Tornadoes · United States · Iowa · 2011
EF0 tornado, Brainard, Iowa, May 22, 2011
This EF0 tornado ran 1.4 miles across Fayette County on May 22, 2011, touching down at 4:01 PM CDT and reaching 50 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $10,000 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
- May 22, 2011
- Touchdown
- 4:01 PM CDT (21:01 UTC)
- Lifted
- 4:03 PM CDT (21:03 UTC)
- On the ground
- 2 minutes
- Path length
- 1.4 miles (2.2 km)
- Path width
- 50 yards (46 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $10,000
- County
- Fayette County
- Touchdown point
- 42.963, -91.732
- Lift-off point
- 42.966, -91.705
- Record number
- 1105221501-01
What the Weather Service recorded
During the afternoon of May 22nd, severe thunderstorms developed along a cold front as it moved through northeast Iowa. These severe thunderstorms produced three confirmed tornadoes. The first tornado occurred in Howard County and was rated an EF2. The second (EF1) and third (EF0) tornadoes both occurred in Fayette County. Significant damage occurred between Chester (Howard County) and Lime Springs (Howard County) where several farms had buildings completely destroyed or significantly damaged. Three minor injuries occurred with the Howard County tornado. Around 850 customers were without power after the storms moved through in Howard County. Damages were estimated to be almost $700 thousand.
This was the second tornado to affect Fayette County. It was only in the ground for a couple of minutes as it crossed over County Road B64 between West Union and Elgin. For the short time the tornado was on the ground, it caused some roofing damage to a home and barn and snapped off several trees.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The warnings
No tornado warning for this county appears in the archive as in force at the moment the tornado touched down. One was issued for the county at another hour that day.
The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 17:10 UTC and running to 22:30 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17:10 UTC | 22:30 UTC | Tornado Watch | ARX |
| 20:22 UTC | 21:00 UTC | Tornado Warning | ARX |
| 21:19 UTC | 21:39 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ARX |
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 0.15 chance of a tornado within 25 miles, in the hatched area where significant tornadoes were expected. The outlook in force was issued at 20:00 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.
The 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.
Davenport, (KDVN), 12:00Z
9.0 hours before the tornado, 180 km from the path. May 22, 2011.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -72224 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1775 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 40 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 34 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 233 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 287 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 5.3 K/km
Davenport, (KDVN), 00:00Z
