Severe Thunderstorms and Excessive Rainfall in the Central U.S.; Heat Building in the Western U.S.

A cold front pressing east across the central U.S. will be the focus for areas of strong to severe thunderstorms and excessive rainfall through this weekend. Strong to severe thunderstorms my bring damaging winds, hail, and a few tornadoes while excessive rainfall may lead to areas of flooding. Heat will build across the western U.S. with heat-related watches, warnings, and advisories issued. Read More >

General Overview

What:	A strong low pressure system moved northeast across Iowa swinging a powerful cold front through eastern Iowa, northwest Illinois, and northeast Missouri.

When:	Afternoon and Evening of April 9, 2015

Rainfall Amounts:	0.25" to 1.40" in areas that saw thunderstorms

Hail Sizes:	pea-sized to golf ball-sized

Wind Speeds:	50 to 70 mph

Tornado(es):	A National Weather Service Storm Survey confirmed 3 tornadoes Thursday afternoon and evening. For additional details, see the Tornado Survey Report.

Flooding Concerns:	Heavy downpours caused some flooding issues on area roads in Linn county. Rainfall totals of 1.00 to 1.25 inches fell in under an hour in the Cedar Rapids Area resulting in flooded roads waist deep.

Maps

Local Rainfall (Click to enlarge.)	Regional Rainfall (Click to enlarge.)

Local Storm Reports (Click for interactive display.)	Radar (Click to enlarge and loop.)


Satellite Loop of Storms	Damage Survey Map (Click to enlarge.)

Preliminary Local Storm Reports

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

0325 PM     HAIL             SIGOURNEY               41.33N 92.21W 
04/09/2015  M0.25 INCH       KEOKUK             IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

            RELAYED BY THE EMERGENCY MANAGER

0340 PM     HAIL             1 N RICHLAND            41.20N 92.00W
04/09/2015  E1.00 INCH       KEOKUK             IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            POWER LINES DOWN. DELAYED REPORT.

0348 PM     HAIL             1 WSW BROCK             40.55N 92.17W 
04/09/2015  M1.00 INCH       SCOTLAND           MO   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            HAIL COVERING THE GROUND

0355 PM     HAIL             5 E CANTRIL             40.64N 91.98W 
04/09/2015  M0.25 INCH       VAN BUREN          IA   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            WIND 25 MPH

0407 PM     HAIL             5 E CANTRIL             40.64N 91.98W 
04/09/2015  M0.88 INCH       VAN BUREN          IA   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            VERY HEAVY RAIN AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH

0413 PM     HAIL             1 N WASHINGTON          41.31N 91.69W 
04/09/2015  M1.00 INCH       WASHINGTON         IA   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            HAIL FOR LAST 2 MINUTES

0415 PM     HAIL             1 W RIVERSIDE           41.48N 91.59W 
04/09/2015  E1.25 INCH       WASHINGTON         IA   PUBLIC          

            VIA TWITTER

0420 PM     HAIL             2 W CEDAR RAPIDS        41.98N 91.71W 
04/09/2015  M0.75 INCH       LINN               IA   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            PENNY SIZE HAIL BUT MOSTLY PEA SIZE.

0438 PM     HEAVY RAIN       CEDAR RAPIDS            41.97N 91.67W 
04/09/2015  M1.03 INCH       LINN               IA   BROADCAST MEDIA 

            RAINFALL IN PAST 30 MINUTES

0445 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 NW DONNELLSON         40.69N 91.63W 
04/09/2015                   LEE                IA   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            TREE AND POWER LINE DOWN.

