Tornadoes · United States · Iowa · 2017

EF0 tornado, Folletts to Low Moor, Iowa, March 6, 2017

From Folletts to Low Moor, this EF0 tornado ran 4.4 miles across Clinton County on March 6, 2017, touching down at 10:40 PM CST and reaching 50 yards wide. It killed nobody.

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.

  1. EF065 to 85 mphthis tornado

    Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.

  2. EF186 to 110 mph

    Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. EF4166 to 200 mph

    Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.

  6. 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.

  7. 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
March 6, 2017
Touchdown
10:40 PM CST (04:40 UTC)
Lifted
10:45 PM CST (04:45 UTC)
On the ground
5 minutes
Path length
4.4 miles (7.0 km)
Path width
50 yards (46 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
County
Clinton County
Touchdown point
41.750, -90.385
Lift-off point
41.786, -90.315
Record number
1703062240-01

The damage survey

58 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS DVN, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF2. The highest wind the damage implies is 118 mph.

  • Also a loss of some roofing on an outbuilding
  • roof torn off other structures in area destroyed.
  • 10 poles like in picture snapped at base

Survey points are preliminary and are the raw material the published rating was built from. Source: NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit.

What the Weather Service recorded

A line of severe storms tracked east over eastern Iowa, northwest Illinois, and northeast Missouri during the evening of March 6th. Widespread winds over 70 mph, small hail, and several tornadoes were reported. Damage from these storms included: downed trees, power poles, destroyed outbuildings, and roof damage to several homes.

A tornado touched down south of Low Moor, damaging trees and outbuildings. One home lost part of a roof.

From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.

The warnings

23 minutes of warning. NWS DVN issued a tornado warning for this county at 04:17 UTC, 23 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 04:48 UTC.

The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 02:55 UTC and running to 05:05 UTC.

Issued (UTC)ExpiredProductOffice
02:55 UTC05:05 UTCTornado WatchDVN
03:49 UTC05:00 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVN
03:52 UTC05:00 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVN
04:17 UTC04:48 UTCTornado WarningDVN
04:23 UTC04:49 UTCTornado WarningDVN
04:26 UTC05:02 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVN
04:46 UTC05:00 UTCTornado WarningDVN
17:00 UTC00:00 UTCRed Flag WarningDVN

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 Slight Risk, with a 0.02 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 00:54 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), 00:00Z

4.7 hours before the tornado, 21 km from the path. March 7, 2017.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Davenport, at 00:00Z on 2017-03-07Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 39 joules per kilogram, CIN -343, lifted condensation level 1016 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Davenport, at 00:00Z on 2017-03-07The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 407 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 53 knots.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
39 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-343 J/kg
Surface CAPE
56 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1016 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
53 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
407 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
489 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0
0-3 km lapse rate
5.5 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Davenport, (KDVN), 12:00Z

7.3 hours after it, 21 km from the path. March 7, 2017.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Davenport, at 12:00Z on 2017-03-07Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 0 joules per kilogram, CIN -99659, lifted condensation level 1321 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Davenport, at 12:00Z on 2017-03-07The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -164 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 108 knots.1939587897117136Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-99659 J/kg
Surface CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1321 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
108 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
23 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-164 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-86 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0
0-3 km lapse rate
4.8 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The surface observations

Clinton (CWI), 7 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)Temp (°F)Dew point (°F)WindGust (kt)Pressure (mb)Weather
02:55 UTC190° 24 kt997.3-RA
02:56 UTC6357190° 27 kt33997.3-RA
03:00 UTC190° 24 kt36997.6-RA
03:10 UTC 997.3-RA
03:15 UTC 997.3-RA
03:20 UTC 997.3-RA
03:25 UTC 31997.3-RA
03:30 UTC 997.3-RA
03:40 UTC 997.3-RA
03:45 UTC 997-RA
03:56 UTC6557180° 31 kt38997-RA
04:00 UTC190° 24 kt29997-RA
04:05 UTC 997-RA
04:10 UTC 997-RA
04:15 UTC 997-RA
04:20 UTC 996.6-RA
04:25 UTC 996.6-RA
04:30 UTC 996.6-RA
04:35 UTC 995.9-RA
04:40 UTC 996.6-RA
04:45 UTC 43998+RA
04:50 UTC230° 32 kt997.6RA BR
04:56 UTC5955230° 29 kt47998-TSRA BR
05:00 UTC 34998.3-RA
05:05 UTC 36998.3-RA
05:10 UTC 998.3RA
05:15 UTC210° 20 kt997.6RA
05:20 UTC210° 20 kt997.3RA
05:25 UTC210° 18 kt997.3RA
05:30 UTC200° 16 kt997RA
05:35 UTC190° 19 kt997.6-RA
05:40 UTC190° 18 kt998RA
05:42 UTC53.653.6190° 19 kt998TSRA
05:45 UTC190° 16 kt998RA
05:50 UTC200° 15 kt997.6RA
05:55 UTC 999-RA
05:56 UTC5452210° 19 kt25998.6-TSRA
06:00 UTC 998-RA
06:05 UTC240° 16 kt997.3-RA
06:10 UTC 998.6-RA
06:13 UTC55.451.8240° 23 kt32999VCTS -RA
06:15 UTC 999-RA
06:20 UTC240° 21 kt999.3
06:23 UTC53.651.8240° 19 kt999.3
06:30 UTC 999.3
06:35 UTC240° 20 kt999.3
06:40 UTC 999.3
06:45 UTC250° 21 kt999.7
06:50 UTC250° 22 kt1000