3.0 hours after it, 180 km from the path. May 23, 2011.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1935 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -18 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 867 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 935 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 46 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 43 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 271 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 364 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 3.4
- Supercell composite
- 19.9
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 5.3 K/km
The surface observations
Decorah (DEH), 35 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:15 UTC | 75.2 | 62.6 | 180° 15 kt | 27 | 1000 | |
| 19:35 UTC | 75.2 | 62.6 | 170° 16 kt | 25 | 999.3 | |
| 19:55 UTC | 78.8 | 62.6 | 170° 14 kt | 23 | 998.6 | |
| 20:15 UTC | 77 | 62.6 | 170° 15 kt | 30 | 997.6 | |
| 20:35 UTC | 78.8 | 62.6 | 180° 17 kt | 28 | 997.6 | |
| 20:55 UTC | 75.2 | 64.4 | 180° 20 kt | 31 | 997.3 | -RA |
| 21:15 UTC | 75.2 | 57.2 | 190° 12 kt | 24 | 998.3 | -DZ |
| 21:35 UTC | 73.4 | 57.2 | 200° 8 kt | 18 | 999.3 | |
| 21:55 UTC | 71.6 | 57.2 | 210° 4 kt | 999 | ||
| 22:15 UTC | 73.4 | 57.2 | 240° 5 kt | 999 | ||
| 22:35 UTC | 75.2 | 53.6 | 270° 13 kt | 20 | 999.3 | |
| 22:55 UTC | 75.2 | 51.8 | 240° 12 kt | 22 | 999.3 |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The La Crosse radar (KARX), 104 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 21:01 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:50 UTC | HAIL 1 | Tripoli | Bremer, IA | |
| 20:13 UTC | FUNNEL CLOUD | 2 Se Tripoli | Bremer, IA | FUNNEL CLOUD REACHED ABOUT 3/4 OF THE WAY TO THE GROUND BEFORE RETREATING INTO THE WALL CLOUD. |
| 20:15 UTC | HAIL 1 | Tripoli | Bremer, IA | |
| 20:25 UTC | FUNNEL CLOUD | 4 N Oelwein | Fayette, IA | PEA-SIZED HAIL AS WELL. |
| 20:25 UTC | HAIL 2 | Sumner | Bremer, IA | UTILITY WORKERS REPORT. EAST SIDE OF SUMNER. |
| 20:26 UTC | HAIL 1 | 2 W Sumner | Bremer, IA | |
| 20:37 UTC | TORNADO | Randalia | Fayette, IA | STORM SURVEY CONDUCTED 5/24. TORNADO BEGAN 3 MILES EAST OF SUMNER...ABOUT A HALF MILE NORTH OF INTERSECTION OF HWY 93 AND U AVENUE. CONTINUED EAST NORTHEAST FOR ABOUT 8 MILES...PASSING JUST NORTH OF RANDALIA AND ENDING 2 |
| 20:47 UTC | TORNADO | 4 Wnw Maynard | Fayette, IA | EM REPORTS POSSIBLE TORNADO TRACK WITH DOWNED TREES AND DAMAGED FARMS. |
| 21:01 UTC | HAIL 2 | West Union | Fayette, IA | DELAYED REPORT |
| 21:01 UTC | TORNADO | 5 E West Union | Fayette, IA | STORM SURVEY CONDUCTED 5/24. TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN 5 MILES EAST OF WEST UNION NEAR INTERSECTION OF HWY B64 AND G AVENUE. PATH CONTINUED EAST NORTHEAST FOR ABOUT 1 MILE BEFORE LIFTING 2 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CLERMONT AT 403 P |
| 21:05 UTC | HAIL 0.5 | Fayette | Fayette, IA | |
| 21:17 UTC | HAIL 1.5 | Elgin | Fayette, IA | |
| 21:42 UTC | FUNNEL CLOUD | Wadena | Fayette, IA | |
| 21:53 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | 3 Ese Brainard | Fayette, IA |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2011 tornado in IowaEvery tornado in Iowa since 1950Warnings in force in Iowa nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of May 22, 2011
47 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 22 | 2:13 PM CDT | EF1 | Hennepin, MN | 13.6 | 880 | 1 | 48 | $167 million |