0445 PM     HAIL             5 NW DONNELLSON         40.69N 91.63W 
04/09/2015  E1.00 INCH       LEE                IA   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0450 PM     HAIL             ROCK CITY               42.41N 89.47W 
04/09/2015  M1.00 INCH       STEPHENSON         IL   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0455 PM     HAIL             SPRINGVILLE             42.06N 91.44W 
04/09/2015  E0.75 INCH       LINN               IA   AMATEUR RADIO   

0455 PM     HAIL             DAVIS                   42.42N 89.42W 
04/09/2015  M0.75 INCH       STEPHENSON         IL   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0455 PM     TSTM WND GST     WILTON                  41.59N 91.02W 
04/09/2015  E50.00 MPH       MUSCATINE          IA   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            50 MPH WINDS AND PEA SIZE HAIL.

0455 PM     HAIL             3 SE NEW LONDON         40.90N 91.37W 
04/09/2015  E0.88 INCH       DES MOINES         IA   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            HAIL DURATION 3 MINUTES

0508 PM     FLASH FLOOD      CEDAR RAPIDS            41.97N 91.67W 
04/09/2015                   LINN               IA   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            16TH AVE SW AND 18TH STREET WATER IS WAIST DEEP

0509 PM     TSTM WND GST     NEW LIBERTY             41.72N 90.88W 
04/09/2015  E50.00 MPH       SCOTT              IA   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            50 MPH WINDS.

0509 PM     HAIL             NEW LIBERTY             41.72N 90.88W 
04/09/2015  M0.75 INCH       SCOTT              IA   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            PENNY SIZE HAIL.

0510 PM     HAIL             MEDIAPOLIS              41.01N 91.16W
04/09/2015  E0.88 INCH       DES MOINES         IA   PUBLIC

            PENNY TO NICKEL HAIL. REPORTED VIA FACEBOOK. DELAYED
            REPORT.

0512 PM     HAIL             DURANT                  41.60N 90.91W 
04/09/2015  E1.75 INCH       CEDAR              IA   BROADCAST MEDIA 

            REPORTS NORTH AND WEST OF DURANT- COURTESY OF WQAD

0515 PM     HAIL             1 N DENVER              40.30N 91.10W 
04/09/2015  M1.50 INCH       HANCOCK            IL   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0515 PM     HAIL             SE CARTHAGE             40.41N 91.13W 
04/09/2015  M1.25 INCH       HANCOCK            IL   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0515 PM     HAIL             LONG GROVE              41.69N 90.58W 
04/09/2015  E0.88 INCH       SCOTT              IA   NWS EMPLOYEE    

0517 PM     TORNADO          DONAHUE                 41.69N 90.68W 
04/09/2015                   SCOTT              IA   AMATEUR RADIO   

0525 PM     TSTM WND GST     4 N LONG GROVE          41.75N 90.58W 
04/09/2015  E60.00 MPH       SCOTT              IA   NWS EMPLOYEE    

0528 PM     HAIL             DEWITT                  41.82N 90.55W 
04/09/2015  E2.00 INCH       CLINTON            IA   NWS EMPLOYEE    

0528 PM     HAIL             DEWITT                  41.82N 90.55W 
04/09/2015  M1.00 INCH       CLINTON            IA   NWS EMPLOYEE    

            A COUPLE OF QUARTER SIZE HAIL BUT MOSTLY DIME TO NICKEL.

0528 PM     TSTM WND GST     DEWITT                  41.82N 90.55W 
04/09/2015  E70.00 MPH       CLINTON            IA   NWS EMPLOYEE    

            70 MPH WINDS.

0528 PM     TSTM WND DMG     DEWITT                  41.82N 90.55W 
04/09/2015                   CLINTON            IA   NWS EMPLOYEE    

            DEWITT TRAVEL MART ON HIGHWAY 30 JUST EAST OF DEWITT HAD 
            THE SIGN SEVERELY DAMAGED. POSSIBLE TORNADO.

