Des Moines, IA

Weather Forecast Office

July 14, 2021 Iowa Tornado Outbreak

Overview

Supercells developed over portions of north-central Iowa on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 14, 2021. The environment was ripe for tornadic development and rotation was evident on radar shortly after storms formed. Generally south of along the Highway 20 corridor was the hot spot for tornadoes from around Nemaha, Lake City, Stanhope, Jewell, and Waverly. Tornadoes were reported around Dysart and south of Mason City. Heavy rain caused flash flooding in Maxwell and ping pong hail was reported in Clarksville.

Other NWS Office Event Summaries:

NWS Quad Cities | NWS La Crosse

The latest updates:

At least 12 confirmed tornadoes in the NWS Des Moines area.
Five (5) tornadoes were surveyed by NWS DMX personnel on July 15.
Four (4) additional tornadoes have been rated or tracked by damage reports, photos, and/or videos and/or high resolution satellite.
Preliminarily, there were 26 tornadoes across the state as of the morning of July 16, 2021. This makes it the 3rd most tornadoes in a single day since records began in 1980. However, the total number of tornadoes from July 14, 2021 will change as further data is analyzed in the coming days and weeks.
There are still several additional tornadoes paths to be refined using high resolution satellite in the coming days.

Last update: July 25, 2021 7:54 p.m. CDT

Tornado between Stanhope and Radcliffe. Photo courtesy of Hunter Fowkes.


Tornado between Stanhope to Jewell. Photo courtesy of @BTravs.	Tornado near Sac City. Photo courtesy of @MrJPE.	Tornado near Gowrie. Photo courtesy of @adamorgler.

Tornado
Photos & Video
Radar
Satellite
Storm Reports
Environment

Tornadoes

Tornado #1 - Lake City
Calhoun County

Date	July 14, 2021
Time (Local)	3:54 pm - 4:16 pm
EF Rating	EF-3
Est. Peak Winds	136-145 mph
Path Length	~10 miles
Max Width	TBD
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: Short summary of the tornado.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado #2 - Stratford to Stanhope
Hamilton County

Date	July 14, 2021
Time (Local)	4:05 pm - 4:22 pm
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	85 mph
Path Length	8.3 miles
Max Width	TBD
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: Short summary of the tornado.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado #3 - Jewell
Hamilton County

Date	July 14, 2021
Time (Local)	4:22 pm - 4:40 pm
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	86-90 mph
Path Length	9 miles
Max Width	TBD
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: Short summary of the tornado.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado #4 - Gowrie
Webster County

Date	July 14, 2021
Time (Local)	4:46 pm - 4:47 pm
EF Rating	EF - Unknown
Est. Peak Winds	Unknown
Path Length	0.2 miles
Max Width	TBD
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: Short summary of the tornado.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado #5 - Shell Rock to Waverly
Butler/Bremer County

Date	July 14, 2021
Time (Local)	5:16 pm - 5:43 pm
EF Rating	EF-2
Est. Peak Winds	115-125 mph
Path Length	12.7 miles
Max Width	TBD
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: Short summary of the tornado.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado #6 - Dysart
Tama County

Date	July 14, 2021
Time (Local)	7:04 pm - 7:07 pm
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	95-100 mph
Path Length	1.15 miles
Max Width	TBD
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: *NOTE: This tornado likely extends east into Benton County (red line) in the NWS Davenport area. Adjustments will be made as our two offices collaborate.*

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado #7 - Rockwell
Cerro Gordo County

Date	July 14, 2021
Time (Local)	5:52 pm - 5:57 pm
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	85 mph
Path Length	4 miles
Max Width	TBD
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: Short summary of the tornado.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado #8 - Sac City
Sac County

Date	July 14, 2021
Time (Local)	5:33 pm
EF Rating	EF-Unknown
Est. Peak Winds	Unknown
Path Length	0.8 miles
Max Width	TBD
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: Short summary of the tornado.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado #9 - 6 E of Readlyn
Eastern Bremer County

Date	July 14th, 2021
Time (Local)
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	100-110
Path Length	1.8 miles
Max Width	TBD
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: Short summary of the tornado.

