Tornadoes · United States · Iowa · 2024
EF0 tornado, Beech to Summerset, Iowa, May 24, 2024
From Beech to Summerset, this EF0 tornado ran 2.2 miles across Warren County on May 24, 2024, touching down at 4:57 AM CDT and reaching 50 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $2,000 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 24, 2024
- Touchdown
- 4:57 AM CDT (09:57 UTC)
- Lifted
- 4:59 AM CDT (09:59 UTC)
- On the ground
- 2 minutes
- Path length
- 2.2 miles (3.5 km)
- Path width
- 50 yards (46 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $2,000
- County
- Warren County
- Touchdown point
- 41.395, -93.533
- Lift-off point
- 41.414, -93.500
- Record number
- 2405240357-01
What the Weather Service recorded
A strong QLCS moved across central Iowa during the early morning hours of May 24 producing widespread wind damage and five tornadoes.
A TDS was observed on the KDMX WSR-88D Doppler radar to the northeast of Indianola. Damage was also reported from the same area via social media. The brief tornado remained in mostly rural areas of Warren County with the bulk of the damage to 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 severe thunderstorm watch, issued at 07:44 UTC and running to 11:07 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07:44 UTC | 11:07 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | DMX |
| 08:44 UTC | 09:30 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX |
| 09:00 UTC | 18:00 UTC | Flood Watch | DMX |
| 09:21 UTC | 10:00 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX |
| 09:40 UTC | 10:30 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX |
| 09:56 UTC | 10:45 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX |
| 10:04 UTC | 10:27 UTC | Tornado 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 General Thunderstorms Risk. The outlook in force was issued at 05:52 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.
Omaha, NE (KOAX), 00:00Z
10.0 hours before the tornado, 238 km from the path. May 24, 2024.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -100176 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 184 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 2328 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 32 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 11 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 61 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 226 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 7.4 K/km
Omaha, NE (KOAX), 12:00Z
2.0 hours after it, 238 km from the path. May 24, 2024.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -91020 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1012 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 67 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 29 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -89 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- -2 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.3
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 4.0 K/km
The radar
The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 40 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 09:57 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08:05 UTC | HAIL 0.88 | Elkhart | Polk, IA | Pea to nickel sized hail in Elkhart. Delayed report. |
| 08:46 UTC | HAIL 0.75 | 8 E New Virginia | Warren, IA | Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.). |
| 08:46 UTC | HAIL 0.75 | 8 E New Virginia | Warren, IA | Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.). |
| 08:52 UTC | HAIL 2.75 | Humeston | Wayne, IA | Delayed report - picture of at least baseball sized hail on the west side of Humeston. |
| 08:52 UTC | HAIL 2.75 | Humeston | Wayne, IA | Delayed report - picture of at least baseball sized hail on the west side of Humeston. |
| 08:53 UTC | HAIL 2 | Humeston | Wayne, IA | Delayed report - media picture of 2 inch hail near Humeston. |
| 08:53 UTC | HAIL 2 | Humeston | Wayne, IA | Delayed report - media picture of 2 inch hail near Humeston. |
