Tornadoes · United States · Iowa · 2008
EF0 tornado, Kent to Lorimor, Iowa, June 4, 2008
From Kent to Lorimor, this EF0 tornado ran 1.1 miles across Union County on June 4, 2008, touching down at 9:18 PM CDT and reaching 75 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $5,000 of property damage.
The rating scale
Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.
EF065 to 85 mphthis tornado
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mph
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
EF2111 to 135 mph
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
EF3136 to 165 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
EF4166 to 200 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
EF5over 200 mph
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.
The record
- Rating
- EF0
- Date
- June 4, 2008
- Touchdown
- 9:18 PM CDT (02:18 UTC)
- Lifted
- 9:20 PM CDT (02:20 UTC)
- On the ground
- 2 minutes
- Path length
- 1.1 miles (1.7 km)
- Path width
- 75 yards (69 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $5,000
- County
- Union County
- Touchdown point
- 40.965, -94.468
- Lift-off point
- 40.970, -94.448
- Record number
- 0806042018-01
What the Weather Service recorded
A strong surge of very moist and unstable air moved into Iowa as a warm front stretched east to west along the Iowa/Missouri border. By the late afternoon hours, MUCAPE was in the 3000-4000 J/kg range with lifted indices between -5 and -8 C. Downdraft cape was between 800 and 1300 J/kg with an effective shear of 45 to 50 kts. Available CAPE in the -10 to -30 C. layer of the atmosphere was between 200 and 400 J/kg. Thunderstorms erupted by the evening and a cyclic supercell developed over southwest Iowa. By the time the night was done, three separate supercells took a similar track across southern Iowa. The LCL was quite low, between 500 and 1000 meters. Several tornado reports were received from Adams into Clarke Counties. The storms also produced winds of 60 to 70 MPH in places, with the strongest winds late in the event. A gust of 77 MPH was recorded in the Pella area. Winds northwest of Baxter flipped a propane tank. Hail was limited in size by the freezing level of 13,500 to 14,000 feet. The exception was during stronger periods of the supercell's life. At on point, golf ball to baseball size hail was reported in Union County. A cluster of thunderstorms formed over northern Iowa as well. Severe weather was isolated with this area of storms. Copious amounts of rain fell with the storms, both the supercells and the cluster across the north. Flooding became widespread with numerous reports of water over the roads along the track of the supercells, and also over parts of north central into northeast Iowa. The heaviest rainfall occurred over southwest Iowa, where northwest of Creston picked up nearly 8 inches of rain. Following the heavy rainfall of the previous night, Iowa Governor Chet Culver declared state disaster areas in both Union and Humboldt Counties. Seven tornado touchdowns occurred. Four of them were EF1 in strength and had path lengths ranging from 4 to 11 miles. Three of the tornadoes touched down in Adams County and four in Union County. The final tornado in Union County crossed into Clarke County shortly before dissipating.
State patrol reported a tornado near Kent.
Damage to power poles. A farm was hit with damage to out buildings.
Report relayed by KCCI television. Also from several storm chasers and spotters. This tornado crossed from Union County into Clarke County.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The warnings
28 minutes of warning. NWS DMX issued a tornado warning for this county at 01:50 UTC, 28 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 02:45 UTC.
The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 22:40 UTC and running to 04:56 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17:00 UTC | 12:00 UTC | Flash Flood Watch | DMX |
| 22:40 UTC | 04:56 UTC | Tornado Watch | DMX |
| 23:30 UTC | 00:15 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX |
| 23:38 UTC | 00:15 UTC | Tornado Warning | DMX |
| 23:53 UTC | 00:30 UTC | Tornado Warning | DMX |
| 23:56 UTC | 00:30 UTC | Tornado Warning | DMX |
| 00:30 UTC | 01:00 UTC | Tornado Warning | DMX |
| 01:00 UTC | 01:31 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX |
| 01:25 UTC | 10:30 UTC | Flash Flood Warning | DMX |
| 01:50 UTC | 02:45 UTC | Tornado Warning | DMX |
| 02:38 UTC | 03:30 UTC | Tornado Warning | DMX |
| 02:48 UTC | 03:04 UTC | Tornado Warning | DMX |
| 04:10 UTC | 05:00 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX |
| 04:34 UTC | 05:15 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX |
| 04:56 UTC | 10:00 UTC | Tornado Watch | DMX |
| 06:19 UTC | 07:00 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX |
| 06:44 UTC | 12:45 UTC | Flash Flood Warning | DMX |
| 07:02 UTC | 07:35 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX |
| 10:45 UTC | 11:45 UTC | Flood Warning | DMX |
Every warning and watch covering the touchdown point that day, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service products. Lead time is measured from the issue of the warning in force to the touchdown time in the database, both of which were recorded to the minute by different people.