Track Map

Downloadable KMZ File

Tornado #10 - 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

Photos & Video

Photos from around central Iowa showing the tornadoes and their damage from July 14, 2021.

Additional photos/videos on this Twitter Moment


Home significantly damaged in Lake City, Iowa. Photo taken during NWS storm survey.	Tornado track visible within corn field in Bremer County, Iowa. Photo courtesy of Emergency Manager Kip Ladage	Damage to grain bins and trees in Shell Rock, Iowa. Photo courtesy of Emergency Manager Chris Showalter	Home significantly damaged in Dysart, Iowa. Photo taken during NWS storm survey.

Radar

Radar loop of July 14, 2021. From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet


Lake City, Iowa radar loop	North-central Iowa radar loop	Lake City reflectivity (left) and velocity (right)	Dysart reflectivity (left) and velocity (right)

Satellite

Various satellite imagery from July 14, 2021 from GOES-East courtesy of RAMMB/CIRA at Colorado State University.

For best viewing, view full screen and adjust quality (gear in bottom right of video) to 1080p.

Playlist of all satellite loops

Individual satellite loops


24 hour fast loop of GOES-East 5 minute clean infrared imagery starting on July 14, 2021 at 7am	Fast loop during the daytime on July 14, 2021 from GOES-East 5 minute visible imagery

Fast loop of GOES-East 1 minute clean infrared loop on July 14, 2021	Fast loop of 1 minute GOES-East Day Cloud Phase Distinction Loop on July 14, 2021

GOES-East 1 minute visible/clean infrared sandwich loop during peak tornado time - July 14, 2021	Fast loop of GOES-East 1 minute visible imagery on July 14, 2021

Fast loop of 1 minute GeoColor with Lightning on July 14, 2021	Fast loop of 1 minute GeoColor on July 14, 2021

Storm Reports

Preliminary storm report map. Note that the number of tornado icons does not equal number of tornadoes as some tornadoes have multiple reports.

SPC Report Summary

Click map below to go to an interactive map viewer

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
531 AM CDT THU JUL 15 2021

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

0841 AM     TSTM WND DMG     NEVADA                  42.02N 93.45W
07/14/2021                   STORY              IA   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            TREES ON POWER LINES. 

0228 PM     HEAVY RAIN       GARNER                  43.10N 93.60W
07/14/2021  M2.00 INCH       HANCOCK            IA   PUBLIC           



0401 PM     TORNADO          LAKE CITY               42.27N 94.73W
07/14/2021                   CALHOUN            IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            RELAYED BY IOWA STATE PATROL. 

0401 PM     TORNADO          LAKE CITY               42.27N 94.73W
07/14/2021                   CALHOUN            IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            DAMAGE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF LAKE CITY. TREES 
            DOWN AND POWER LINES DOWN. 

0401 PM     TORNADO          LAKE CITY               42.27N 94.73W
07/14/2021                   CALHOUN            IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            IOWA STATE PATROL REPORTS TREES DOWN IN LAKE 
            CITY. TIME ESTIMATED. 

0401 PM     TORNADO          1 ENE LAKE CITY         42.27N 94.71W
07/14/2021                   CALHOUN            IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            IOWA STATE PATROL REPORTS CONSIDERABLE 
            DAMAGE TO A HOUSEY. TIME ESTIMATED. 

0406 PM     TORNADO          3 ENE STRATFORD         42.28N 93.87W
07/14/2021                   HAMILTON           IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN AND THEN LIFTED. MAY BE 
            CYCLING WITH A FURTHER TOUCHDOWN. 

0409 PM     TORNADO          3 ENE STRATFORD         42.29N 93.87W
07/14/2021                   HAMILTON           IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            MULTI-VORTEX TORNADO. 

