Overview
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During the early morning hours of July 17, 2016, a line of thunderstorms tracked from southeast South Dakota to eastern Iowa, bringing damaging winds to many locations along its path. In north central Iowa, locations such as Eagle Grove, Fort Dodge, and Steamboat Rock bore much of the damage. It appears that all of the wind damage in central Iowa was the result of straight-line winds. Multiple buildings were impacted along with hundreds of trees downed, along with crop damage. These storms also brought heavy rainfall to northern Iowa and resulted in flash flooding to some locations, including Mason City.
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![]() Radar loop and NWS warnings as the line of storms moved through central Iowa |
Photos & Radar:
Damage Photos
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| Tree damage in Eagle Grove (NWS Storm Survey) |
Crops flattened NW of Renwick (NWS Storm Survey) |
Empty storage silo uplifted in Renwick (NWS Storm Survey) |
Tree damage in Renwick (NWS Storm Survey) |
Radar Images
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| 2:17am: The storm begins intensifying over Palo Alto County with winds of 60-75 mph visible on velocity (right image--reflectivity is on the left). | 2:50am: While the area of highest winds was difficult to determine on reflectivity, velocity data on the right highlighted a large area of 75-95mph winds. | 3:06am: Radar snapshot as the storms moved into Eagle Grove, with winds of 75-90 mph being measured aloft on velocity data. | 3:45am: As the storm shifted eastward, a mesovortex formed over Hardin County and helped concentrate the damage winds on a narrow path for many miles east. |
Storm Reports
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
621 PM CDT SUN JUL 17 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1120 AM HAIL HAMPTON 42.74N 93.20W
07/17/2016 U1.00 INCH FRANKLIN IA TRAINED SPOTTER
MOSTLY PENNY SIZED HAIL WITH A FEW UP TO THE
SIZE OF QUARTERS.
1035 AM HAIL 2 E DUMONT 42.75N 92.94W
07/17/2016 E1.25 INCH BUTLER IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
SHERIFF REPORTED FEW HALF DOLLAR HAILSTONES
ON HIGHWAY 3.
1033 AM HAIL DUMONT 42.76N 92.98W
07/17/2016 E1.00 INCH BUTLER IA PUBLIC
PUBLIC REPORTED QUARTER SIZE HAIL ON THE NE
SIDE OF DUMONT.
1013 AM HAIL DUMONT 42.75N 92.98W
07/17/2016 M1.00 INCH BUTLER IA TRAINED SPOTTER
.
1012 AM HAIL HAMPTON 42.75N 93.20W
07/17/2016 M1.00 INCH FRANKLIN IA TRAINED SPOTTER
.
0941 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 SW MURRAY 41.01N 93.99W
07/17/2016 M1.40 INCH CLARKE IA PUBLIC
1.4 INCHES FELL IN 50 MINUTES.
0757 AM TSTM WND DMG 2 NNW KENT 40.98N 94.46W
07/17/2016 UNION IA EMERGENCY MNGR
TREE LIMBS DOWN AND AN AUGER WAS BLOWN OVER.
DAMAGE OCCURRED IN ADAMS COUNTY ON THE
ADAMS/UNION COUNTY LINE.
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 SW NORTHWOOD 43.44N 93.23W
07/17/2016 M3.15 INCH WORTH IA CO-OP OBSERVER
CO OP OBSERVER MEASURED 3.15 INCHES OF TOTAL
24 HOUR RAIN THROUGH 7 AM.
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN LAKE MILLS 43.42N 93.54W
07/17/2016 M3.72 INCH WINNEBAGO IA CO-OP OBSERVER
CO OP OBSERVER MEASURED 3.72 INCHES OF TOTAL
24 HOUR RAIN THROUGH 7 AM.
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN RINGSTED 43.30N 94.51W
07/17/2016 M2.49 INCH EMMET IA CO-OP OBSERVER
CO OP OBSERVER MEASURED 2.49 INCHES OF TOTAL
24 HOUR RAIN THROUGH 7 AM.
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN MASON CITY 43.15N 93.20W
07/17/2016 M3.03 INCH CERRO GORDO IA CO-OP OBSERVER
CO OP OBSERVER MEASURED 3.03 INCHES OF TOTAL
24 HOUR RAIN THROUGH 7 AM.
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 NE CLEAR LAKE 43.16N 93.33W
07/17/2016 M2.74 INCH CERRO GORDO IA ASOS
MASON CITY ASOS MEASURED 2.74 INCHES OF RAIN
THROUGH 7 AM.