The forecast that day
The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Moderate Risk, with a 0.10 chance of a tornado within 25 miles, in the hatched area where significant tornadoes were expected. The outlook in force was issued at 00:43 UTC.
SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the tornado touched down, 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 tornado touched down at Jun 4, 3:14 PM CDT, 6 hours 4 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 4, 3:14 PM CDT, 6 hours 4 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 314 PM CDT WED JUN 4 2008 ...UPDATED AVIATION DISCUSSION AND WATCHES IN EFFECT... .SHORT TERM/TONIGHT... FOCUS TONIGHT REMAINS ON SEVERE AND HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL. WARM FRONT HAS LIFTED SLOWLY NORTH TO NEAR THE IA/MO BORDER. GREATEST INSTABILITY CURRENTLY IS TO THE SOUTHWEST IN NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS AND SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA. LACK OF 0-3 KM CAPE IN SOUTHERN IOWA NEAR THE WARM FRONT SUGGESTS THAT SFC BASED CONVECTION IS STILL SEVERAL HOURS OFF IN IA. ONCE CONVECTION DOES BEGIN ALL MODES OF SVR WX ARE POSSIBLE NEAR THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY. LATER TONIGHT THE LOW LEVEL JET WILL FOCUS INTO THE STATE AND WILL CONTINUE TO FUEL THUNDERSTORMS NEAR THE WARM FRONT AS IT LIFTS NORTH OVER IA. AREAS OF HEAVY RAINFALL REMAIN POSSIBLE BUT THE FORWARD PROPAGATION OF THE STORMS SHOULD LIMIT POTENTIAL. WILL EXPAND FLASH FLOOD WATCH NORTH TO HIGHWAY 20 WHERE 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAINFALL IN A SHORT PERIOD WILL CAUSE HYDROLOGIC ISSUES GIVEN RECENT HEAVY RAINS. .LONG TERM /THURSDAY-WEDNESDAY/... ACTIVE PATTERN CONTINUES THROUGH MUCH OF THE FORECAST PERIOD. NUMEROUS VIGOROUS WAVES WILL MOVE THROUGH THE FLOW DURING THE PERIOD WHILE THE MIDWEST REMAINS CONNECTED TO THE MIDWEST. ONGOING ELEVATED CONVECTION LIKELY ONGOING AT THE START OF THE PERIOD IN ADVANCED OF A WARM FRONT LIFTING THROUGH THE STATE. MARGINAL SEVERE WX AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL POSSIBLE THURSDAY MORNING HOWEVER THE BIG SHOW STILL ON TARGET FOR THURSDAY EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. THE PRIMARY SEVERE EVENT LIKELY TO BEGIN AFTER 00Z THURSDAY EVENING THEN TURNING INTO A COMBINATION SEVERE AND HEAVY RAIN EVENT AFTER MIDNIGHT. TONIGHTS RAINFALL WILL LIKELY BE A PRIMER FOR THURSDAY NIGHT. HYDROLOGY CONCERNS WILL GREATLY INCREASE IF CENTRAL IOWA GETS ONE INCH PLUS TONIGHT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR A NORTH TO SOUTH 2 TO 4 INCH BAND THURSDAY NIGHT. ALL MODES FOR SEVERE WEATHER ARE LIKELY WITH THE TORNADIC POTENTIAL ENHANCED WEST OF INTERSTATE 35. PWATS APPROACHING 2 INCHES WITH A 60 KT LOW LEVEL JET FEEDING INTO THE REGION WILL PROMOTE THE POTENTIAL FOR EFFICIENT RAIN PRODUCERS. STORM MOVEMENT ALONG THE BOUNDARY SUGGESTS TRAINING POTENTIAL. THUNDERSTORMS WILL LINGER FRIDAY MORNING THEN ANOTHER CHANCE OVER THE EAST IN THE AFTERNOON. A BRIEF BREAK FRIDAY NIGHT AND EARLY SATURDAY THEN THE NEXT SYSTEM BRINGS THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL BACK BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT. POSSIBLE THAT THE WARM FRONT WILL HANG UP OVER IOWA LEADING TO A PROLONGED THUNDERSTORM CHANCE THROUGH MONDAY BEFORE FINALLY PUSHING TO THE NORTH BY MIDWEEK. && .AVIATION 05/06Z... THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE OVER MUCH OF THE AREA...AFFECTING KDSM AND KMCW...AND VERY NEAR KALO AT THIS TIME. KOTM REMAINS SOUTHEAST OF THE ACTION BUT WILL PROBABLY GET HIT AT SOME TIME DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. THUNDERSTORMS NOT EXPECTED TO END UNTIL CLOSE TO 12Z...AFTER WHICH MVFR CIGS AND PERHAPS SOME BR/HZ WILL LINGER INTO THE MID/LATE MORNING HOURS. ANOTHER ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL ENTER THE PICTURE THURS EVENING/NIGHT. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TORNADO WATCH TIL 10Z THURSDAY ALONG AND SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 3. FLASH FLOOD WATCH TIL 12Z THURSDAY ALONG AND SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 20. SHORT TERM...REV LONG TERM...DONAVON AVIATION...LEE
