August 20, 2019 Central Iowa Tornadoes

Overview

Thunderstorms began developing over northwest Iowa shortly after midnight on August, 2019. While storms started out as discrete storms producing mainly small hail and locally heavy rainfall, they gradually merged and the threat transitioned to a wind and tornado event. By 4 to 7 am storms were pushing across central Iowa, producing areas of straight line wind damage with several embedded tornadoes along the front edge of the line. As storms continued to push south the tornado threat diminished, but storms continued to produce heavy rain and gusty winds across the line of storms.

Tree damage just west of Tracy, IA

Tornadoes
Storm Reports

Tornadoes:

Tornado - Tracy
Marion County

Date	August 20, 2019
Time (Local)	6:21am - 6:23am CDT
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	110 mph
Path Length	1.59 miles
Max Width	120 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: The tornado began about one half mile west of the intersection of County Rd G62 and 240th Ave where two wooden power poles were snapped. The tornado tracked E/NE towards Tracy producing fairly widespread tree damage. The tornado then moved through the central section of Tracy, generally between Sumner and Needham Streets. Roof damage to several homes and outbuildings occurred along with widespread tree damage, with several large trees snapped at the trunk or uprooted. The tornado appeared to dissipate just east of Tracy.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado - Lacona
Warren County

Date	August 20, 2019
Time (Local)	5:55am - 6:00am CDT
EF Rating	EF-3
Est. Peak Winds	150 mph
Path Length	5.49 miles
Max Width	710 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: Based on the ground based storm survey and available photographs, the tornado appeared to begin just south of Otter Creek on 150th Ave where a grain bin was displaced across the road along with scattered tree damage. The tornado continued east/southeast across agricultural land producing scattered tree damage in shelter belts until crossing US Highway 65. The most significant occurred just east of US 65 as the tornado produced significant damage to the Iowa Operator Engineers Training Facility. Several metal building systems were nearly completely destroyed, including the complete separation of metal floor footing from concrete. Debris from this damage was spread over 1/4 mile into surrounding fields. Based on this evidence, the EF-scale rating has been raised to EF3, or peak winds near 150 mph. The tornado continued eastward producing minor to moderate roof and siding damage to several farmsteads and outbuildings along and north of Roosevelt Street. Additional tree damage was noted eastward to 190th Ave before the damage become more inconclusive due to lack of road access. Additional modifications to this track may be made pending final review of drone footage.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File


Damage at the Operator Engineers Training Facility with metal building systems nearly completely destroyed. (NWS Des Moines Storm Survey)	Damage at the Operator Engineers Training Facility with metal building systems nearly completely destroyed. This photo shows the complete separation of metal floor footing from concrete (NWS Des Moines Storm Survey)	Damage at the Operator Engineers Training Facility with metal building systems nearly completely destroyed. (NWS Des Moines Storm Survey)	Damage at the Operator Engineers Training Facility with metal building systems nearly completely destroyed. (NWS Des Moines Storm Survey)

Tornado - Badger Creek State Park
Madison County

Date	August 20, 2019
Time (Local)	5:21am - 5:23am CDT
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	110 mph
Path Length	1.25 miles
Max Width	150 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: Based on available aerial imagery and photographs, the tornado appeared to begin near the eastern edge of Badger Creek Lake. The tornado tracked southeast impacting one residence along Quail Ridge Avenue. This home suffered significant wind damage on its southern exposure, likely due to wind loading and failure of the large garage door and subsequent blowout of the southern wall and resulting roof collapse. The tornado continued southeast across Quail Ridge Avenue impacting agricultural fields before dissipating. Some final modifications to this track may be made pending final review of drone footage.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado - LOCATION
COUNTY NAME

Date
Time (Local)
EF Rating
Est. Peak Winds
Path Length
Max Width
Injuries/Deaths
Summary: Short summary of the tornado.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

EF0 Weak 65-85 mph	EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph	EF2 Significant 111-135 mph	EF3 Severe 136-165 mph	EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph	EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph

Storm Reports

August 20, 2019 Storm Reports over central Iowa

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
148 PM CDT TUE AUG 20 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0635 AM     HEAVY RAIN       EAGLE GROVE             42.67N 93.90W
08/20/2019  E4.50 INCH       WRIGHT             IA   PUBLIC           

            VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 

0854 AM     TSTM WND DMG     4 SW MILO               41.23N 93.46W
08/20/2019                   WARREN             IA   PUBLIC           

            REPORT FROM MPING: TREES UPROOTED OR 
            SNAPPED; ROOF BLOWN OFF. 