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN FOREST CITY 43.26N 93.64W
07/17/2016 M2.60 INCH WINNEBAGO IA CO-OP OBSERVER
CO OP OBSERVER MEASURED 2.60 INCHES OF TOTAL
24 HOUR RAIN THROUGH 7 AM.
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN ESTHERVILLE 43.40N 94.84W
07/17/2016 M2.08 INCH EMMET IA CO-OP OBSERVER
CO OP OBSERVER MEASURED 2.08 INCHES OF TOTAL
24 HOUR RAIN THROUGH 7 AM.
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 WNW GRUVER 43.41N 94.75W
07/17/2016 M2.21 INCH EMMET IA ASOS
ESTHERVILLE ASOS MEASURED 2.21 INCHES OF
RAIN THROUGH 7 AM.
0536 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 NNW CLEAR LAKE 43.15N 93.38W
07/17/2016 M1.64 INCH CERRO GORDO IA TRAINED SPOTTER
TRAINED SPOTTER MEASURED 1.64 INCHES OF
RAIN.
0435 AM TSTM WND DMG 1 SSE ELK RUN HEIGHTS 42.45N 92.24W
07/17/2016 BLACK HAWK IA BROADCAST MEDIA
NUMEROUS 2 TO 6 INCH DIAMETER TREE LIMBS
DOWN IN RAYMAR. RELAYED BY KWWL. TIME
ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
0435 AM TSTM WND DMG 1 NNW GILBERTVILLE 42.44N 92.22W
07/17/2016 BLACK HAWK IA PUBLIC
A SHED AND A MORTON BUILDING PARTIALLY
DESTROYED. NUMEROUS TREES AT LEAST 12 TO 18
INCHES IN DIAMETER SNAPPED NEAR THE BASE.
0404 AM TSTM WND GST 3 N STEAMBOAT ROCK 42.45N 93.06W
07/17/2016 M88 MPH HARDIN IA MESONET
STEAMBOAT ROCK RWIS MEASURED WIND OF 55MPH
SUSTAINED AND 88MPH GUST.
0359 AM TSTM WND DMG 2 W STEAMBOAT ROCK 42.41N 93.10W
07/17/2016 HARDIN IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
SEVERAL LARGE TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN IN
STEAMBOAT ROCK. AT LEAST 2 POWER POLES
SNAPPED IN HALF JUST WEST OF STEAMBOAT ROCK
ON D35.
0356 AM TSTM WND DMG ACKLEY 42.55N 93.05W
07/17/2016 HARDIN IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
SEVERAL POWER LINES AND LARGE TREES DOWN
THROUGHOUT THE TOWN OF ACKLEY AS WELL AS
OTHER PORTIONS OF HARDIN COUNTY.
0345 AM FLASH FLOOD MASON CITY 43.15N 93.20W
07/17/2016 CERRO GORDO IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED 1ST STREET BLOCKED
OFF AS WATER 3 TO 4 FEET DEEP SUBMERGED A
VEHICLE. VARIOUS SPOTS OF WATER 4 TO 6
INCHES DEEP ON ROADWAYS ACROSS MASON CITY.
TIME AND LOCATION ESTIMATED.
0345 AM FLASH FLOOD ESTHERVILLE 43.40N 94.83W
07/17/2016 EMMET IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
6 TO 8 INCHES OF WATER ON A FEW ROADS IN
ESTHERVILLE. ADDITIONAL REPORTS OF FARM
FIELDS FLOODED. LOCATION AND TIME ESTIMATED.
0341 AM TSTM WND DMG 1 N JEWELL 42.32N 93.64W
07/17/2016 HAMILTON IA PUBLIC
TREES AND LARGE BRANCHES DOWN AT JEWELL GOLF
AND COUNTRY CLUB. REPORT VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. .
0337 AM TSTM WND DMG ALDEN 42.52N 93.38W
07/17/2016 HARDIN IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
SEVERAL POWER LINES AND LARGE TREES DOWN
THROUGHOUT THE TOWN OF ALDEN.
0337 AM TSTM WND DMG ALDEN 42.52N 93.38W
07/17/2016 HARDIN IA TRAINED SPOTTER
TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED SEVERAL 24 TO 36
INCH TREES IN DIAMETER COMPLETELY GONE. 40
FOOT TALL TREE DOWNED. ADDITIONAL TREE
DOWNED ONTO NEARBY HOUSE. TIME AND LOCATION
ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
0308 AM TSTM WND DMG FORT DODGE 42.51N 94.18W
07/17/2016 WEBSTER IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES DOWN AROUND TOWN.