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 4, 6:46 PM CDT, 2 hours 32 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 646 PM CDT WED JUN 4 2008 IAZ044>050-057>062-070>075-081>086-092>097-051115- 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- 646 PM CDT WED JUN 4 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE LIKELY TONIGHT. LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WIND AND ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE. IN ADDITION...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL LIKELY CAUSE SOME FLASH FLOODING AND MORE RIVER FLOODING. A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT AND A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY PERIODS OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE INTO FRIDAY. LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WIND AND ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE. A SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK IS POSSIBLE THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT. THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL RETURN SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY AND POSSIBLY INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. IN ADDITION...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL LIKELY CAUSE SOME FLASH FLOODING AND MORE RIVER FLOODING INTO NEXT WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS LIKELY FROM TIME TO TIME THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. IAZ033>039-051115- SAC-CALHOUN-WEBSTER-HAMILTON-HARDIN-GRUNDY-BLACK HAWK- 646 PM CDT WED JUN 4 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE LIKELY TONIGHT. LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WIND AND ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE. IN ADDITION...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL LIKELY CAUSE SOME FLASH FLOODING AND MORE RIVER FLOODING. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY PERIODS OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE INTO FRIDAY. LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WIND AND ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE. A SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK IS POSSIBLE THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT. THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL RETURN SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY AND POSSIBLY INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. IN ADDITION...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL LIKELY CAUSE SOME FLASH FLOODING AND MORE RIVER FLOODING INTO NEXT WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS LIKELY FROM TIME TO TIME THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-051115- EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO- POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-BUTLER-BREMER- 646 PM CDT WED JUN 4 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE LIKELY TONIGHT. LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WIND AND ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE. IN ADDITION...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL LIKELY CAUSE SOME FLASH FLOODING AND MORE RIVER FLOODING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY PERIODS OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE INTO FRIDAY. LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WIND AND ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE. A SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK IS POSSIBLE THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT. THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL RETURN SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY AND POSSIBLY INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. IN ADDITION...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL LIKELY CAUSE SOME FLASH FLOODING AND MORE RIVER FLOODING INTO NEXT WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS LIKELY FROM TIME TO TIME THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. LEE
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jun 4, 7:53 PM CDT, 1 hour 25 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
753 PM CDT WED JUN 04 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0745 PM HAIL 2 SW LORIMOR 41.11N 94.08W
06/04/2008 E1.00 INCH UNION IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
&&
RDONAVONLocal storm report, Jun 4, 7:57 PM CDT, 1 hour 21 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
757 PM CDT WED JUN 04 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0657 PM HAIL CRESTON 41.06N 94.36W
06/04/2008 E1.00 INCH UNION IA BROADCAST MEDIA
REPORTED BY KCCI
&&
RDONAVONLocal storm report, Jun 4, 7:58 PM CDT, 1 hour 20 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
758 PM CDT WED JUN 04 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0731 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 3 NNW AFTON 41.07N 94.23W
06/04/2008 UNION IA TRAINED SPOTTER
RAIN WRAPPED FUNNEL CLOUD...SPOTTER LOCATED AT HIGHWAY 34
AND HIGHWAY 169.