| 08:58 UTC | HAIL 2.5 | Humeston | Wayne, IA | Social media photo of tennis ball sized hail near Humeston. Relayed via broadcast media. |
| 08:58 UTC | HAIL 2.5 | Humeston | Wayne, IA | Social media photo of tennis ball sized hail near Humeston. Relayed via broadcast media. |
| 09:00 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | Humeston | Wayne, IA | Estimated size of hail from social media. |
| 09:00 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | Humeston | Wayne, IA | Estimated size of hail from social media. |
| 09:03 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | Derby | Lucas, IA | Delayed report of hail up to golf ball size from the Derby Fire Department. Time estimated from radar. |
| 09:21 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 10 S Dexter | Madison, IA | Delayed report of widespread tree damage. Time estimated from radar. |
| 09:35 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Ese Winterset | Madison, IA | Trees down on the east side of Winterset. Delayed report on social media. Time estimated from radar. |
| 09:35 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Ese Winterset | Madison, IA | Trees down on the east side of Winterset. Delayed report on social media. Time estimated from radar. |
| 09:37 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Saint Charles | Madison, IA | Large tree down on a car in St. Charles. Time estimated from radar. |
| 09:37 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Saint Charles | Madison, IA | Large tree down on a car in St. Charles. Time estimated from radar. |
| 09:40 UTC | TSTM WND GST 65 | 2 N Patterson | Madison, IA | Reported by Trained Spotter. |
| 09:40 UTC | TSTM WND GST 65 | 2 N Patterson | Madison, IA | Reported by Trained Spotter. |
| 09:47 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Madrid | Boone, IA | Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from Madrid. Large branch and power line down in street. |
| 09:47 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Madrid | Boone, IA | Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from Madrid. Large branch and power line down in street. |
| 09:47 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Madrid | Boone, IA | Large branch and power line down in street. |
| 09:49 UTC | TSTM WND GST 69 | Saint Charles | Madison, IA | Personal weather station recorded a wind gust of 69.5mph. |
| 09:49 UTC | TSTM WND GST 69 | Saint Charles | Madison, IA | Personal weather station recorded a wind gust of 69.5mph. |
| 09:50 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Se Indianola | Warren, IA | Delayed report of large tree down south of Indianola. Time estimated from radar. |
| 09:50 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Se Indianola | Warren, IA | Delayed report of large tree down south of Indianola. Time estimated from radar. |
| 09:50 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 S Saint Marys | Warren, IA | Report from mPING: 3-inch tree limbs broken; Power poles broken. |
| 09:50 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 S Saint Marys | Warren, IA | Report from mPING: 3-inch tree limbs broken; Power poles broken. |
| 09:55 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Nnw West Des Moines | Polk, IA | Delayed report of a tree down on a house. Time estimated from radar. |
| 09:55 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Johnston | Polk, IA | Delayed report. Social media picture of large tree branches down in Johnston. Time estimated by radar. |
| 09:55 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Johnston | Polk, IA | Delayed report. Social media picture of large tree branches down in Johnston. Time estimated by radar. |
| 09:55 UTC | TORNADO | 1 E Johnston | Polk, IA | NWS damage survey identified damage consistent with an EF0 tornado that tracked from southern into eastern portions of Johnston from 453 AM to 457 AM. |
| 09:57 UTC | HAIL 1 | 3 W Lovilia | Monroe, IA | 1 inch hail reported west of Lovilia. Time and location estimated from radar. Relayed via broadcast media. |
