Tornadoes and Hail in Iowa, April 13, 2026

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in Iowa, April 13, 2026
Start: 2026-04-13T16:37
End: 2026-04-13T19:01
Location: Iowa

April 13, 2026 · NWS FSD · 22 events in 5 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 22

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS FSD wrote it up.

At late afternoon, considerable moisture focused near a strong warm front from low pressure across northeastern Nebraska through northwest Iowa. Climatologically significant mid-level lapse rates produced a strong capping inversion which gradually weakened north of the warm front. Storms initiated with effective deep-layer shear from 40 to 50 knots and quickly became severe hail producers north of the warm front across southeast South Dakota into southwest Minnesota during the late afternoon, with additional storms developing in proximity to the surface wave across northwest Iowa. One of these latter storms produced two weak tornadoes across northwest Iowa.

What forecasters said that day

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 Sioux Falls, SD wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 13, 1:50 PM CST, 2 hours 47 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Thunderstorms return this afternoon and evening. Scattered strong to severe storms expected - greatest risk for southwestern Minnesota into adjacent areas of South Dakota and northwest Iowa. Timing of greatest concern is 4 to 9 PM.
Main hazards are large hail greater than 2 inches in diameter and wind gusts to 70 mph. A tornado or two are also possible. Have a severe weather plan and multiple ways to receive warnings.
Periodic chances (20-60%) for showers and thunderstorms continue this week. Details remain uncertain at this time.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 13, 1:50 PM CST, 2 hours 47 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
250 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Thunderstorms return this afternoon and evening. Scattered
  strong to severe storms expected - greatest risk for
  southwestern Minnesota into adjacent areas of South Dakota and
  northwest Iowa. Timing of greatest concern is 4 to 9 PM.

- Main hazards are large hail greater than 2 inches in diameter
  and wind gusts to 70 mph. A tornado or two are also possible.
  Have a severe weather plan and multiple ways to receive
  warnings.

- Periodic chances (20-60%) for showers and thunderstorms
  continue this week. Details remain uncertain at this time.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 238 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

Scattered thunderstorms are set to develop over the next
few hours, bringing the potential for a few severe storms with large
hail, damaging winds, and perhaps a tornado or two. As of 2 pm,
a surface low is located over northern Nebraska with a warm
front extending northeast of it across far southeastern South
Dakota into northwest Iowa. Dew points in the 60s have been
gradually spreading northward, and these higher dew points are
expected to reach the I-90 corridor over the next couple of
hours. This boundary will be the focus of initial storm
development, with these storms having access to 35-50 kts of
effective bulk shear and 1500-2000 J/kg of MLCAPE. There are
questions though on how much some high clouds have limited the
area from reaching full heating potential, but if a storm can
get going then steep mid level lapse rates of 7.5-8.5 degrees
C/km and mostly straight, elongated hodographs will favor large
hail to around 2 inches in diameter or larger. The secondary
threat will be damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph. If a storm can
get rooted to the aforementioned surface warm front, then a
tornado or two will also be possible. Can't rule out a strong
tornado either, primarily over southwest Minnesota. As the low
pressure system drift across the area, a few additional showers
and storms look to develop farther south across northwest Iowa
(down to about IA Highway-3, or just north of US Highway-20)
within the warm sector around sunset. These storms could also be
on the strong to severe side, with an isolated instance of
quarter sized hail and 60 mph as the threats.

Showers and storms will exit off to our east by the mid
evening hours, leaving mostly quiet conditions in its wake. A few
showers may develop in central South Dakota prior to daybreak
Tuesday, but dry air should win out and prevent most if not all of
this from reaching the ground. Patchy fog will also be possible
by early Tuesday morning across portions of northwest Iowa and
southwest Minnesota as winds turn light and variable overnight
and ample moisture remains in place. Temperatures tonight drop
mainly in the 40s, though some 50s are possible in our
easternmost areas. Low chances for showers continue into the day
on Tuesday, but activity is expected to remain spotty at best
as rain continues to battle a dry sub cloud layer. Highs will
range from the 60s northwest to 70s southeast. Rain chances look
to increase Tuesday night into Wednesday as two shortwave
troughs impact our area. The best chances of rain and storms
look to be over northwest Iowa and adjacent areas of Nebraska,
South Dakota, and Minnesota. At this time, severe weather looks
unlikely with this system as the better instability looks to be
off to our south and east.