&&
PODRAZIKLocal storm report, Jun 4, 8:12 PM CDT, 1 hour 6 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
812 PM CDT WED JUN 04 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0810 PM HAIL CARBON 41.05N 94.82W
06/04/2008 E0.88 INCH ADAMS IA STORM CHASER
&&
PODRAZIKLocal storm report, Jun 4, 8:19 PM CDT, 59 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
819 PM CDT WED JUN 04 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0813 PM TORNADO 1 W NODAWAY 40.94N 94.92W
06/04/2008 ADAMS IA BROADCAST MEDIA
RAIN WRAPPED TORNADO...REPORT FROM KCCI
&&
PODRAZIKLocal storm report, Jun 4, 8:38 PM CDT, 40 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
838 PM CDT WED JUN 04 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0837 PM TORNADO CORNING 40.99N 94.74W
06/04/2008 ADAMS IA STORM CHASER
STORM CHASER REPORTS TORNADO ON THE GROUND ENTERING
SOUTHWESTERN CORNING WITH DEBRIS CLOUD.
&&
LEEThe air that afternoon
The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.
Omaha, NE (KOAX), 00:00Z
2.3 hours before the tornado, 165 km from the path. June 5, 2008.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 2024 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -49 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 2081 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 774 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 52 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 20 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 224 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 331 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 3.7
- Supercell composite
- 18.9
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 5.4 K/km
Omaha, NE (KOAX), 12:00Z
9.7 hours after it, 165 km from the path. June 5, 2008.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 114 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -451 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1354 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 57 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 13 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 138 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 200 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 6.1
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 4.2 K/km
The surface observations
Creston (CSQ), 10 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00:22 UTC | 72 | 69 | 340° 17 kt | 34 | 999.7 | |
| 00:31 UTC | 72 | 69 | 360° 12 kt | 21 | 998.6 | |
| 00:35 UTC | 71.6 | 69.8 | 360° 12 kt | 20 | 998.6 | -RA |
| 00:42 UTC | 73 | 70 | 10° 8 kt | 24 | 999 | |
| 00:51 UTC | 73 | 71 | 80° 14 kt | 999.7 | ||
| 00:55 UTC | 73.4 | 69.8 | 80° 12 kt | 15 | 999 | -RA |
| 01:02 UTC | 73 | 71 | 70° 12 kt | 17 | 999 | |
| 01:12 UTC | 73 | 71 | 60° 14 kt | 18 | 999 | |
| 01:15 UTC | 71.6 | 69.8 | 50° 15 kt | 998.6 | ||
| 01:22 UTC | 73 | 70 | 70° 19 kt | 998.6 | ||