| 09:57 UTC | HAIL 1 | 3 W Lovilia | Monroe, IA | 1 inch hail reported west of Lovilia. Time and location estimated from radar. Relayed via broadcast media. |
| 10:00 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Milo | Warren, IA | Social media report of tree uprooted. |
| 10:00 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Milo | Warren, IA | Social media report of tree uprooted. |
| 10:04 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Wsw Ackworth | Warren, IA | Emergency manager reported power lines down. Highway 92 blocked with a large tree in the highway. Time and location estimated from radar. |
| 10:04 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Wsw Ackworth | Warren, IA | Emergency manager reported power lines down. Highway 92 blocked with a large tree in the highway. Time and location estimated from radar. |
| 10:04 UTC | TSTM WND GST 58 | Johnston | Polk, IA | Personal weather station. |
| 10:04 UTC | TSTM WND GST 58 | Johnston | Polk, IA | Personal weather station. |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2024 tornado in IowaEvery tornado in Iowa since 1950Warnings in force in Iowa nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of May 24, 2024
42 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 24 | 1:08 AM CDT | EF1 | Platte, NE | 11.8 | 700 | |||
| May 24 | 1:13 AM CDT | EF1 | Platte, NE | 1.3 | 50 | |||
| May 24 | 1:30 AM CDT | EF1 | Colfax, NE | 4.8 | 400 | |||
| May 24 | 1:43 AM CDT | EF0 | Seward, NE | 0.0 | 20 | |||
| May 24 | 1:50 AM CDT | EF0 | Dodge, NE | 1.1 | 75 | |||
| May 24 | 2:03 AM CDT | EF0 | Saunders, NE | 0.1 | 20 | |||
| May 24 | 2:12 AM CDT | EF0 | Saunders, NE | 0.1 | 60 | |||
| May 24 | 2:18 AM CDT | EF0 | Washington, NE | 3.4 | 60 | |||
| May 24 | 2:18 AM CDT | EF0 | Washington, NE | 1.8 | 60 | |||
| May 24 | 2:25 AM CDT | EF0 | Sarpy, NE | 0.1 | 50 | |||
| May 24 | 2:32 AM CDT | EF0 | Sarpy, NE | 0.5 | 60 | |||
| May 24 | 2:35 AM CDT | EF0 | Sarpy, NE | 3.7 | 300 | |||
| May 24 | 2:41 AM CDT | EF1 | Harrison, IA | 0.7 | 150 | |||
| May 24 | 3:00 AM CDT | EF0 | Pottawattamie, IA | 0.3 | 60 | |||
| May 24 | 3:08 AM CDT | EF1 | Sevier, AR | 8.2 | 300 | $500,000 | ||
| May 24 | 3:10 AM CDT | EF0 | Montgomery, IA | 2.1 | 60 | |||
| May 24 | 3:13 AM CDT | EF0 | Shelby, IA | 0.1 | 40 | |||
| May 24 | 3:22 AM CDT | EF0 | Montgomery, IA | 1.2 | 30 | |||
| May 24 | 4:38 AM CDT | EF0 | Dallas, IA | 9.2 | 80 | $60,000 | ||
| May 24 | 4:42 AM CDT | EF0 | Boone, IA | 10.7 | 180 | $10,000 | ||
| May 24 | 4:53 AM CDT | EF0 | Polk, IA | 3.2 | 100 | $50,000 | ||
| May 24 | 5:07 AM CDT | EF0 | Polk, IA | 1.5 | 50 | $90,000 | ||
| May 24 | 5:10 AM CDT | EF1 | Hamilton, IA | 2.9 | 75 | $80,000 | ||
| May 24 | 5:56 AM CDT | EF1 | Keokuk, IA | 7.2 | 70 | |||
| May 24 | 6:26 AM CDT | EF1 | Washington, IA | 18.3 | 100 | |||
| May 24 | 6:45 AM CDT | EF1 | Washington, IA | 22.5 | 150 | |||
| May 24 | 6:55 AM CDT | EF1 | Muscatine, IA | 15.0 | 75 | |||
| May 24 | 7:12 AM CDT | EF0 | Johnson, IA | 0.1 | 50 | |||
| May 24 | 7:20 AM CDT | Unrated | Cedar, IA | 11.0 | 10 | |||
| May 24 | 7:30 AM CDT | EF1 | Cedar, IA | 15.0 | 50 | |||
| May 24 | 7:36 AM CDT | Unrated | Scott, IA | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| May 24 | 7:45 AM CDT | EF1 | Scott, IA | 15.3 | 50 | |||
| May 24 | 7:52 AM CDT | EF1 | Rock Island, IL | 20.2 | 50 | |||
| May 24 | 7:52 AM CDT | EF1 | Scott, IA | 7.2 | 50 | |||
| May 24 | 8:09 AM CDT | Unrated | Scott, IA | 0.8 | 10 | |||
| May 24 | 8:21 AM CDT | Unrated | Clinton, IA | 0.3 | 10 | |||
| May 24 | 8:50 AM CDT | Unrated | Henry, IL | 0.3 | 10 | |||
| May 24 | 9:12 AM CDT | Unrated | Whiteside, IL | 1.0 | 10 | |||
| May 24 | 9:31 AM CDT | Unrated | Bureau, IL | 0.5 | 10 | |||
| May 24 | 2:52 PM CDT | Unrated | Richland, ND | 0.5 | 10 | |||
| May 24 | 5:24 PM EDT | EF1 | Onslow, NC | 8.8 | 150 | |||
| May 24 | 7:05 PM CDT | EF1 | Bowie, TX | 1.8 | 275 |
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.