| May 22 | 2:33 PM CDT | EF1 | Price, WI to IA, MN | 3.3 | 600 | $4,000 | ||
| May 22 | 2:33 PM CDT | EF2 | Howard, IA to MN | 28.7 | 250 | 3 | $775,000 | |
| May 22 | 2:38 PM CDT | EF0 | Lafayette, MO | 0.3 | 40 | $500 | ||
| May 22 | 2:40 PM CDT | EF2 | Iowa, IA | 3.9 | 75 | $250,000 | ||
| May 22 | 2:52 PM CDT | EF0 | Anoka, MN | 0.2 | 30 | $50,000 | ||
| May 22 | 2:54 PM CDT | EF0 | Iowa, IA | 2.0 | 25 | $10,000 | ||
| May 22 | 3:13 PM CDT | EF0 | Bremer, IA | 0.1 | 30 | |||
| May 22 | 3:16 PM CDT | EF0 | Washington, MN | 2.6 | 75 | $50,000 | ||
| May 22 | 3:25 PM CDT | EF0 | Lafayette, MO | 0.1 | 50 | |||
| May 22 | 3:37 PM CDT | EF1 | Fayette, IA | 7.9 | 70 | $175,000 | ||
| May 22 | 3:58 PM CDT | EF0 | Lafayette, MO | 0.1 | 50 | $3,000 | ||
| May 22 | 4:00 PM CDT | EF1 | Barron, WI | 2.0 | 300 | $200,000 | ||
| May 22 | 4:05 PM CDT | EF2 | Houston, MN to WI | 13.8 | 150 | $15 million | ||
| May 22 | 4:10 PM CDT | EF0 | Labette, KS | 0.3 | 50 | |||
| May 22 | 4:37 PM CDT | EF1 | Jasper, IN | 0.3 | 33 | $25,000 | ||
| May 22 | 4:47 PM CDT | EF1 | La Crosse, WI | 8.2 | 125 | $920,000 | ||
| May 22 | 4:50 PM CDT | EF1 | Saline, MO | 3.5 | 75 | $230,000 | ||
| May 22 | 5:15 PM CDT | EF2 | Monroe, WI | 64.5 | 800 | 1 | $7.7 million | |
| May 22 | 5:34 PM CDT | EF5 | Joplin tornado, MO | 21.6 | 1,600 | 158 | 1150 | $2.8 billion |
| May 22 | 5:39 PM CDT | EF0 | Price, WI | 1.1 | 350 | $1,000 | ||
| May 22 | 5:52 PM CDT | EF0 | Price, WI | 1.1 | 400 | |||
| May 22 | 6:01 PM CDT | EF0 | Price, WI | 2.1 | 350 | $5,000 | ||
| May 22 | 6:10 PM CDT | EF2 | Newton, MO | 14.1 | 800 | $1.0 million | ||
| May 22 | 6:20 PM CDT | EF0 | Jack, TX | 0.0 | 50 | |||
| May 22 | 6:25 PM CDT | EF1 | Ogle, IL | 29.1 | 200 | $150,000 | ||
| May 22 | 6:26 PM CDT | EF0 | Price, WI | 0.8 | 275 | |||
| May 22 | 6:28 PM CDT | EF1 | Ogle, IL | 1.7 | 200 | $50,000 | ||
| May 22 | 6:33 PM CDT | EF2 | Delaware, OK | 6.7 | 800 | $1.0 million | ||
| May 22 | 6:40 PM CDT | EF1 | Ogle, IL | 0.5 | 100 | $50,000 | ||
| May 22 | 6:42 PM CDT | EF1 | Wagoner, OK | 3.5 | 300 | |||
| May 22 | 6:52 PM CDT | EF3 | Delaware, OK to MO | 17.9 | 1,550 | 4 | $2.0 million | |
| May 22 | 6:55 PM CDT | EF1 | Winnebago, IL | 2.7 | 50 | |||
| May 22 | 6:59 PM CDT | EF1 | Winnebago, IL | 0.9 | 50 | $15,000 | ||
| May 22 | 7:10 PM CDT | EF2 | Stone, MO | 15.7 | 200 | $1.1 million | ||
| May 22 | 7:27 PM CDT | EF1 | Cherokee, OK | 3.0 | 250 | $70,000 | ||
| May 22 | 7:33 PM CDT | EF0 | Green Lake, WI | 0.4 | 30 | $1,000 | ||
| May 22 | 7:47 PM CDT | EF0 | Green Lake, WI | 4.2 | 50 | $5,000 | ||
| May 22 | 7:50 PM CDT | EF0 | Cherokee, OK | 0.1 | 50 | |||
| May 22 | 8:13 PM CDT | EF1 | Delaware, OK | 4.7 | 400 | $25,000 | ||
| May 22 | 8:14 PM CDT | EF2 | Adair, OK | 4.5 | 200 | $250,000 | ||
| May 22 | 8:29 PM CDT | EF0 | Delaware, OK | 1.0 | 100 | |||
| May 22 | 8:30 PM CDT | EF2 | Delaware, OK | 2.9 | 350 | 12 | $400,000 | |
| May 22 | 8:36 PM CDT | EF1 | Delaware, OK | 1.7 | 150 | |||
| May 22 | 8:41 PM CDT | EF0 | Renville, ND | 0.1 | 25 | |||
| May 22 | 8:44 PM CDT | EF1 | Delaware, OK | 0.5 | 100 | |||
| May 22 | 8:54 PM CDT | EF1 | Benton, AR | 2.8 | 450 | $25,000 |
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.