0530 PM     HAIL             4 WSW MACOMB            40.46N 90.76W 
04/09/2015  M0.88 INCH       MCDONOUGH          IL   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0530 PM     HAIL             PARK VIEW               41.69N 90.54W 
04/09/2015  E0.88 INCH       SCOTT              IA   AMATEUR RADIO   

            DELAYED REPORT-TIME ESTIMATED- SMALL BURST OF HAIL WHEN 
            STORMS PASSED THROUGH AREA

0530 PM     TSTM WND DMG     DEWITT                  41.82N 90.55W 
04/09/2015                   CLINTON            IA   BROADCAST MEDIA 

            SEMI BLOWN OVER ON HIGHWAY 61 JUST SOUTH OF DEWITT.

0534 PM     HAIL             DEWITT                  41.82N 90.55W 
04/09/2015  M2.00 INCH       CLINTON            IA   NWS EMPLOYEE    

            1 1/2 INCH TO 2 INCH DIAMETER HAIL

0534 PM     TSTM WND GST     DEWITT                  41.82N 90.55W 
04/09/2015  E70.00 MPH       CLINTON            IA   NWS EMPLOYEE    

            SUSTAINED 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 70

0534 PM     HAIL             2 NNE COLCHESTER        40.45N 90.78W
04/09/2015  M1.00 INCH       MCDONOUGH          IL   PUBLIC

            THE PUBLIC REPORTED HAIL RANGING FROM HALF AN INCH TO AN
            INCH FROM THE STORM.

0540 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CLINTON                 41.84N 90.23W 
04/09/2015                   CLINTON            IA   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            SIGN BLOWN OUT AT GAS STATION NEAR CLINTON. TIME 
            ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 

0546 PM     TORNADO          1 SE CLINTON MUNICIPAL  41.83N 90.22W 
04/09/2015                   CLINTON            IA   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0547 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     1 W CLINTON             41.84N 90.25W 
04/09/2015                   CLINTON            IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

            NEAR THE CLINTON IOWA AIRPORT. POSSIBLE TORNADO.

0550 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CLINTON                 41.84N 90.23W 
04/09/2015                   CLINTON            IA   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            TREE LIMBS DOWN. ESTIMATED WIND 50 MPH.

0550 PM     HAIL             ASBURY                  42.51N 90.76W
04/09/2015  E1.00 INCH       DUBUQUE            IA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            PEA SIZE HAIL COVERING GROUND MIXED WITH SOME DIME AND
            QUARTER SIZE HAIL. DELAYED REPORT.

0554 PM     HAIL             2 ENE CLINTON           41.85N 90.19W 
04/09/2015  E0.88 INCH       CLINTON            IA   TRAINED SPOTTER 

0554 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 ENE CLINTON           41.85N 90.19W 
04/09/2015                   CLINTON            IA   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            WIND ESTIMATED AT 50 MPH BROKE SMALL BRANCHES

0555 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CLINTON                 41.84N 90.23W 
04/09/2015                   CLINTON            IA   AMATEUR RADIO   

            30 FOOT PINE TREE ON HOUSE-TIME IS ESTIMATED

0555 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CLINTON                 41.84N 90.23W 
04/09/2015                   CLINTON            IA   AMATEUR RADIO   

            REPORTS OF MANY TREES DOWN NEAR VALLEY OAKS

0555 PM     TSTM WND GST     CLINTON MUNICIPAL AIRPO 41.83N 90.33W 
04/09/2015  M56.00 MPH       CLINTON            IA   AWOS            

0615 PM     HEAVY RAIN       1 NW DUBUQUE            42.51N 90.70W 
04/09/2015  M1.50 INCH       DUBUQUE            IA   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            RAINFALL OF 20 MINUTES DURATION FROM 555 TO 615 PM

0645 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 SE FREEPORT           42.28N 89.62W
04/09/2015                   STEPHENSON         IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            10 INCH DIAMETER LIMB BLOWN DOWN IN FREEPORT. TIME
            ESTIMATED.

0729 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SW ZEARING            41.43N 89.34W
04/09/2015                   BUREAU             IL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            POWER LINES DOWN.