| 01:32 UTC | 73 | 70 | 90° 18 kt | 999 | ||
| 01:35 UTC | 71.6 | 69.8 | 80° 17 kt | 998.6 | -RA | |
| 01:42 UTC | 72 | 70 | 80° 17 kt | 20 | 998.6 | |
| 01:51 UTC | 72 | 69 | 80° 14 kt | 999.3 | ||
| 01:55 UTC | 71.6 | 68 | 80° 14 kt | 999.3 | -RA | |
| 02:02 UTC | 72 | 69 | 90° 19 kt | 997.6 | ||
| 02:12 UTC | 72 | 70 | 70° 24 kt | 29 | 997 | |
| 02:15 UTC | 71.6 | 69.8 | 70° 25 kt | 29 | 997 | -RA |
| 02:22 UTC | 72 | 70 | 50° 30 kt | 33 | 996.6 | |
| 02:32 UTC | 72 | 70 | 20° 34 kt | 48 | 995.9 | |
| 02:35 UTC | 71.6 | 69.8 | 80° 11 kt | 48 | 997.3 | -RA |
| 02:42 UTC | 71 | 69 | 330° 44 kt | 49 | 997.6 | |
| 02:52 UTC | 60° 24 kt | |||||
| 02:55 UTC | 66.2 | 50° 19 kt | 23 | 999.3 | ||
| 03:02 UTC | 66 | 64 | 80° 21 kt | 38 | 999.7 | |
| 03:12 UTC | 69 | 67 | 120° 9 kt | 38 | ||
| 03:15 UTC | 69.8 | 66.2 | 110° 15 kt | 23 | ||
| 03:22 UTC | 69 | 65 | 80° 18 kt | 23 | 999.3 | |
| 03:32 UTC | 68 | 65 | 80° 14 kt | 998.6 | ||
| 03:35 UTC | 68 | 64.4 | 90° 12 kt | 22 | ||
| 03:52 UTC | 68 | 65 | 80° 17 kt | 999.3 | ||
| 03:55 UTC | 68 | 64.4 | 90° 15 kt | 999.3 | ||
| 04:02 UTC | 68 | 66 | 100° 14 kt | 999.3 | ||
| 04:12 UTC | 70 | 68 | 120° 12 kt | 999.3 | ||
| 04:15 UTC | 69.8 | 68 | 120° 11 kt | 999.3 |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 105 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 02:16 UTC.
Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track
Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.
What was reported nearby
Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Report | Where | County | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23:57 UTC | HAIL 0.75 | 3 N Creston Airport | Union, IA | PENNY SIZE HAIL AT CREST BAPTIST CHURCH IN CRESTON. |
| 23:57 UTC | HAIL 0.88 | Creston | Union, IA | UNION COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTS NICKEL SIZED HAIL IN CRESTON. |
| 23:57 UTC | HAIL 1 | Creston | Union, IA | REPORTED BY KCCI |
| 00:04 UTC | TORNADO | 1 S Creston | Union, IA | AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR REPORTS TORNADO ON THE GROUND JUST SOUTH OF CRESTON. |
| 00:12 UTC | TSTM WND GST 71 | Creston Airport | Union, IA | |
| 00:31 UTC | FUNNEL CLOUD | 3 Nnw Afton | Union, IA | RAIN WRAPPED FUNNEL CLOUD...SPOTTER LOCATED AT HIGHWAY 34 AND HIGHWAY 169. |
| 00:31 UTC | FUNNEL CLOUD | 3 Nw Afton | Union, IA | RAIN WRAPPED FUNNEL CLOUD 3 MILES NORTHWEST OF HIGHWAY 169 AND HIGHWAY 34. |
| 00:45 UTC | HAIL 1 | 2 Sw Lorimor | Union, IA | |
| 00:50 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | Stanton | Montgomery, IA | |
| 01:10 UTC | HAIL 0.88 | Carbon | Adams, IA | |
| 01:13 UTC | TORNADO | 1 W Nodaway | Adams, IA | RAIN WRAPPED TORNADO...REPORT FROM KCCI |
| 01:37 UTC | TORNADO | Corning | Adams, IA | STORM CHASER REPORTS TORNADO ON THE GROUND ENTERING SOUTHWESTERN CORNING WITH DEBRIS CLOUD. |