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.

The radar

The Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 26 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 04:42 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)ReportWhereCountyRemark
03:49 UTCTSTM WND GST 701 W MonmouthJones, IA
04:13 UTCTORNADO2 Ne FairportMuscatine, IA1013 PM TO 1036 PM. EF2. EST PEAK WIND 120 MPH. PATH LENGTH 25.3 MILES. MAX WIDTH 1000 YARDS. END LOCATION 2.9 E LONG GROVE OR 41.6932 N -90.4995 W. A TORNADO BEGAN IN MUSCATINE COUNTY AND THEN TRACKED ACROSS SCOTT COUNT
04:18 UTCTORNADO1 Wnw BennettCedar, IA1018 PM TO 1031 PM. EF1. EST PEAK WIND 110 MPH. PATH LENGTH 16.7 MILES. MAX WIDTH 100 YARDS. END LOCATION 41.84 N -90.7261 W OR 6.5 MILES NNE WHEATLAND IN CLINTON COUNTY. A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN SOUTHWEST OF BENNETT AND T
04:19 UTCTORNADO1 Wnw WalcottScott, IA1019 TO 1945 PM CST. EF-2. ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS OF 115 MPH. PATH LENGTH OF 34.7 MILES. MAX WIDTH 200 YARDS. END LOCATION 41.9732 N -90.3501 W OR 1 MILE EAST OF GOOSE LAKE IOWA IN CLINTON COUNTY. DAMAGE WAS PRIMARLY TO FA
04:24 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 Nnw WalcottScott, IATIME ESTIMATED - SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO COMMERCIAL PROPERTY. SEVERAL SIGNS AND MORE THAN A DOZEN LARGE TOW- BEHIND CAMPERS DAMAGED
04:26 UTCTSTM WND DMGMount JoyScott, IALARGE CONSTRUCTION TRAILOR JUST EAST OF THE OFFICE ROLLED OVER AND IN A DITCH DUE TO HIGH WINDS.
04:28 UTCTSTM WND DMG6 Nw DavenportScott, IADEBRIS ACROSS I-80. POSSIBLE TORNADO.
04:28 UTCTSTM WND DMGDavenportScott, IATIME ESTIMATED - SEVERAL TREES DOWN IN RIDGEVIEW AREA
04:28 UTCTSTM WND GST 836 Nw DavenportScott, IA
04:29 UTCTSTM WND GST 61Davenport Municipal AirScott, IA
04:30 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 W BettendorfScott, IA2 INCH DIAMETER BRANCHES AND SHINGLES BLOW DOWN WITH ESTIMATED WINDS OF 60 TO 65 MPH. TIME ESTIMATED.
04:30 UTCTSTM WND DMGDewittClinton, IATIME ESTIMATED, TREE UPROOTED ON 5TH AND 11TH CAUSING DAMAGE TO A HOUSE
04:30 UTCTSTM WND GST 65Park ViewScott, IA
04:30 UTCTORNADO4 Sse Grand MoundClinton, IASPOTTER ON HWY 30 BETWEEN GRAND MOUND AND CALUMUS LOOKING SOUTHEAST.
04:30 UTCTORNADOSw Davenport MunicipalScott, IATHREE POWER FLASHES SEQUENTIAL IN 2 SECONDS.
04:31 UTCTORNADOSw DewittClinton, IANEAR HWY 30 IN DEWITT.
04:32 UTCTSTM WND DMGPark ViewScott, IATIME ESTIMATED - FARM BUILDINGS DAMAGED AND UTILITY POLES SNAPPED OFF NEAR SCOTT COUNTY PARK ROAD AND 240TH STREET.
04:40 UTCTORNADO3 Ssw Low MoorClinton, IA1040 TO 1045 PM. EF-1. ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS OF 110 MPH.PATH LENGTH OF 4.36 MILES. THE MAX WIDTH OF THE TORNADO WAS 50 YARDS. THE END LOCATION WAS 2.5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF LOW MOOR OR 41.7857 N -90.3148 W. A TORNADO TOUCHED
04:45 UTCTSTM WND DMG4 Wsw AndoverClinton, IATIME ESTIMATE. CARPORT FOR HORSES TORN DOWN WITH PIECES GOING INTO A MOTOR HOME PARKED NEXT TO IT.
04:47 UTCTSTM WND DMGClintonClinton, IATREE DOWN ON A HOUSE
04:47 UTCTSTM WND GST 54Clinton Municipal AirpoClinton, IA