0807 AM     HEAVY RAIN       1 W NEW VIRGINIA        41.18N 93.75W
08/20/2019  M2.00 INCH       WARREN             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            STORM TOTAL. 

0605 AM     TORNADO          1/2 N LACONA            41.20N 93.39W
08/20/2019                   WARREN             IA   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            LAW ENFORCEMENT CONFIRMED TORNADO HIT 
            GROUND. BUILDINGS DEMOLISHED NORTH OF 
            LACONA. 

0605 AM     TSTM WND DMG     LACONA                  41.19N 93.38W
08/20/2019                   WARREN             IA   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            SEVERAL STRUCTURES DAMAGED INCLUDING MACHINE 
            SHEDS AND GRAIN ELEVATORS, POWER LINES DOWN. 
            TIME ESTIMATED. 

0605 AM     TORNADO          1/2 N LACONA            41.20N 93.39W
08/20/2019                   WARREN             IA   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            LAW ENFORCEMENT CONFIRMED TORNADO HIT 
            GROUND. BUILDINGS DEMOLISHED NORTH OF 
            LACONA. 

0605 AM     TORNADO          1/2 N LACONA            41.20N 93.39W
08/20/2019                   WARREN             IA   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            LAW ENFORCEMENT CONFIRMED TORNADO HIT 
            GROUND. BUILDINGS DEMOLISHED NORTH OF 
            LACONA. 

0603 AM     TORNADO          4 S MILO                41.23N 93.44W
08/20/2019                   WARREN             IA   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            STRUCTURE DAMAGE TO OUTBUILDINGS, POWER 
            LINES DOWN NORTHWEST OF LACONA, IA. TIME 
            ESTIMATED. 

0603 AM     TORNADO          4 S MILO                41.23N 93.44W
08/20/2019                   WARREN             IA   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            STRUCTURE DAMAGE TO OUTBUILDINGS, POWER 
            LINES DOWN NORTHWEST OF LACONA, IA. TIME 
            ESTIMATED. 

0603 AM     TORNADO          4 S MILO                41.23N 93.44W
08/20/2019                   WARREN             IA   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            STRUCTURE DAMAGE TO OUTBUILDINGS, POWER 
            LINES DOWN NORTHWEST OF LACONA, IA. TIME 
            ESTIMATED. 

0602 AM     TSTM WND DMG     SAINT MARYS             41.31N 93.74W
08/20/2019                   WARREN             IA   PUBLIC           

            REPORT FROM MPING: 1-INCH TREE LIMBS BROKEN; 
            SHINGLES BLOWN OFF. 

0601 AM     TSTM WND DMG     6 W LACONA              41.20N 93.50W
08/20/2019                   WARREN             IA   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            STRUCTURE DAMAGE TO OUTBUILDINGS, HAY BALES 
            BLOWN ACROSS/ON TO ROAD, POWER LINES DOWN. 
            TIME ESTIMATED. 

0600 AM     TSTM WND DMG     4 SSW MILO              41.24N 93.46W
08/20/2019                   WARREN             IA   PUBLIC           

            LARGE TREE FELL ON HOUSE. 24 FOOT SHED BLOWN 
            AWAY AND WRAPPED AROUND A TREE. MULTIPLE 
            LARGE TREES UPROOTED AND SNAPPED. MOBILE 
            CAMPER TRAILER BLOWN OVER ON ITS SIDE. 
            MORTON BUILDING LOST PART OF ITS ROOF. TIME 
            ESTIMATED. 

0527 AM     TSTM WND DMG     7 S INDIANOLA           41.26N 93.57W
08/20/2019                   WARREN             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            1 MILE SOUTH LAKE AHQUABI STATE PARK 3 FT 
            WIDE, 40-50FT TALL MAPLE TREES DOWN, PARTIAL 
            ROOF MISSING ON SHED, WINDOWS BLOWN OUT OF 
            OUTBUILDINGS, WOOD SWING SET FLIPPED OVER. 
            TIME IS ESTIMATED. 

0500 AM     TSTM WND DMG     5 E NEW VIRGINIA        41.21N 93.64W
08/20/2019                   WARREN             IA   PUBLIC           


0658 AM     TSTM WND DMG     BLAKESBURG              40.96N 92.64W
08/20/2019                   WAPELLO            IA   PUBLIC           

            REPORT FROM MPING: 1-INCH TREE LIMBS BROKEN; 
            SHINGLES BLOWN OFF. 

