Historic December Severe Weather Outbreak Brings Damaging Winds and Tornadoes to Northwest Iowa

Tornadoes

Tornado - AURELIA Cherokee/Buena Vista County Date Dec 15, 2021 Time (Local) 4:59 PM - 5:12 PM CST EF Rating EF-1 Est. Peak Winds 110 mph Path Length 18.1 miles Max Width 250 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: The tornado touched down near the intersection of T Avenue and 610th Street and collapsed a hog barn. It tracked northeast toward Aurelia and intermittently damaged roofs and siding of nearby houses and farm outbuildings. The tornado entered the south side of Aurelia near Main Street and 560th Street. It damaged the grain elevator and snapped numerous tree limbs and trunks throughout the city, including at the golf course. Other non-tornadic wind damage included three tipped over empty rail cars, leaning power poles, and a storage garage near the elementary school.  The tornado continued to the northeast,  destroying a barn and three outbuildings along 535th Street. Additional damage occurred to a machine shed and trees along the Cherokee and Buena Vista County line. Damage continued to the northeast, mainly to outbuildings, power poles, and trees before lifting approximately one mile south of the Buena Vista County Conservation Park.   Track Map Downloadable KMZ File

(Courtesy: NWS Survey) (Courtesy: NWS Survey) (Courtesy: NWS Survey) (Courtesy: NWS Survey)

Tornado - SERGEANT BLUFF Woodbury County Date 12/15/2021 Time (Local) 4:20 pm - 4:24 pm EF Rating EF-1 Est. Peak Winds 105 mph Path Length 4.6 Miles Max Width 75 Yards Injuries/Deaths 0 Summary: The tornado touched down near Buchanan Avenue between 230th and 240th streets and moved northeast, impacting four farmsteads. One machine shed was completely destroyed with debris deposited 1 to 2 miles downstream in an open field. Several other outbuildings were damaged along with a few trees. The tornado lifted near the intersection of Old Highway 141 and County Home Road.      Track Map Downloadable KMZ File

(Courtesy: NWS Survey) (Courtesy: NWS Survey) (Courtesy: NWS Survey) (Courtesy: NWS Survey)

Tornado - LAWTON Woodbury County Date 12/15/2021 Time (Local) 4:25 pm - 4:32 pm EF Rating EF-2 Est. Peak Winds 130 mph Path Length 8.4 Miles Max Width 100 Yards Injuries/Deaths 0 Summary: The tornado touched down along 190th street 2 miles northeast of Bronson and ripped a portion of a roof off a single family home. The tornado continued northeast across open fields until it hit two metal utility transmission towers, resulting in the closure of U.S. Highway 20 due to electrical lines on the road east of Lawton.  The tornado continued northward near Fayette Avenue, impacting multiple farmsteads. A few barns/sheds were damaged along with many broken/snapped tree limbs. A machine shed at one farmstead was completely destroyed along with a concrete silo and lean-to shed. Multiple power poles were snapped along 140th street. Minor damage was also noted to shingles on a couple single family homes. The tornado eventually lifted near the intersection of 110th street and Fayette Avenue.  Track Map Downloadable KMZ File

(Courtesy: Tanner Schaff ) (Courtesy: NWS Survey) (Courtesy: NWS Survey) (Courtesy: NWS Survey)

Tornado - KINGSLEY Woodbury/Plymouth County Date 12/15/2021 Time (Local) 4:35 pm - 4:42 pm EF Rating EF-1 Est. Peak Winds 110 mph Path Length 8.0 Miles Max Width 75 Yards Injuries/Deaths 0 Summary: The tornado touched down near 140th Street approximately 3.6 miles northeast of Moville where a barn roof collapsed. Another roof of a barn was lifted off as the tornado moved to the northeast. One garage collapsed and another was destroyed along with an outbuilding near the intersection of 100th Street and Knox Avenue. The tornado then moved north northeast, impacting at least two additional farmsteads with damaged outbuildings and trees. The tornado lifted approximately 1.9 miles northeast of Kingsley along Roosevelt Avenue. Track Map Downloadable KMZ File

(Courtesy:  Plymouth County EM) (Courtesy:  Plymouth County EM) (Courtesy:  Plymouth County EM) (Courtesy:  Woodbury County EM)

Tornado - BATTLE CREEK Ida County Date 12/15/2021 Time (Local) 4:42 pm - 4:51 pm EF Rating EF-1 Est. Peak Winds 100 mph Path Length 13.0 Miles Max Width 75 Yards Injuries/Deaths 0 Summary: The tornado touched down near the Woodbury and Ida County line southwest of Battle Creek. A home lost shingles from its roof west of Battle Creek. As the tornado continued northeast, four additional farmsteads were impacted with several outbuildings damaged or destroyed. Several trees were damaged and a few power poles were snapped north of Battle Creek. The tornado lifted across U.S. Highway 59 approximately 7 miles north of Ida Grove.   Track Map Downloadable KMZ File

