During the evening hours on March 14th, a line of thunderstorms moved through portions of northeast Iowa. While their presentation on radar was not overly impressive, numerous wind gusts over 50 mph were observed with these storms.
Every event with a place to put it. 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 ARX wrote it up.
During the evening hours on March 14th, a line of thunderstorms moved through portions of northeast Iowa. While their presentation on radar was not overly impressive, numerous wind gusts over 50 mph were observed with these storms. Additionally, some structural damage was noted to portions of Riceville High School.
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 La Crosse, WI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 14, 5:38 PM CST, 1 hour 37 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service La Crosse WI
638 PM CDT Fri Mar 14 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- While confidence is wavering a bit, a line of severe
thunderstorms still appears on track to affect the region
tonight. Damaging wind of 60-70 mph (locally higher) is the
main threat. The potential appears to be very low for
tornadoes or severe (1"+) hail.
- Critical fire weather conditions continue this afternoon for
northeast Iowa with elevated fire weather conditions elsewhere
owing to strong southeasterly winds and low humidity values.
- Another potent system moves into the region for the middle of
next week with snow likely returning to area. Confidence for
measurable snow is fairly high (60-80% chance) across much of
the local area with some potential for amounts of 6 inches or
greater depending on the exact track of this system.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 156 PM CDT Fri Mar 14 2025
This Afternoon: Record warmth and elevated to critical fire weather
conditions
Upper low, on 18z WV satellite over south central Kansas, is
churning northeastward today. Associated surface low continues to
deepen in the central Plains, with the tightening surface pressure
gradient driving a strong breeze across the area with south-
southeasterly gusts to 45 mph. Relative humidity values have fallen
into the upper 30s and 40s with elevated to critical fire weather
conditions occurring, as described in the fire weather section
below. Temperatures have also soared into the 70s with records
likely to fall by the time the afternoon is over. Decent chance
(30%) that a couple isolated spots reach 80 but this potential may
be limited by increasing amounts of anvil from storms to the
southwest overspreading the CWA.
This Evening: Severe thunderstorms
Modeled large scale pattern from nearly all available guidance over
the past 3-5 days continues in latest runs - upper low will continue
to churn northeastward with the associated surface cyclone and
attendant Pacific front racing eastward across the Midwest. As
temperatures aloft cool and vast numbers of parcels are forced
upward to their LFC by the front, development of thunderstorms and
rapid upscale growth into a QLCS will occur. With 40-65 knot winds
at 850mb developing ahead of the QLCS, downdrafts will be capable of
generating severe wind gusts and, depending on orientation of the
shear vector, tornadoes.
While likely a widespread issue to our south, within our CWA, major
questions remain about how much severe risk will be realized. Trend
toward a slightly later arrival continues in latest HRRR/RAP runs.
This would allow for additional time for mixing to occur via the
breezy synoptic winds, mixing drier air from around 700mb into the
boundary layer, with a reduction in instability. Indeed, HRRR/RAP
MLCAPE is down to around 250-500 J/kg and is high-based with progged
DCAPE approaching 1000 J/kg. Thus, while stronger thunderstorms may
not be as widespread in our neck of the woods as previously thought,
they would still be capable of generating severe wind gusts. The
tornado threat appears to be increasingly scant. As for hail,
relatively weak instability and mid-level shear suggest minimal risk
for severe hail as well. All in all, we'll remain vigilant tonight
but concerns mainly focus on severe wind gusts.
&&
.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 632 PM CDT Fri Mar 14 2025
A seasonally strong low pressure system will move from the
Central Plains into central Minnesota tonight bringing a period
of thunderstorms and strong winds. Wind gusts in excess of 50 to
60 mph are possible as the line of showers and thunderstorms
move through. Due to a strong LLJ of around 60kts, even weaker
thunderstorms and rain showers will be able to bring these
stronger winds to the surface. These showers and thunderstorms
are favored to move through the area from roughly 0100Z to 0600Z
tonight, impacting RST and LSE between roughly 0200 and 0400Z.