0420 PM     TORNADO          5 W STORY CITY          42.20N 93.68W
07/14/2021                   STORY              IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  



0421 PM     TORNADO          2 NNE STANHOPE          42.31N 93.78W
07/14/2021                   HAMILTON           IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            TORNADO ON THE GROUND NEAR 330TH STREET AND 
            KANTO AVENUE NORTHEAST OF STANHOPE. 

0423 PM     TORNADO          2 SW WAVERLY            42.71N 92.50W
07/14/2021                   BREMER             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  



0423 PM     TORNADO          5 ESE STANHOPE          42.26N 93.71W
07/14/2021                   HAMILTON           IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            LOCATION APPROXIMATE. TORNADO CYCLED UP AND 
            WAS ON GROUND AT THE TIME OF THIS REPORT. 
            REPORT RELAYED BY EMA. 

0425 PM     TORNADO          2 N STANHOPE            42.32N 93.80W
07/14/2021                   HAMILTON           IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            ROPE TORNADO JUST TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN. 

0430 PM     TORNADO          4 WNW JEWELL            42.33N 93.71W
07/14/2021                   HAMILTON           IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            TORNADO REPORTED WEST OF JEWELL. 

0433 PM     TORNADO          2 W JEWELL              42.32N 93.68W
07/14/2021                   HAMILTON           IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            REPORTED BY SHERIFFS OFFICE. TORNADO WAS 
            HEADING EAST. 

0433 PM     TORNADO          2 N JEWELL              42.34N 93.64W
07/14/2021                   HAMILTON           IA   PUBLIC           

            DEBRIS REPORTED TORNADO NEAR HIGHWAY 69. 

0437 PM     TORNADO          2 N JEWELL              42.34N 93.64W
07/14/2021                   HAMILTON           IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTS A TORNADO AT 310TH 
            ST AND HWY 69 NORTH OF JEWELL. TORNADO WENT 
            UP BRIEFLY BUT TOUCHED BACK DOWN AND HAS 
            DEBRIS. IT IS HEADING EAST. 

0440 PM     TORNADO          1 NE JEWELL             42.32N 93.62W
07/14/2021                   HAMILTON           IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED A TORNADO STILL ON 
            THE GROUND ABOUT A MILE NORTHEAST OF JEWELL. 
            SOME DAMAGE SEEN BUT UNKNOWN WHAT WAS HIT. 
            SPOTTER CONFIRMED IT DID GO NORTH OF TOWN. 

0446 PM     TORNADO          1 NW GOWRIE             42.29N 94.30W
07/14/2021                   WEBSTER            IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            DNR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER REPORTS A 
            TORNADO ALONG 340TH ST. 

0448 PM     HAIL             2 SE ALLISON            42.74N 92.77W
07/14/2021  U0.75 INCH       BUTLER             IA   PUBLIC           

            REPORT FROM MPING: DIME (0.75 IN.). 

0450 PM     TORNADO          2 SE WILLIAMS           42.47N 93.51W
07/14/2021                   HAMILTON           IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            TORNADO NEAR THE INTERCHANGE OF US HWY 20 
            AND CO RD R77. 

0509 PM     TORNADO          5 SSE RADCLIFFE         42.25N 93.40W
07/14/2021                   HARDIN             IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            CONFIRMED TORNADO AND DAMAGE IN GARDEN CITY. 
            TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 

0511 PM     TORNADO          3 S NEMAHA              42.47N 95.09W
07/14/2021                   SAC                IA   PUBLIC           

            REPORT FROM SOCIAL MEDIA. 

0514 PM     HAIL             CLARKSVILLE             42.78N 92.67W
07/14/2021  E1.25 INCH       BUTLER             IA   NWS EMPLOYEE     



0516 PM     TORNADO          2 SSW SHELL ROCK        42.69N 92.59W
07/14/2021                   BUTLER             IA   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            DAMAGE BEGINS AROUND 250TH AND WILLOW 
            AVENUE. HOUSES DAMAGED. GRAIN BINS DAMAGED. 
            POWER LINES DOWN. DAMAGE PARALLELED 250TH 
            EAST. 

