The (podcast) weather forecast from Freese-Notis for Atlantic & the KJAN listening area, and weather data for Atlantic….

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (1.0MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Storms that swept through western and southwest Iowa dumped large hail and heavy rain to some locations, while central and eastern Iowa experienced tornadoes. Iowa had gone 358 consecutive days without a tornado, prior to Sunday. The National Weather Service confirmed tornados touched down in the Story County city of Huxley, and near Earlham, in Madison County. Another was witnessed in a farm field, by firefighters near Grundy Center. There were no reports of injuries. A storm survey team will fan out across Dallas, Madison and Polk Counties today (Monday), to assess the damage and provide an estimate of what type of weather event (Tornado or straight line winds), occurred, along with the scope of the event.

Downed power lines left about 11-thousand homes and businesses without power across the state. Semi-trailers blew over west of Earlham, and on Interstate 35, near Ankeny. And, a farmer in Mitchell County lost cattle when wind blew over a barn, killing some of the animals inside. 

In western Iowa Sunday evening…A trained spotter reported 2.5″ diameter (Baseball-sized) hail fell 3-miles west/southwest of Carbon, in Adams County. Hail completely covered the ground. Two-minutes later, the public reported slightly larger than baseball-sized hail fell in northwest of Carbon….Thunderstorm wind damage was reported 4-miles SE of Shenandoah, where extensive roof damage occurred to a barn, and Nickel to quarter-sized hail reported by law enforcement.

At around 5:24-p.m., a trained weather-service spotter noted more than two-inches of rain had fallen over the past hour 5-miles east/southeast of Charter Oak, in Crawford County. Water was pouring out of fields and into the ditches. At about that same time, law enforcement in Sac County observed a funnel cloud 4-miles southeast of Lake View, between there and the town of Ulmer.

At 6:30-p.m., a National Weather Service employee reported straight-line winds southwest of Earlham, in Madison County, caused damage to as many as 8 mobile homes in a trailer park, including one unit with its roof missing. At about that same time, Madison County Emergency Management reported a tornado on the ground 2-miles west of Earlham.  Power poles were snapped west of town, a shed was blown over in the same location.

A couple of minutes later and further east, in Dallas County, amateur radio reports said several 6-to 8-inch diameter tree limbs had snapped near the high school in Adel. Emergency management officials reported winds gusting up to 60-miles per hour were occurring at around 6:40-p.m., along with pea to marble-sized hail. At 6:41-p.m., a tornado was reported to have occurred 2-miles south of Adel. A couple of minutes later, hail the size of half-dollars fell in Adel, according to emergency management officials.

(Updated)

Today: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 78. Breezy, with a southwest wind 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. Southwest wind 6 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Breezy, with a west southwest wind 7 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. West wind 6 to 13 mph.

Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. West northwest wind 8 to 14 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 69.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS CANCELLED TORNADO WATCH 183 FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:

HARRISON MILLS MONTGOMERY POTTAWATTAMIE SHELBY AND MONONA.

BULLETIN – EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
627 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR…
SOUTHERN DALLAS COUNTY IN CENTRAL IOWA…
SOUTHEASTERN GUTHRIE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL IOWA…
NORTHWESTERN MADISON COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA…

* UNTIL 700 PM CDT

* AT 624 PM CDT…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR EARLHAM…AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

HAZARD…DEVELOPING TORNADO AND HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL.

SOURCE…RADAR INDICATED ROTATION.

IMPACT…MOBILE HOMES WILL BE HEAVILY DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.
SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO ROOFS…WINDOWS AND VEHICLES WILL
OCCUR. FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DEADLY TO PEOPLE AND ANIMALS.
EXTENSIVE TREE DAMAGE IS LIKELY.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE…
DE SOTO…ADEL…DALLAS CENTER…WAUKEE…REDFIELD…VAN METER AND
GRANGER.

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 80 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 97 AND 121.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME…A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS…MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

CASS IA-
623 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013

…THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN CASS COUNTY IS    CANCELLED…THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE WARNED   AREA.