| 02:02 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | 10 Ene Corning | Adams, IA | STORM CHASER REPORTS GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES EAST NORTHEAST OF CORNING. DELAYED REPORT. |
| 02:18 UTC | HAIL 1 | Creston | Union, IA | AMATEUR RADIO REPORTS QUARTER SIZED HAIL AND 50 MPH IN SW CRESTON. |
| 02:18 UTC | TORNADO | 2 Nnw Kent | Union, IA | DAMAGE REPORTED. POWER POLES DOWN. FARM HIT WITH DAMAGE TO OUT BUILDINGS. |
| 02:26 UTC | TSTM WND GST 70 | Cromwell | Union, IA | |
| 02:26 UTC | HAIL 0.75 | Cromwell | Union, IA | 3/4 INCH HAIL REPORTED IN CROMWELL. |
| 02:26 UTC | HAIL 1 | Creston | Union, IA | QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN CRESTON. |
| 02:26 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | Cromwell | Union, IA | |
| 02:40 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | Creston | Union, IA | |
| 02:40 UTC | TORNADO | 5 Ese Kent | Union, IA | NUMEROUS POWER FLASHES...REPORT FROM KCCI STORM CHASER. HI AND DRY ROAD AND 270TH. |
| 02:43 UTC | TORNADO | 4 Ssw Creston Airport | Union, IA | SEVERAL TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF 230TH AND HI AND DRY ROAD. |
| 02:47 UTC | TSTM WND GST 58 | Creston | Union, IA | CRESTON SCHOOLNET SITE MEASURED WIND GUST OF 50 KT AT 947 PM. |
| 02:47 UTC | TSTM WND GST 58 | Creston Airport | Union, IA | CRESTON AWOS MEASURED WIND GUST OF 50 KT AT 947 PM. |
| 02:59 UTC | TORNADO | 1 N Afton | Union, IA | RELAYED FROM KCCI. |
| 03:01 UTC | FUNNEL CLOUD | 2 E Afton | Union, IA | |
| 03:04 UTC | TORNADO | 2 Nne Afton | Union, IA | |
| 03:10 UTC | HAIL 1 | Lorimor | Union, IA | |
| 03:19 UTC | HAIL 2.75 | 1 Ssw Lorimor | Union, IA | HIGHWAY 69 AND 130TH STREET. |
| 03:21 UTC | TORNADO | 3 Nne Thayer | Clarke, IA | |
| 03:26 UTC | HAIL 1 | 3 Sw Truro | Madison, IA | |
| 03:30 UTC | HAIL 1 | Truro | Madison, IA | |
| 03:33 UTC | TORNADO | 1 Ssw Murray | Clarke, IA | |
| 03:43 UTC | FLASH FLOOD | Creston | Union, IA | CHERRY STREET NORTH OF CRESTON CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER. |
| 03:44 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | 2 Ese East Peru | Madison, IA | |
| 04:09 UTC | HAIL 1 | 3 Ssw Bridgewater | Adair, IA | |
| 04:10 UTC | TSTM WND GST 60 | 3 Ssw Bridgewater | Adair, IA | |
| 04:12 UTC | HAIL 1 | Massena | Cass, IA | TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTS QUARTER SIZE HAIL IN MASSENA. |
| 04:30 UTC | FLASH FLOOD | Cumberland | Cass, IA | FLASH FLOODING IN THE CUMBERLAND AREA. |
| 05:08 UTC | FLASH FLOOD | 1 Nne Bridgewater | Adair, IA | CARS TRAPPED IN FLOOD WATER ON HIGHWAY 92. |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2008 tornado in IowaEvery tornado in Iowa since 1950Warnings in force in Iowa nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of June 4, 2008
45 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 4 | 3:30 AM CDT | EF0 | Randolph, IL | 0.6 | 50 | |||
| June 4 | 3:48 AM CDT | EF0 | Randolph, IL | 1.5 | 50 | |||