0518 PM     TORNADO          1 NE SHELL ROCK         42.72N 92.57W
07/14/2021                   BUTLER             IA   BROADCAST MEDIA  

            KGAN METEOROLOGIST REPORTS TORNADO NEAR 
            SHELL ROCK. 

0519 PM     TORNADO          1 E SHELL ROCK          42.71N 92.56W
07/14/2021                   BUTLER             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            NO DAMAGE SEEN YET. 

0519 PM     TORNADO          2 S SHELL ROCK          42.69N 92.58W
07/14/2021                   BUTLER             IA   BROADCAST MEDIA  

            DAMAGE TO TREES AND A HOME NEAR 250TH AND 
            WOODS AVE. REPORT COURTESY IOWAS NEWS NOW. 
            TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. 

0520 PM     TORNADO          1 N SAC CITY            42.44N 95.00W
07/14/2021                   SAC                IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            VERY BRIEF SKINNY ROPE TORNADO. NO DAMAGE 
            SEEN. REPORT VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 

0520 PM     TORNADO          1 N SAC CITY            42.44N 95.00W
07/14/2021                   SAC                IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            VERY BRIEF SKINNY ROPE TORNADO. NO DAMAGE 
            SEEN. REPORT VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 

0521 PM     TORNADO          2 ENE SHELL ROCK        42.72N 92.53W
07/14/2021                   BREMER             IA   STORM CHASER     

            REPORT VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. PHOTOS AND VIDEOS 
            REPORTED. 

0525 PM     TORNADO          2 SW WAVERLY            42.71N 92.50W
07/14/2021                   BREMER             IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            TORNADO REPORTED NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF 
            240TH ST AND HWY 218. TORNADO HEADING EAST. 

0528 PM     TORNADO          1 S SHELL ROCK          42.70N 92.58W
07/14/2021                   BUTLER             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            SIGNIFICANT TREE DAMAGE AND LIGHT STRUCTURE 
            DAMAGE. 

0535 PM     TORNADO          2 S WAVERLY             42.70N 92.47W
07/14/2021                   BREMER             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            TORNADO ON THE GROUND. DEBRIS BEING LOFTED 
            INTO THE AIR. 

0535 PM     TORNADO          3 ESE WAVERLY           42.71N 92.41W
07/14/2021                   BREMER             IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            HOUSE COMPLETELY DESTROYED. 

0537 PM     TORNADO          2 S WAVERLY             42.70N 92.47W
07/14/2021                   BREMER             IA   STORM CHASER     

            REPORT VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 

0539 PM     TORNADO          4 WNW DENVER            42.69N 92.41W
07/14/2021                   BREMER             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            TORNADO ON THE GROUND. DEBRIS BEING LOFTED 
            INTO THE AIR. 

0546 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     1 SW LYTTON             42.41N 94.88W
07/14/2021                   SAC                IA   STORM CHASER     

            REPORT VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 

0602 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     7 NE MARSHALLTOWN       42.10N 92.82W
07/14/2021                   MARSHALL           IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            MULTIPLE REPORTS OF FUNNEL CLOUD NEAR GREEN 
            MOUNTAIN AROUND 170TH AND WALLACE AVE. 

0605 PM     TORNADO          1 NE ROCKWELL           42.99N 93.17W
07/14/2021                   CERRO GORDO        IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  



0606 PM     TORNADO          5 NE ROCKWELL           43.04N 93.12W
07/14/2021                   CERRO GORDO        IA   PUBLIC           

            PUBLIC REPORT OF TORNADO ON GROUND. 

0617 PM     TSTM WND DMG     WATERLOO                42.50N 92.35W
07/14/2021                   BLACK HAWK         IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED FROM 
            RADAR. 

0619 PM     TORNADO          1 NW WATERLOO           42.50N 92.37W
07/14/2021                   BLACK HAWK         IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            DELAYED REPORT: BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHDOWN NEAR 
            JOHN DEERE COMPLEX WITH SOME DAMAGE REPORTED 
            EITHER SIDE OF US 218 FROM MAYNARD & 
            ANSBOROUGH AVE SOUTH TOWARD WESTFILED AVE. 