Rain and storms exit off to our east by Wednesday night, leading to
a dry Thursday. Winds look to increase on Thursday especially west
of I-29 closer to a deepening surface low, and winds may take on a
southwesterly component especially in south central South Dakota.
This could lead to another day with higher fire danger as
temperatures will be warm and relative humidity values drop to 25%
or below mainly along and west of the James River. Still some
uncertainty into how breezy the winds will be, so keep up to date
with the latest forecast. Not too much time to look into the
extended forecast given the near term severe weather threat, but
guidance is in fairly good agreement that the western trough
will begin to move into our area by the end of the work
week/early weekend. This could bring more rain and storms to our
area on Friday and then colder weather into Saturday as
guidance indicates a stronger push of cold air advection behind
this system.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/...
Issued at 1241 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

Isolated to widely scattered showers and storms are expected to
develop this afternoon, especially east of I-29 into southern
Minnesota and northern Iowa. Enough confidence to at least include a
PROB30 group for thunderstorms at KFSD, but it looks like storms
should stay largely east of KSUX and KHON. Storms will be capable of
large hail and damaging winds. Showers and storms will quickly push
off to our east this evening, leading to quieter conditions
overnight. Some patchy fog is possible mainly over portions of
northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota Tuesday morning.

A frontal system will move across the area today, changing winds
from a more southerly direction to a more northerly direction as we
head into the evening hours. Winds turn mainly light and variable
overnight and stay fairly light through the end of the period.

&&

.FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SD...None.
MN...None.
IA...None.
NE...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...Samet
AVIATION...Samet

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 13, 2:56 PM CST, 1 hour 41 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
356 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

IAZ001>003-012>014-020>022-031-032-MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097-
098-NEZ013-014-SDZ038>040-050-052>071-142100-
Lyon-Osceola-Dickinson-Sioux-O'Brien-Clay-Plymouth-Cherokee-
Buena Vista-Woodbury-Ida-Lincoln-Murray-Cottonwood-Nobles-Jackson-
Pipestone-Rock-Dixon-Dakota-Beadle-Kingsbury-Brookings-Gregory-
Jerauld-Sanborn-Miner-Lake-Moody-Brule-Aurora-Davison-Hanson-McCook-
Minnehaha-Charles Mix-Douglas-Hutchinson-Turner-Bon Homme-Yankton-
Union-
356 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Iowa, west central
Iowa, southwest Minnesota, northeast Nebraska, central South
Dakota, east central South Dakota, south central South Dakota and
southeast South Dakota.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms expected Monday afternoon
and evening. Some storms may produce large hail 2 inches in diameter
and damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph. A tornado or two cannot be
ruled out. Greatest risk of storms is north of I-90 between 4 and 10
PM.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

More widespread chances for showers and thunderstorms exists for
Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday. This more active pattern continues
into the weekend.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 13, 2:39 PM CST, 1 hour 58 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
339 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

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

0332 PM     Hail             Tripp                   43.23N 97.97W
04/13/2026  E0.75 Inch       Hutchinson         SD   Public

            Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.).

&&

TRM

Local storm report, Apr 13, 3:29 PM CST, 1 hour 8 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
429 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

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

0400 PM     Hail             4 NW Olivet             43.29N 97.73W
04/13/2026  E1.00 Inch       Hutchinson         SD   Public

&&

TRM

Local storm report, Apr 13, 3:44 PM CST, 53 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
444 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

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

0416 PM     Hail             5 NNE Olivet            43.31N 97.63W
04/13/2026  M1.00 Inch       Hutchinson         SD   Public

&&

TRM

Local storm report, Apr 13, 4:23 PM CST, 14 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
523 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

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

0440 PM     Hail             3 S Freeman             43.31N 97.44W
04/13/2026  E1.25 Inch       Hutchinson         SD   Public

&&

TRM

Local storm report, Apr 13, 4:30 PM CST, 7 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
530 PM CDT Mon Apr 13 2026

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

0523 PM     Hail             Moville                 42.49N 96.07W
04/13/2026  E0.50 Inch       Woodbury           IA   Public

&&

TRM

The radar

The Sioux Falls radar (KFSD), 115 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:39 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

19 hail, 2 tornado, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Plymouth

When: April 13, 4:37 PM CST to 4:40 PM CST
Where: Plymouth County, 4.62 mi E of O Leary
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 42.710, -95.980

Hail, Plymouth

When: April 13, 4:42 PM CST to 4:43 PM CST
Where: Plymouth County, 4.94 mi SSW of Remsen
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 42.750, -96.000

Damage to car parked outside residence.

Hail, O'Brien

When: April 13, 5:08 PM CST to 5:11 PM CST
Where: O'Brien County, 2.14 mi WSW of Germantown
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.940, -95.820

Hail, Plymouth

When: April 13, 5:10 PM CST to 5:11 PM CST
Where: Plymouth County, 4.94 mi SSE of Remsen
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 42.750, -95.960

Hail, Osceola

When: April 13, 5:25 PM CST to 5:26 PM CST
Where: Osceola County, May City
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.320, -95.480

Pictures provided of quarter size hail.