0653 AM     TSTM WND GST     OTTUMWA                 41.02N 92.42W
08/20/2019  M58 MPH          WAPELLO            IA   MESONET          

            AUTOMATED RWIS STATION ON US 63. 

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       TRAER                   42.20N 92.46W
08/20/2019  M2.32 INCH       TAMA               IA   CO-OP OBSERVER   


0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       1 NNW CLUTIER           42.09N 92.41W
08/20/2019  M3.45 INCH       TAMA               IA   CO-OP OBSERVER   


0600 AM     HEAVY RAIN       2 N MAXWELL             41.92N 93.41W
08/20/2019  M3.10 INCH       STORY              IA   PUBLIC           


0655 AM     TSTM WND DMG     3 SSE GRINNELL          41.70N 92.70W
08/20/2019                   POWESHIEK          IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            HOUSE, BARN, AND OUTBUILDINGS HEAVILY 
            DAMAGED BY WIND, MULTIPLE TREES DOWN. TIME 
            ESTIMATED. 

0136 PM     HEAVY RAIN       2 W URBANDALE           41.64N 93.77W
08/20/2019  M2.30 INCH       POLK               IA   PUBLIC           

            STORM TOTAL. 

0754 AM     TSTM WND DMG     1 E CLIVE               41.60N 93.75W
08/20/2019                   POLK               IA   PUBLIC           

            REPORT FROM MPING: TREES UPROOTED OR 
            SNAPPED; ROOF BLOWN OFF. 

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       1 E WINDSOR HEIGHTS     41.60N 93.70W
08/20/2019  M2.07 INCH       POLK               IA   PUBLIC           


0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       DES MOINES INT AIRPORT  41.54N 93.66W
08/20/2019  M2.35 INCH       POLK               IA   OFFICIAL NWS OBS 


0626 AM     LIGHTNING        1 NW GRIMES             41.70N 93.81W
08/20/2019                   POLK               IA   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            HOUSE FIRE STARTED BY LIGHTNING. 

0600 AM     TSTM WND DMG     URBANDALE               41.64N 93.74W
08/20/2019                   POLK               IA   BROADCAST MEDIA  

            SEVERAL SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZE TREE BRANCHES 
            DOWN. 

0549 AM     TSTM WND DMG     1 NW JOHNSTON           41.69N 93.75W
08/20/2019                   POLK               IA   PUBLIC           


0529 AM     TSTM WND DMG     2 NNE WINDSOR HEIGHTS   41.63N 93.70W
08/20/2019                   POLK               IA   NWS EMPLOYEE     

            TREE DOWN OVER 61ST STREET SOUTH OF MERLE 
            HAY MALL. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 

0644 AM     HEAVY RAIN       6 SW RINGSTED           43.22N 94.57W
08/20/2019  E3.25 INCH       PALO ALTO          IA   PUBLIC           

            VIA BROADCAST MEDIA. 

0640 AM     TSTM WND DMG     1 WNW LAKE RED ROCK     41.42N 93.11W
08/20/2019                   MARION             IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            SEMI WAS BLOWN OVER ON MILE LONG BRIDGE 
            NORTH OF KNOXVILLE. TIME ESTIMATED. 

0630 AM     TSTM WND DMG     1 W LAKE RED ROCK       41.41N 93.11W
08/20/2019                   MARION             IA   PUBLIC           


0616 AM     TSTM WND DMG     4 SE HARVEY             41.27N 92.88W
08/20/2019                   MARION             IA   BROADCAST MEDIA  

            WHO-TV VIEWER SHARED VIDEO OF WIDESPREAD 
            DAMAGE IN THE TOWN OF TRACY. SEVERAL LARGE 
            TREE BRANCHES, OUTDOOR SHEDS, AND DEBRIS ALL 
            OVER THE PLACE. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. 

0521 AM     TORNADO          4 SSE VAN METER         41.48N 93.93W
08/20/2019                   MADISON            IA   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            RATING TO BE DETERMINED. 

0521 AM     TORNADO          6 SE DE SOTO            41.48N 93.93W
08/20/2019                   MADISON            IA   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            RATING TO BE DETERMINED. 

0520 AM     TORNADO          3 SSE VAN METER         41.49N 93.93W
08/20/2019                   MADISON            IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            MODERATE ROOF DAMAGE WITH PARTIAL ROOF 
            COLLAPSE, EXTERIOR WALL COLLAPSE OF 
            OUTBUILDING. LARGE TREE KNOCKED DOWN. 

