Tornadoes · United States · Iowa · 2018

EF1 tornado, Monti, Iowa, June 9, 2018

This EF1 tornado ran 0.1 miles across Buchanan County on June 9, 2018, touching down at 9:36 PM CDT and reaching 20 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 mph

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

  2. EF186 to 110 mphthis tornado

    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
EF1
Date
June 9, 2018
Touchdown
9:36 PM CDT (02:36 UTC)
Lifted
9:37 PM CDT (02:37 UTC)
On the ground
1 minutes
Path length
0.1 miles (0.2 km)
Path width
20 yards (18 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
County
Buchanan County
Touchdown point
42.442, -91.623
Lift-off point
42.443, -91.622
Record number
1806092036-01

The damage survey

5 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS DVN, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF1. The highest wind the damage implies is 95 mph.

  • fam outbuilding and trees snapped. small shed destroyed.
  • pine tree broken off half way up
  • roof lifted up and garage door sprayed. fuel tank moved

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

After an early morning flash flood event in eastern Iowa, with some damaging winds near the Mississippi River, a line of slow moving supercell thunderstorms moved southeast from northern Iowa, into portions of eastern Iowa the evening of June 9th. Damaging winds, large hail, a few tornadoes, and torrential rain accompanied the storms. This event brought flash flooding, and led to some minor to moderate river flooding on the Cedar, Iowa, and Wapsipinicon Rivers.

An EF-1 tornado touched down southeast of Winthrop, Iowa. A house was damaged and the garage door failed, which allowed the roof to come off. Nearby tree damage was also surveyed.

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 severe thunderstorm watch, issued at 00:44 UTC and running to 07:00 UTC.

Issued (UTC)ExpiredProductOffice
19:31 UTC00:44 UTCTornado WatchDVN
22:00 UTC07:14 UTCFlash Flood WatchDVN
00:44 UTC07:00 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WatchDVN
00:51 UTC01:45 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVN
01:44 UTC02:45 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVN
01:50 UTC02:30 UTCTornado WarningDVN
02:10 UTC03:00 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVN
02:17 UTC08:15 UTCFlash Flood WarningDVN
02:45 UTC03:45 UTCSevere Thunderstorm 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 Enhanced Risk, with a 0.02 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 01:07 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

2.6 hours before the tornado, 130 km from the path. June 10, 2018.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Davenport, at 00:00Z on 2018-06-10Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 1247 joules per kilogram, CIN -17, lifted condensation level 1107 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°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 2018-06-10The 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 39 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 31 knots.1939Sfc1 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
1247 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-17 J/kg
Surface CAPE
2787 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1107 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
8 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
39 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
142 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.2
Supercell composite
1.7
0-3 km lapse rate
6.9 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Davenport, (KDVN), 12:00Z

9.4 hours after it, 130 km from the path. June 10, 2018.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Davenport, at 12:00Z on 2018-06-10Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 351 joules per kilogram, CIN -128, lifted condensation level 594 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°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 2018-06-10The 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 257 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 52 knots.19395878Sfc1 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
351 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-128 J/kg
Surface CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
594 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
52 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
24 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
257 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
359 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
8.3
0-3 km lapse rate
3.8 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The radar

The Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 126 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 02:33 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
00:00 UTCTSTM WND DMGWest UnionFayette, IATREES AND POWER LINES DOWN. TIME ESTIMATE FROM RADAR.
00:14 UTCTSTM WND DMGWest UnionFayette, IAREPORTS OF POWER LINES AND BRANCHES DOWN
00:27 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 Nnw FayetteFayette, IALARGE BRANCHES AND POWER LINES DOWN
01:35 UTCTSTM WND GST 601 N IndependenceBuchanan, IATREES AT ABOUT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE, NO TREE DAMAGE VISIBILE.
01:49 UTCHAIL 0.881 E IndependenceBuchanan, IAMOSTLY PENNY OR SMALLER SIZED WITH SOME NICKEL SIZED STONES.
02:02 UTCHAIL 11 Ese IndependenceBuchanan, IA
02:18 UTCHAIL 0.5E IndependenceBuchanan, IADIME TO HALF INCH HAIL IN INDEPENDENCE
02:18 UTCHAIL 11 Ne IndependenceBuchanan, IA
02:20 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 S WinthropBuchanan, IAROOF BLOWN OFF OF A HOME. RELAYED BY THE EM. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
02:20 UTCTSTM WND GST 705 E ShellsburgBenton, IAESTIMATED WIND GUST OF 70 MPH AND QUARTER HAIL,.
02:21 UTCFLASH FLOOD3 Sw MaynardFayette, IAWATER OVER MULTIPLE ROADS BETWEEN 100TH STREET AND HIGHWAY 3 SOUTHWEST OF MAYNARD.
02:36 UTCTORNADO6 Se Winthrop IaBuchanan, IAAN EF-1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN SOUTHEAST OF WINTHROP, IA. A HOUSE WAS DAMAGED. GARAGE DOOR FAILED AND ROOF CAME OFF IN THE WIND. SOME TREE DAMAGE WAS ALSO NOTED. THE DURATION OF THE TORNADO EVENT WAS 1 MINUTE.
02:48 UTCFLASH FLOODIndependenceBuchanan, IAFLOODING IN LOW LYING AREAS AND ROAD CLOSURES TAKING PLACE ON THE EAST SIDE OF INDEPENDENCE.
02:50 UTCTSTM WND GST 60WinthropBuchanan, IA
03:00 UTCTSTM WND GST 652 Sw MasonvilleBuchanan, IA
03:01 UTCHEAVY RAIN 3.041 E IndependenceBuchanan, IA
03:03 UTCFLASH FLOOD2 Sw MaynardFayette, IAWATER OVER HIGHWAY 150 BETWEEN OELWEIN AND MAYNARD.
03:03 UTCHAIL 0.252 W Cedar RapidsLinn, IAVIA FACEBOOK.
03:09 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 N ManchesterDelaware, IAMULTIPLE TREES SNAPPED OFF ABOUT HALFWAY UP ALONG HIGHWAY 13 NORTH OF MANCHESTER. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
03:15 UTCHAIL 0.25Center PointLinn, IA
03:15 UTCHAIL 0.25ManchesterDelaware, IA
03:16 UTCHEAVY RAIN 1.254 W Cedar RapidsLinn, IASTILL RAINING. THE DURATION OF THE HEAVY RAIN EVENT WAS 30 MINUTES.
03:29 UTCFLASH FLOOD3 S Winthrop Golf CoursBuchanan, IAGRAVEL ROADS COVERED IN RUNNING WATER.
03:46 UTCTSTM WND GST 70ToddvilleLinn, IARELAYED BY LOCAL BROADCAST MEDIA.
04:00 UTCHEAVY RAIN 5.2MaynardFayette, IA
04:05 UTCHEAVY RAIN 21 Nnw MonticelloJones, IASTILL RAINING.
04:05 UTCHEAVY RAIN 21 Nnw MonticelloJones, IASTILL RAINING. THE DURATION OF THE HEAVY RAIN EVENT WAS 30 MINUTES.
04:09 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 N ManchesterDelaware, IAMULTIPLE TREES SNAPPED OFF ABOUT HALFWAY UP ALONG HIGHWAY 13 NORTH OF MANCHESTER. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
04:09 UTCFLASH FLOOD1 N ManchesterDelaware, IAESTIMATED THAT WATER WAS ABOUT A FOOT DEEP ON THE ROAD WITH THE WATER OVER THE CURB AND INTO THE GRASS.
04:09 UTCHEAVY RAIN 3.51 N ManchesterDelaware, IA1 HOUR RAINFALL.
04:18 UTCHEAVY RAIN 3.322 Ene HazletonBuchanan, IA7 AM TO 11 PM TOTAL. ROADS IN THE AREA WERE WASHED OUT.
04:38 UTCHEAVY RAIN 4.5FairbankBuchanan, IARELAYED BY BROADCAST MEDIA.
04:50 UTCHEAVY RAIN 2.874 W Cedar RapidsLinn, IAUPDATED AMOUNT SINCE 9:15 PM. STILL RAINING.
04:50 UTCHEAVY RAIN 2.874 W Cedar RapidsLinn, IAUPDATED AMOUNT SINCE 9:15 PM. STILL RAINING. THE DURATION OF THE HEAVY RAIN EVENT WAS 24 HOURS.
05:19 UTCHEAVY RAIN 6MasonvilleDelaware, IAPUBLIC ESTIMATED OF 6 INCHES OF RAIN IN TWO HOURS. RELAYED BY LOCAL BROADCAST MEDIA.
05:28 UTCFLASH FLOOD2 Ene HazletonBuchanan, IAREPORTED MULTIPLE ROADS CLOSED IN NORTHERN BUCHANAN COUNTY.

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

This ground now

The live radar over the trackEvery 2018 tornado in IowaEvery tornado in Iowa since 1950Warnings in force in Iowa nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of June 9, 2018

5 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
June 93:07 PM CDTEF1Winnebago, IA2.880$15,000
June 94:20 PM EDTEF0Volusia, FL0.5150$10,000
June 93:36 PM CDTEF0Cerro Gordo, IA1.230
June 96:30 PM EDTEF0Steuben, IN0.7200
June 96:34 PM EDTEF1Steuben, IN0.9375

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.