0307 AM TSTM WND GST EAGLE GROVE 42.67N 93.90W
07/17/2016 E65 MPH WRIGHT IA TRAINED SPOTTER
PEAK WINDS ESTIMATED 60 TO 70 MPH.
0307 AM TSTM WND DMG 1 SSW EAGLE GROVE 42.66N 93.90W
07/17/2016 WRIGHT IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED DOWNED TREES AND
DEBRIS BLOCKING ROADWAY IA 17. TIME
ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
0307 AM TSTM WND DMG EAGLE GROVE 42.67N 93.90W
07/17/2016 WRIGHT IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
SEVERAL TREES DOWN AROUND TOWN. TIME
ESTIMATED.
0307 AM TSTM WND DMG 1 WNW EAGLE GROVE 42.67N 93.92W
07/17/2016 WRIGHT IA TRAINED SPOTTER
SEVERAL LARGE TREES DOWN, EITHER SPLIT IN
HALF OR COMPLETELY TOPPLED OVER, THROUGHOUT
THE TOWN OF EAGLE GROVE. ONE LARGE TREE FELL
ON A HOUSE ALONG WEST BROADWAY. SEVERAL
TREES COVERING THE STREET NEAR THE
INTERSECTION OF WEST BROADWAY AND FORT.
0303 AM TSTM WND DMG GOLDFIELD 42.74N 93.92W
07/17/2016 WRIGHT IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
MULTIPLE POWER LINES AND LARGE TREES DOWN
FROM GOLDFIELD TO EAGLE GROVE.
0301 AM TSTM WND DMG 2 E THOR 42.69N 94.01W
07/17/2016 HUMBOLDT IA EMERGENCY MNGR
4 MACHINE SHEDS DAMAGE/DESTROYED. TIME
ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. .
0259 AM TSTM WND DMG THOR 42.69N 94.05W
07/17/2016 HUMBOLDT IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
LARGE TREE FELL ON TOP OF A VEHICLE.
0259 AM TSTM WND DMG RENWICK 42.83N 93.98W
07/17/2016 HUMBOLDT IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
ONE-THIRD OF A ROOF OFF AN IMPLEMENT AND
FARM SUPPLY STORE. CAMPER ON ITS SIDE.
MULTIPLE POWER LINES AND LARGE TREES DOWN
THROUGHOUT THE TOWN BLOCKING MANY STREETS.
GRAIN BIN COLLAPSED AT THE COOP.
0256 AM TSTM WND DMG 4 NW RENWICK 42.87N 94.03W
07/17/2016 HUMBOLDT IA EMERGENCY MNGR
MACHINE SHED DESTROYED.
0249 AM TSTM WND DMG 3 SW LIVERMORE 42.84N 94.23W
07/17/2016 HUMBOLDT IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A LARGE TREE DOWNED
ONTO HWY 169.
0245 AM FLASH FLOOD 1 S EMMETSBURG 43.10N 94.68W
07/17/2016 PALO ALTO IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED VARIOUS LOCATIONS
OF WATER 3 TO 5 INCHES DEEP ONTO ROADWAYS.
TIME AND LOCATION ESTIMATED.
0237 AM TSTM WND DMG BURT 43.20N 94.22W
07/17/2016 KOSSUTH IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TREE DOWN ONTO A
HOUSE. TIME AND LOCATION ESTIMATED.
0232 AM TSTM WND DMG LONE ROCK 43.22N 94.32W
07/17/2016 KOSSUTH IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TREE AT LEAST 1
FOOT IN DIAMETER DOWNED ONTO ROADWAY. TIME
AND LOCATION ESTIMATED.
0215 AM FLASH FLOOD ESTHERVILLE 43.40N 94.83W
07/17/2016 EMMET IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
6 TO 8 INCHES OF WATER ON A FEW ROADS IN
ESTHERVILLE. ADDITIONAL REPORTS OF FARM
FIELDS FLOODED. LOCATION AND TIME ESTIMATED.
0208 AM TSTM WND DMG GRAETTINGER 43.24N 94.75W
07/17/2016 PALO ALTO IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREE UPROOTED. TIME ESTIMATED.
Additional NWS Storm Summaries
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