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
614 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN ADAIR COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST IOWA...
  DALLAS COUNTY IN CENTRAL IOWA...
  SOUTHEASTERN GREENE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL IOWA...
  GUTHRIE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL IOWA...
  NORTHWESTERN MADISON COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA...

* UNTIL 700 PM CDT

* AT 610 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 5 MILES NORTH OF
  GREENFIELD...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

  HAZARD...HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL AND 60 MPH WIND GUSTS.

  SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED.

  IMPACT...HAIL DAMAGE TO VEHICLES AND CROPS IS EXPECTED. EXPECT WIND
           DAMAGE TO ROOFS...SIDING AND TREES.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  STUART...GUTHRIE CENTER...EARLHAM...PANORA...ADEL...DALLAS
  CENTER...PERRY...CASEY...MENLO...DEXTER...REDFIELD...LINDEN...
  YALE...BAGLEY...JAMAICA...MINBURN...PERRY AIRPORT AND DAWSON.

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 80 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 84 AND 109.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. PEOPLE OUTSIDE
SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING AND AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.

THIS THUNDERSTORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING ALL TYPES OF SEVERE
WEATHER...INCLUDING EXTREMELY LARGE HAIL...DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE
WINDS AND TORNADOES. MOVE QUICKLY TO A SAFE SHELTER...SUCH AS IN AN
INTERIOR ROOM...A BATHROOM OR CLOSET...OR BASEMENT.

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD TO
FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS!

610 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN CASS COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST IOWA...
  NORTHWESTERN ADAIR COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST IOWA...
  WESTERN ADAMS COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST IOWA...

* UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT

* AT 607 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE
  WARNED AREA. SPOTTERS REPORTED OVER 1.25 INCHES OF RAIN IN LESS
  THAN AN HOUR OVER WESTERN ADAMS COUNTY...AND WITH ADDITIONAL
  THUNDERSTORMS RADAR ESTIMATES 2 TO 2.5 INCHES OF RAIN HAS ALREADY
  FALLEN. MORE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN ARE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE
  ANOTHER INCH OF RAIN IN TWO HOURS.

* RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
  OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
  CORNING...GREENFIELD AND STUART.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...COUNTRY ROADS...AS WELL AS FARMLAND ALONG THE
BANKS OF CREEKS AND STREAMS.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS
SAFELY. TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

GUTHRIE IA-ADAIR IA-ADAMS IA-CASS IA-
600 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013

…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEASTERN  CASS…NORTHERN ADAMS…ADAIR AND SOUTH CENTRAL GUTHRIE COUNTIES  UNTIL 630 PM CDT…

AT 557 PM CDT…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 5 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF GREENFIELD…AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

HAZARD…HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL AND 60 MPH WIND GUSTS.

SOURCE…RADAR INDICATED.

IMPACT…HAIL DAMAGE TO VEHICLES AND CROPS IS EXPECTED. EXPECT WIND
DAMAGE TO ROOFS…SIDING AND TREES.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE…
GREENFIELD…ADAIR AND CASEY.

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 80 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 74 AND 90.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. PEOPLE OUTSIDE
SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER…INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING AND AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.

THIS THUNDERSTORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING ALL TYPES OF SEVERE
WEATHER…INCLUDING EXTREMELY LARGE HAIL…DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE
WINDS AND TORNADOES. MOVE QUICKLY TO A SAFE SHELTER…SUCH AS IN AN
INTERIOR ROOM…A BATHROOM OR CLOSET…OR BASEMENT.

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM…AND MAY LEAD TO
FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS!

MONTGOMERY IA-PAGE IA-
556 PM CDT SUN MAY 19 2013

…THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR MONTGOMERY AND CENTRAL PAGE    COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 600 PM CDT…

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED BELOW SEVERE
LIMITS AND WAS EXITING THE WARNED AREA. THEREFORE THE WARNING WILL
BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.  HOWEVER SMALL HAIL….GUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY
RAIN ARE STILL POSSIBLE WITH ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS BETWEEN
SHENANDOAH AND CLARINDA.

IN ADDITION…SEVERE THUNDERSTORM REDEVELOPMENT REMAINS POSSIBLE…
AND A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL LATE EVENING.