0520 AM     TORNADO          3 SSE VAN METER         41.49N 93.93W
08/20/2019                   MADISON            IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            MODERATE ROOF DAMAGE WITH PARTIAL ROOF 
            COLLAPSE, EXTERIOR WALL COLLAPSE OF 
            OUTBUILDING. LARGE TREE KNOCKED DOWN. 

0518 AM     TSTM WND DMG     3 SSE VAN METER         41.49N 93.93W
08/20/2019                   MADISON            IA   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            HALF OF A HOUSE HAS RECEIVED CONSIDERABLE 
            DAMAGE...POSSIBLE TORNADO. 

0615 AM     TSTM WND GST     3 W CHARITON            41.02N 93.37W
08/20/2019  M58 MPH          LUCAS              IA   AWOS             

            AWOS STATION KCNC CHARITON AIRPORT. 

0610 AM     TSTM WND DMG     4 NE WILLIAMSON         41.13N 93.20W
08/20/2019                   LUCAS              IA   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS 

            ROAD CLOSED DUE TO DOWNED POWER LINES. TIME 
            ESTIMATED VIA RADAR. 

0912 AM     HAIL             ALGONA                  43.08N 94.23W
08/20/2019  E1.50 INCH       KOSSUTH            IA   EMERGENCY MNGR   


0842 AM     HEAVY RAIN       LIVERMORE               42.87N 94.18W
08/20/2019  M2.25 INCH       HUMBOLDT           IA   PUBLIC           


0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       1 N DAKOTA CITY         42.73N 94.20W
08/20/2019  M3.45 INCH       HUMBOLDT           IA   CO-OP OBSERVER   


0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       1 NE IOWA FALLS         42.53N 93.25W
08/20/2019  M3.68 INCH       HARDIN             IA   CO-OP OBSERVER   


0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       GUTHRIE CENTER          41.68N 94.50W
08/20/2019  M3.95 INCH       GUTHRIE            IA   CO-OP OBSERVER   


0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       JAMAICA                 41.85N 94.31W
08/20/2019  M2.29 INCH       GUTHRIE            IA   NWS EMPLOYEE     


0520 AM     TSTM WND GST     ADAIR                   41.50N 94.64W
08/20/2019  M60 MPH          GUTHRIE            IA   MESONET          

            AUTOMATED RWIS SITE ON INTERSTATE 80. 

0515 AM     TSTM WND DMG     3 ENE ADAIR             41.52N 94.60W
08/20/2019                   GUTHRIE            IA   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            TREES BLOWN OVER ON WHITE POLE ROAD. CAR RAN 
            INTO DOWNED TREES. LOCATION AND TIME 
            ESTIMATED. 

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       DIKE                    42.47N 92.63W
08/20/2019  E2.25 INCH       GRUNDY             IA   BROADCAST MEDIA  

            VIA KWWL TV. 

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       ADEL                    41.62N 94.03W
08/20/2019  M2.15 INCH       DALLAS             IA   CO-OP OBSERVER   


0619 AM     HEAVY RAIN       ADEL                    41.62N 94.03W
08/20/2019  E2.55 INCH       DALLAS             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  


0528 AM     HAIL             3 SW GRIMES             41.65N 93.82W
08/20/2019  U0.75 INCH       DALLAS             IA   PUBLIC           

            REPORT FROM MPING: DIME (0.75 IN.). 

0500 AM     TSTM WND DMG     WAUKEE                  41.61N 93.86W
08/20/2019                   DALLAS             IA   PUBLIC           

            12IN TREE DOWN IN WAUKEE - VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
            TIME ESTIMATED VIA RADAR. 

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       CARROLL                 42.07N 94.87W
08/20/2019  M3.45 INCH       CARROLL            IA   CO-OP OBSERVER   

            RADIO STATION KCIM. 

0525 AM     TSTM WND DMG     3 E ADAIR               41.50N 94.59W
08/20/2019                   ADAIR              IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            SEMI BLOWN OVER AT REST AREA ON INTERSTATE 
            80. 

0517 AM     TSTM WND DMG     3 E ADAIR               41.50N 94.59W
08/20/2019                   ADAIR              IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            3 SEMIS BLOWN OVER AT WEST BOUND REST STOP 
            NEAR MM80 ON INTERSTATE 80. 2 SEMIS BLOWN 
            OVER IN EAST BOUND TRAFFIC LANES IN SAME 
            AREA. TIME ESTIMATE UPDATED.

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Areas of Heavy Rainfall and Critical Fire Weather on Wednesday

August 20, 2019 Central Iowa Tornadoes