Expect brief MVFR conditions during these thunderstorms, with a
return to VFR overnight after the storms within a dry slot.
MVFR ceilings return on Saturday across the region, with gusty
winds veering from SW to NW along a frontal passage midday
Saturday.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 158 PM CDT Fri Mar 14 2025
Elevated to critical fire weather conditions are still expected this
afternoon. If mixing maximizes, could see some RH readings below 30
percent in NE IA late this afternoon per 14.12z HREF. While this is
above strict criteria, presence of dry fine fuels and strong south-
southeasterly gusts to 45 mph suggests the potential for rapid,
difficult to control would exist. Have therefore retained Red Flag
Warning there and continued to mention elevated for much of the rest
of the area. For any fires that do break out, crews should be aware
that a line of thunderstorms with erratic, rapidly changing gusts to
perhaps 70 mph should sweep through the area this evening. The good
news is that these rains should provide some wetness to the
fuels.
&&
.CLIMATE...
Issued at 400 AM CDT Fri Mar 14 2025
Record Temperatures for Today, 3/14 (Record / Forecast):
Maximum Minimum
------------------------------------------------------------------
Rochester, MN 74 (2012) / 73 49 (2012) / 49
La Crosse, WI 75 (2012) / 78 49 (1990) / 50
&&
.ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...None.
MN...None.
IA...Red Flag Warning until 8 PM CDT this evening for IAZ008>010-
018-019-029-030.
&&
DISCUSSION...Ferguson/Naylor
AVIATION...JAW
FIRE WEATHER...Ferguson
CLIMATE...SkowHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service La Crosse WI 432 PM CDT Fri Mar 14 2025 WIZ017-029-160145- Taylor-Clark- 432 PM CDT Fri Mar 14 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Wisconsin and north central Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...This evening and Tonight A line of thunderstorms may affect the region tonight after 10 pm. A few storms may be capable of producing strong wind gusts and small hail. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Confidence is increasing in a band of moderate to heavy snow falling from late Tuesday night into Thursday morning. Details on snow amounts will be refined over the next few days. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... While spotter activation may not be utilized overnight, any severe weather reports would be appreciated. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... No webinar is scheduled. IAZ008>010-018-019-029-030-160145- Mitchell-Howard-Winneshiek-Floyd-Chickasaw-Fayette-Clayton- 432 PM CDT Fri Mar 14 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central Iowa and northeast Iowa. .DAY ONE...This evening and Tonight A Red Flag Warning for critical fire weather conditions is in effect for this afternoon. Please see this product for more information. A line of thunderstorms moves through after 7 pm this evening. Damaging winds of 60 to 70 mph, locally higher in spots, are the primary hazard. Small hail is also possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Confidence is increasing in a band of moderate to heavy snow falling from late Tuesday night into Thursday morning. Details on snow amounts will be refined over the next few days. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed early this evening. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... No webinar is scheduled. IAZ011-MNZ079-086>088-094>096-WIZ032>034-041>044-053>055-061- 160145- Allamakee-Wabasha-Dodge-Olmsted-Winona-Mower-Fillmore-Houston- Buffalo-Trempealeau-Jackson-La Crosse-Monroe-Juneau-Adams-Vernon- Crawford-Richland-Grant- 432 PM CDT Fri Mar 14 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast Iowa...southeast Minnesota...central Wisconsin...southwest Wisconsin and west central Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...This evening and Tonight Elevated fire weather conditions are expected this afternoon due to the combination of strong winds, falling humidity values, and dry fuels. A line of thunderstorms moves through after 7 pm this evening. Damaging winds of 60 to 70 mph, locally higher in spots, are the primary hazard. Small hail is also possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Confidence is increasing in a band of moderate to heavy snow falling from late Tuesday night into Thursday morning. Details on snow amounts will be refined over the next few days. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... While spotter activation may not be utilized overnight, any severe weather reports would be appreciated. .EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATION... No webinar is scheduled. JAW
The La Crosse radar (KARX), 121 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:13 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Local media reported several instances of wind damage around Riceville High School.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Iowa in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, March 2025
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: 1246540.