0751 PM     HAIL             MAGNOLIA                41.11N 89.20W 
04/09/2015  E1.75 INCH       PUTNAM             IL   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            RELAYED BY ILX.

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Tornado Report Summary (PNSDVN)

Radar Loop of Muscatine-Scott-Clinton-Whiteside County Tornadic Thunderstorm
For the Damage Survey Map, see MAPS.

...NWS DAMAGE SURVEY RESULTS FOR 04/09/15 TORNADOES...

.TORNADO #1 ...

RATING:                 EF-1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    100 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/:  22 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/:   100 YARDS
FATALITIES:             0
INJURIES:               0

START DATE:             04/09/2015 
START TIME:             5:04 PM CDT
START LOCATION:         8 MILES WEST OF MAYSVILLE IOWA 
START LAT/LON:          41.6510/-90.8766

END DATE:               04/09/2015
END TIME:               5:30 PM CDT
END LOCATION:           2 MILES SOUTH OF DEWITT IOWA
END LAT/LON:            41.7966/-90.5384

STORM SURVEY REVEALED DAMAGE PRIMARILY TO FARM OUTBUILDINGS AND TREES.

.TORNADO #2...

RATING:                 EF-1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    100 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/:  13 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/:   75 YARDS
FATALITIES:             0
INJURIES:               0

START DATE:             04/09/2015 
START TIME:             5:40 PM CDT
START LOCATION:         1 MILE SOUTHEAST OF CLINTON AIRPORT
START LAT/LON:          41.8152/-90.0644

END DATE:               04/09/2015
END TIME:               6:00 PM CDT
END LOCATION:           5 MILES NORTHEAST OF FULTON IL
END LAT/LON:            41.9154/-90.0644

STORM SURVEY REVEALED DAMAGE PRIMARILY TO FARM OUTBUILDINGS AND TREES.

.TORNADO #3...

RATING:                 EF-1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    90 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/:  7.5 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/:   50 YARDS
FATALITIES:             0
INJURIES:               0

START DATE:             04/09/2015 
START TIME:             6:02 PM CDT
START LOCATION:         5 MILES NORTHEAST OF FULTON IL
START LAT/LON:          41.9267/-90.0664

END DATE:               04/09/2015
END TIME:               6:15 PM CDT
END LOCATION:           8 MILES EAST OF THOMSON IL
END LAT/LON:            41.9696/-89.9387

STORM SURVEY REVEALED DAMAGE PRIMARILY TO FARM OUTBUILDINGS AND TREES.

EF SCALE: THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE CLASSIFIES TORNADOES INTO THE FOLLOWING 
          CATEGORIES BASED ON THE DAMAGE THEY CAUSE.

EF0     WEAK   65 TO  85 MPH
EF1     WEAK   86 TO 110 MPH
EF2   STRONG  111 TO 135 MPH
EF3   STRONG  136 TO 165 MPH
EF4  VIOLENT  166 TO 200 MPH
EF5  VIOLENT        >200 MPH

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE 
PENDING FINAL REVIEW OF THE EVENTS AND PUBLICATION IN NWS STORM DATA.

Rainfall Report Summaries (RTPDVN - LCODVN) - Courtesy of the Iowa Environmental Mesonet (IEM)

MAX/MIN TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION TABLE

COCORAHS PRECIPITATION SUMMARY

Pre-Event Discussions - Courtesy of the Iowa Environmental Mesonet (IEM)

Below are links to the most recent Hazardous Weather Outlook, Area Forecast Discussion, SPC Day 1 Outlook, and SPC Mesoscale Discussion before the event began.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK [1210 PM APR 9 2015]

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION [1148 AM APR 9 2015]

MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0246 [1229 PM APR 9 2015]

DAY 1 CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK [1130 AM APR 9 2015]

Links

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Severe Thunderstorms and Excessive Rainfall in the Central U.S.; Heat Building in the Western U.S.

April 9th Severe Weather Event Summary