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.

This ground now

The live radar over the trackEvery 2017 tornado in IowaEvery tornado in Iowa since 1950Warnings in force in Iowa nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of March 6, 2017

53 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
March 65:04 PM CSTEF1Faribault, MN9.3200
March 65:23 PM CSTEF0Webster, IA2.430
March 65:28 PM CSTEF1Webster, IA2.950$70,000
March 65:35 PM CSTEF0Geary, KS0.150
March 65:36 PM CSTEF0Wabaunsee, KS16.150
March 65:37 PM CSTEF0Pottawatomie, KS0.025
March 65:37 PM CSTEF0Wabaunsee, KS0.150
March 65:38 PM CSTEF1Freeborn, MN11.9300
March 65:39 PM CSTEF1Sherburne, MN8.8300
March 65:59 PM CSTEF0Wabaunsee, KS1.950
March 66:13 PM CSTEF0Shawnee, KS5.250
March 66:27 PM CSTEF0Boone, IA17.985$125,000
March 66:30 PM CSTEF0Nodaway, MO5.825
March 66:58 PM CSTEF1Hardin, IA6.3300$25,000
March 67:05 PM CSTEF0Butler, KS0.150
March 67:19 PM CSTEF1Warren, IA4.8100$80,000
March 67:24 PM CSTEF2Clay, MO19.61,000
March 67:29 PM CSTEF1Marion, IA5.3120$50,000
March 67:35 PM CSTEF1Marion, IA6.880$20,000
March 67:38 PM CSTEF1Franklin, KS3.050
March 67:40 PM CSTEF1Mercer, MO10.3100
March 67:47 PM CSTEF0Marion, IA5.565$25,000
March 67:51 PM CSTEF0Johnson, KS0.3100
March 68:03 PM CSTEF0Jackson, MO2.325
March 68:11 PM CSTEF3Jackson, MO17.740012
March 68:16 PM CSTEF2Wayne, IA14.9250$2.0 million
March 68:30 PM CSTEF1Appanoose, IA8.060$40,000
March 68:33 PM CSTEF2Appanoose, IA9.790$750,000
March 68:34 PM CSTEF1Lafayette, MO1.850
March 68:40 PM CSTEF0Carroll, MO6.0100
March 68:46 PM CSTEF1La Crosse, WI2.6200$290,000
March 68:56 PM CSTEF1Chariton, MO19.8100
March 69:10 PM CSTEF0Pettis, MO3.925
March 69:17 PM CSTEF0Henry, MO7.825
March 69:40 PM CSTEF0Cooper, MO17.4400
March 69:40 PM CSTEF1Shelby, MO18.51501
March 69:44 PM CSTEF1Adair, OK6.1650$100,000
March 69:50 PM CSTEF0Dubuque, IA5.725$5,000
March 69:56 PM CSTEF2Louisa, IA0.3150
March 610:00 PM CSTEF1Hickory, MO0.8100$5,000
March 610:05 PM CSTEF2Muscatine, IA1.82003$100,000
March 610:13 PM CSTEF2Muscatine, IA25.31,000$52,000
March 610:18 PM CSTEF1Cedar, IA16.6100$110,000
March 610:19 PM CSTEF2Scott, IA34.7200
March 610:24 PM CSTEF1Camden, MO2.04001$100,000
March 610:36 PM CSTEF0Morgan, MO0.350$100,000
March 610:51 PM CSTEF1Washington, AR6.4400$40,000
March 610:53 PM CSTEF1Whiteside, IL1.510
March 611:03 PM CSTEF1Osage, MO7.375
March 611:17 PM CSTEF1Montgomery, MO20.9150
March 611:38 PM CSTEF2Newton, AR36.67001$400,000
March 611:51 PM CSTEF1Saint Charles, MO3.11003
March 611:52 PM CSTEF1Mason, IL6.8150$150,000

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.