0619 PM     TORNADO          1 NW WATERLOO           42.50N 92.36W
07/14/2021                   BLACK HAWK         IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            DELAYED REPORT - BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHDOWN 
            NEAR JOHN DEERE COMPLEX WITH SOME DAMAGE 
            EITHER SIDE OF US 218. 

0619 PM     TORNADO          1 NW WATERLOO           42.50N 92.37W
07/14/2021                   BLACK HAWK         IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            BRIEF TORNADO REPORTED NEAR THE JOHN DEERE 
            FACILITY WITH DAMAGE REPORTED NEAR US 218. 

0622 PM     TSTM WND DMG     WATERLOO                42.50N 92.35W
07/14/2021                   BLACK HAWK         IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            TREES DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED. 

0705 PM     TORNADO          DYSART                  42.17N 92.31W
07/14/2021                   TAMA               IA   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS. TIME 
            ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 

0724 PM     TSTM WND DMG     DYSART                  42.17N 92.31W
07/14/2021                   TAMA               IA   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE 

            DYSART FIRE CALLED OUT FOR A DOWNED 
            TRANSFORMER THAT STARTED A FIRE. 

0815 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     2 ESE MELBOURNE         41.93N 93.07W
07/14/2021                   MARSHALL           IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTS BRIEF FUNNEL CLOUD 2 
            MILES ESE OF MELBOURNE. 

0823 PM     TSTM WND GST     4 SE COLO               41.98N 93.26W
07/14/2021  E60 MPH          STORY              IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            LARGE TREE BRANCHES DOWN. 

0830 PM     FLASH FLOOD      3 WNW MAXWELL           41.91N 93.44W
07/14/2021                   STORY              IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            REPORT OF WATER OVER THE ROAD AT 305TH ST 
            AND 630TH AVE. 3 TO 4 INCHES OF RAINFALL IN 
            THIS AREA. 

0840 PM     HEAVY RAIN       2 NW MAXWELL            41.91N 93.43W
07/14/2021  M5.60 INCH       STORY              IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            TOTAL RAINFALL SINCE ABOUT 6 PM. 

0902 PM     FLASH FLOOD      MAXWELL                 41.89N 93.39W
07/14/2021                   STORY              IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            WATER OVER INTERSECTION OF WOODLAWN AND 2ND 
            STREET OF AT LEAST 6 INCHES DEEP. REPORT VIA 
            SOCIAL MEDIA. 

0907 PM     HEAVY RAIN       3 SE SLATER             41.86N 93.64W
07/14/2021  M3.40 INCH       POLK               IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  



0929 PM     HEAVY RAIN       MAXWELL                 41.89N 93.39W
07/14/2021  M5.20 INCH       STORY              IA   PUBLIC           



0227 AM     HEAVY RAIN       HUMESTON                40.86N 93.50W
07/15/2021  M2.22 INCH       WAYNE              IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            RAIN STARTED AROUND 1230AM. 

0500 AM     HEAVY RAIN       ALBIA                   41.03N 92.80W
07/15/2021  M2.51 INCH       MONROE             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            OVERNIGHT RAINFALL.

Environment


Figure 1: Storm Prediction Center Severe Weather Outlook for July 14, 2021.	Figure 2: Full satellite and lightning detection loop of storm evolution.	Figure 3: Storms developed along a warm front across northern Iowa within a moisture rich environment with dewpoints surpassing 70F.


Figure 4: 0-3 KM CAPE values tend to support tornado formation when co-located with significant vorticity.	Figure 5: Significant Tornado Parameter (STP) maximum over north central Iowa. Most significant tornadoes (EF-2 or greater) have been associated with a STP values greater than 1. Find more info here on this parameter.	Figure 6: Effective Storm Relative Helicity (m2s2). For official definition, click here.

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