Cedar,
Iowa, Skunk, Des Moines and Raccoon River basins as well as their
tributaries. Moderate flooding is occurring along portions of the
Iowa River as well as Black Hawk Creek in northeast. The latest
river forecasts updated this morning take into account 24 hrs of QPF
ending Friday morning. Additional QPF is in the forecast beyond
Friday morning. Looking beyond 24 hrs using our QPF ensemble
hydrographs and Hydrologic Ensemble Forecast System (HEFS), the most
likely scenario in most places is that the rain over the next
several days will slow the fall of area rivers and possibly result
in secondary crests. Those secondary crests would be lower than the
levels we are presently seeing except for portions of the Iowa River
and the South Skunk River across the eastern CWA where a long, broad
crest is expected. That is due mainly to the timing of crests
working their way down both rivers combined with runoff from future
rainfall. Along both rivers the broad crests may extend well into
the Memorial Day weekend before the river levels begin falling.

In the Des Moines area as well as the Eddyville/Ottumwa areas, river
levels on the Des Moines River are affected heavily by the
Saylorville and Lake Red Rock reservoirs operated by the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (USACE). Coordination with the USACE indicates
they plan to adjust (minimize) outflows from the reservoirs to try
to minimize flooding issues downstream. Having said that, minimizing
outflows will result in building pool elevations more quickly on the
lakes. As a result, we will see decent rises on both Saylorville and
Lake Red Rock again. The rises on Saylorville will likely be similar
to what we saw in the last event but they will be higher on Lake Red
Rock. In the last event Lake Red Rock crested around 747 ft but with
this event it is expected to go to around 754-755 ft. Those
forecasts may change going forward due to the actual rainfall
amounts.

If the rainfall comes in higher than forecast then we would see
long, broad crests at more locations in our CWA and higher secondary
crests. We will continue monitoring.

&&

.DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flood Watch until 1 PM CDT this afternoon for IAZ005-015>017-
023>028-033>039-044>050-057>062-070>075.

&&

DISCUSSION...Cogil
AVIATION...Cogil
HYDROLOGY...Zogg/Cogil

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
150 AM CDT Fri May 24 2024

IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>050-057>062-070>075-
081>086-092>097-250700-
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-
150 AM CDT Fri May 24 2024

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Iowa.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Widespread thunderstorm will continue over the region early today.
An enhanced risk of severe storms continues to central Iowa early
this morning with a surrounding slight risk across eastern Iowa.

This afternoon the focus for some severe storms will shift into
eastern Iowa. Large hail, damaging thunderstorm winds, and a few
tornadoes are possible. Locally heavy rainfall from a few of the
storms may lead to localized renewed ponding of water or local
runoff and a small risk of flash flooding early today.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

Other chances for storms are in the forecast for Saturday night
into Sunday and Monday. There is a small risk of strong to severe
storms Saturday night into Sunday morning over the south. Some
lingering showers and thunderstorms will be possible into Monday
and again by late Wednesday into Thursday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters may be needed briefly early this morning and possibly
again later Saturday night into early Sunday.

REV

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
351 AM CDT Fri May 24 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0345 AM     Tstm Wnd Gst     8 SW Cumberland         41.19N 94.98W
05/24/2024  M61 MPH          Cass               IA   Public

            PWS KIAGRISW2.

&&

Ansorge

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
356 AM CDT Fri May 24 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0339 AM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Audubon                 41.72N 94.93W
05/24/2024  M62 MPH          Audubon            IA   Public

&&

Ansorge

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
402 AM CDT Fri May 24 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0346 AM     Hail             8 E New Virginia        41.21N 93.58W
05/24/2024  M0.75 Inch       Warren             IA   Public

            Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.).

&&

Ansorge

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
410 AM CDT Fri May 24 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0400 AM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 S Willey              41.95N 94.82W
05/24/2024  M63 MPH          Carroll            IA   Public

            PWS KIACARRO39.

&&

Ansorge

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
422 AM CDT Fri May 24 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0416 AM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Greenfield              41.30N 94.45W
05/24/2024  E75 MPH          Adair              IA   Emergency Mngr

            70 to 75 mph gusts along with dime-sized
            hail.

&&

CAH

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
433 AM CDT Fri May 24 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0432 AM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 WSW Perry             41.83N 94.16W
05/24/2024  M63 MPH          Dallas             IA   AWOS

            Peak wind at Perry Airport.

&&

Fowle