Hail, Osceola

When: April 13, 5:27 PM CST to 5:28 PM CST
Where: Osceola County, 1.66 mi ENE of May City
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 43.330, -95.450

Hail, O'Brien

When: April 13, 5:28 PM CST to 5:30 PM CST
Where: O'Brien County, 0.69 mi N of Primghar
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.090, -95.630

Hail, Osceola

When: April 13, 5:30 PM CST to 5:31 PM CST
Where: Osceola County, 1.71 mi SE of Harris
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 43.430, -95.430

Tornado, O'Brien

When: April 13, 5:30 PM CST to 5:35 PM CST
Where: O'Brien County, 3.18 mi ENE of Archer to 2.94 mi NE of Archer
Rating: EFU
Path length: 0.88 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 43.138, -95.712

An eyewitness observed a tornado develop 2 miles northeast of Archer south of 350th Street in an open field. The tornado tracked northwest slowly over the next five minutes through open fields. After crossing Pierce Avenue, the tornado dissipated. There was no known damage, resulting in an EFU rating. The location, track, and a maximum path width of 25 yards was estimated from video.

Hail, Dickinson

When: April 13, 5:32 PM CST to 5:36 PM CST
Where: Dickinson County, 6.93 mi S of Lake Park
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 43.370, -95.330

Hail, O'Brien

When: April 13, 5:34 PM CST to 5:39 PM CST
Where: O'Brien County, 2.87 mi WSW of Sanborn
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 43.160, -95.720

Hail, O'Brien

When: April 13, 5:40 PM CST to 5:42 PM CST
Where: O'Brien County, 2.81 mi S of Sanborn
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 43.140, -95.660

Hail, O'Brien

When: April 13, 5:40 PM CST to 5:44 PM CST
Where: O'Brien County, 0.5 mi E of Sanborn
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 43.180, -95.660

Hail, O'Brien

When: April 13, 5:41 PM CST to 5:45 PM CST
Where: O'Brien County, 0.5 mi E of Sanborn
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 43.180, -95.660

Hail, O'Brien

When: April 13, 5:44 PM CST to 5:46 PM CST
Where: O'Brien County, 0.5 mi E of Sanborn
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 43.180, -95.660

Hail, Osceola

When: April 13, 5:53 PM CST to 5:57 PM CST
Where: Osceola County, 0.85 mi NE of Melvin
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 43.290, -95.610

Hail, Dickinson

When: April 13, 6:18 PM CST to 6:21 PM CST
Where: Dickinson County, 4.25 mi ESE of Arnolds Park
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.350, -95.050

Hail, Clay

When: April 13, 6:24 PM CST to 6:27 PM CST
Where: Clay County, 1.47 mi NNW of Peterson
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.940, -95.360

Various hail sizes up to a maximum of quarter size fell for a few minutes.

Tornado, Clay

When: April 13, 6:49 PM CST to 6:52 PM CST
Where: Clay County, 0.94 mi NW of Webb to 1.68 mi NE of Webb
Rating: EF0
Path length: 1.84 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 42.961, -95.011

A tornado developed a little less than one mile north of Webb just east of 290th Avenue in an open field. The tornado was documented by numerous individuals as it tracked east-northeast for a little over a minute. The tornado crossed 300th Avenue near a farmstead where trees were damaged along the north side of the property and the resultant winds caused minor damage to the residence. The tornado continued toward the east-northeast for a little over a minute over open fields and lifted just before 310th Avenue south of 470th Street. The tornado was rated EF0 with a maximum estimated wind speed of 75 mph. The average path width was 30 yards.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clay

When: April 13, 6:50 PM CST to 6:51 PM CST
Where: Clay County, 0.86 mi NE of Webb
Measured: 63 kt (72 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 42.960, -94.990

A personal weather station measured a wind gust to 72 mph with some damage to shingles and siding on a residence. Wind-driven hail also knocked out windows on a camper.

Hail, Clay

When: April 13, 6:52 PM CST to 6:54 PM CST
Where: Clay County, 0.51 mi W of Webb
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 42.950, -95.010

Hail, Clay

When: April 13, 6:58 PM CST to 7:01 PM CST
Where: Clay County, 4.1 mi NE of Webb
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.990, -94.940

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Iowa in 2026 Every state in 2026 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Iowa, 2026 Warnings in Iowa, April 2026

Sources

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: 1334058, 1334060, 1334062, 1334063, 1334064, 1334067, 1334065, 1334068, 1334132, 1334069, 1334070, 1334071, 1334076, 1334077, 1334136, 1334116, 1334079, 1334084, 1334107, 1334122, 1334123, 1334120.