| June 4 | 3:49 AM CDT | EF0 | Randolph, IL | 0.7 | 25 | |||
| June 4 | 7:13 AM EDT | EF0 | Greene, IN | 0.1 | 50 | |||
| June 4 | 7:50 AM EDT | EF0 | Hamilton, OH | 1.9 | 50 | $40,000 | ||
| June 4 | 1:25 PM EDT | EF1 | Clarke, VA | 0.5 | 100 | $20,000 | ||
| June 4 | 2:19 PM EDT | EF0 | Fauquier, VA | 4.0 | 150 | $15,000 | ||
| June 4 | 2:35 PM EDT | EF0 | Loudoun, VA | 5.4 | 150 | $15,000 | ||
| June 4 | 3:18 PM EDT | EF0 | Frederick, VA | 0.5 | 100 | $8,000 | ||
| June 4 | 3:20 PM EDT | EF0 | Montgomery, MD | 0.3 | 50 | $2,000 | ||
| June 4 | 3:40 PM EDT | EF0 | Calvert, MD | 1.6 | 75 | $400,000 | ||
| June 4 | 4:12 PM EDT | EF0 | Caroline, MD | 2.2 | 50 | $300,000 | ||
| June 4 | 2:29 PM MDT | EF0 | Washington, CO | 0.1 | 50 | |||
| June 4 | 3:01 PM MDT | EF0 | Yuma, CO | 0.7 | 25 | |||
| June 4 | 3:04 PM MDT | EF0 | Adams, CO | 0.1 | 50 | |||
| June 4 | 4:53 PM CDT | EF0 | Howard, NE | 3.6 | 25 | $50,000 | ||
| June 4 | 6:00 PM EDT | EF0 | Dearborn, IN | 0.7 | 50 | $30,000 | ||
| June 4 | 6:20 PM EDT | EF0 | Pendleton, KY | 0.2 | 25 | $60,000 | ||
| June 4 | 4:49 PM MDT | EF1 | Chase, NE | 0.9 | 30 | $95,000 | ||
| June 4 | 6:04 PM CDT | EF1 | Mills, IA | 4.8 | 220 | |||
| June 4 | 5:08 PM MDT | EF1 | Chase, NE | 0.1 | 20 | $30,000 | ||
| June 4 | 5:13 PM MDT | EF0 | Chase, NE | 0.1 | 20 | $25,000 | ||
| June 4 | 7:15 PM EDT | EF0 | Culpeper, VA | 4.0 | 100 | $15,000 | ||
| June 4 | 7:27 PM EDT | EF1 | Stafford, VA | 9.6 | 100 | $50,000 | ||
| June 4 | 7:35 PM EDT | EF1 | Stafford, VA | 1.0 | 100 | $20,000 | ||
| June 4 | 6:50 PM CDT | EF1 | Mills, IA | 5.1 | 440 | |||
| June 4 | 5:53 PM MDT | EF0 | Chase, NE | 0.1 | 20 | |||
| June 4 | 7:04 PM CDT | EF0 | Union, IA | 0.9 | 50 | |||
| June 4 | 7:10 PM CDT | EF0 | Hayes, NE | 0.1 | 20 | |||
| June 4 | 7:25 PM CDT | EF1 | Seward, NE | 5.6 | 440 | |||
| June 4 | 6:26 PM MDT | EF0 | Yuma, CO | 0.5 | 25 | |||
| June 4 | 7:44 PM CDT | EF1 | Butler, NE | 3.8 | 440 | |||
| June 4 | 7:45 PM CDT | EF1 | Livingston, IL | 3.4 | 200 | $40,000 | ||
| June 4 | 8:00 PM CDT | EF1 | Butler, NE | 5.5 | 220 | |||
| June 4 | 8:13 PM CDT | EF0 | Adams, IA | 2.3 | 75 | |||
| June 4 | 8:18 PM CDT | EF0 | Tazewell, IL | 1.5 | 30 | |||
| June 4 | 8:24 PM CDT | EF0 | Tazewell, IL | 6.1 | 150 | |||
| June 4 | 8:24 PM CDT | EF1 | Adams, IA | 9.5 | 150 | $15,000 | ||
| June 4 | 8:37 PM CDT | EF1 | Saunders, NE | 6.5 | 880 | |||
| June 4 | 8:55 PM CDT | EF1 | Saunders, NE | 4.9 | 440 | |||
| June 4 | 8:58 PM CDT | EF1 | Adams, IA | 5.6 | 150 | $25,000 | ||
| June 4 | 9:37 PM CDT | EF1 | Union, IA | 3.9 | 150 | $50,000 | ||
| June 4 | 9:58 PM CDT | EF1 | Union, IA | 10.9 | 100 | $5,000 | ||
| June 4 | 11:23 PM CDT | EF0 | Phelps, NE | 0.1 | 25 | |||
| June 4 | 11:28 PM CDT | EF0 | Gosper, NE | 0.1 | 25 |
What this means
Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.
Sources
NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.