(Courtesy:  Ida County EM) (Courtesy:  Ida County EM) (Courtesy:  Ida County EM) (Courtesy:  Ida County EM)

Tornado - ALTA Ida/Cherokee/Buena Vista County Date 12/15/2021 Time (Local) 4:58 pm - 5:06 pm EF Rating EF-1 Est. Peak Winds 100 mph Path Length 11.1 Miles Max Width 75 Yards Injuries/Deaths 0 Summary: The tornado touched down north of Galva resulting in damage to a home. The tornado moved east northeast and snapped several trees near St. John`s Church near Hanover. At least four other farmsteads were damaged west of Storm Lake and south of Alta. In addition, numerous tress were damaged or uprooted. Debris from the tornado extended across fields over a few miles. The tornado lifted as it moved west of Alta.   Track Map Downloadable KMZ File

(Courtesy:  Buena Vista County EM) (Courtesy:  Buena Vista County EM) (Courtesy:  Buena Vista County EM) (Courtesy:  Buena Vista County EM)

Tornado - REMBRANDT Buena Vista County Date 12/15/2021 Time (Local) 5:18 pm - 5:22 pm EF Rating EF-2 Est. Peak Winds 115 mph Path Length 4.8 Miles Max Width 100 Yards Injuries/Deaths 0 Summary: The tornado touched down north of Rembrandt. Power poles snapped between Rembrandt and Sioux Rapids, resulting in power outages. Two farmsteads had damage to outbuildings and numerous trees lost branches or were snapped. The tornado ended east of Sioux Rapids near the Little Sioux River.       Track Map Downloadable KMZ File

(Courtesy:  Buena Vista County EM) (Courtesy:  Buena Vista County EM) (Courtesy:  Buena Vista County EM) (Courtesy:  Buena Vista County EM)

Tornado - MILFORD Dickinson County Date 12/15/2021 Time (Local) 5:39 pm - 5:43 pm EF Rating EF-1 Est. Peak Winds 100 mph Path Length 4 Miles Max Width 50 Yards Injuries/Deaths 0 Summary: The tornado developed near the Clay and Dickinson County line east of Highway 71. Power poles were damaged northeast of Fostoria just after the tornado developed. A home also lost a portion of its roof three miles east of Milford. The tornado lifted over a farm field east of Milford.         Track Map Downloadable KMZ File

(Courtesy:  Dickinson County EM) Caption Caption Caption

Tornado - LARRABEE Cherokee/O'Brien County Date 12/15/2021 Time (Local) 5:05 pm - 5:11 pm EF Rating EF-1 Est. Peak Winds 105 mph Path Length 7.7 Miles Max Width 100 Yards Injuries/Deaths 0 Summary: The tornado touched down on the east side of Larrabee, where it destroyed a machine shed, chicken barn, and four silos. The tornado then moved northeast, damaging a barn and snapping some pine trees. The tornado damaged a grove of trees, destroyed another outbuilding near Highway 10 and damaged a barn roof before lifting just shy of two miles south of Sutherland.     Track Map Downloadable KMZ File

(Courtesy: Cherokee County EM) (Courtesy:  Cherokee County EM) (Courtesy:  Cherokee County EM) (Courtesy:  Cherokee County EM)

Tornado - SALIX Woodbury County Date 12/15/2021 Time (Local) 4:15 pm - 4:16 pm EF Rating EF-U Est. Peak Winds Unknown Path Length 0.8 Miles Max Width 20 Yards Injuries/Deaths 0 Summary: The tornado briefly touched down in an open field between Benton Avenue and Interstate 29. There was no known nearby damage to provide a rating for 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

Wind:

One of the main impacts from this storm system were widespread strong winds, which resulted in extensive damage to trees, structures, and power lines. While most of the gusts were driven by synoptic winds, Sioux City did observe a peak thunderstorm wind gust of 82 MPH. 

Peak Non-Thunderstorm Winds	Preliminary High Wind and Damage Reports	Preliminary Local Severe Weather Reports

Photos & Video

Warnings and Severe Weather Reports

Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Warnings Issued	Severe Thunderstorm Warnings Issued	Tornado Warnings Issued	Preliminary Severe Weather Reports

Historical Perspective of Event	Temperature and Precipitation Highlights	Local Confirmed Tornadoes	Regional Confirmed Tornadoes

Storm Damage

Kingsley, IA (Courtesy: Alex Resel)	Kingsley, IA (Courtesy: Alex Resel)	Lawton, IA (Courtesy: Tanner Schaff)	Alta, IA (Courtesy: Beth Jensen)

Radar

Loops of the Event

Radar Loop valid from 3 - 9 PM December 15, 2021	Satellite Loop of the event. Credit given to NOAA Satellite - Public Affairs	Snow depth leading up to the event

Areas of Interest

Aurelia Tornado	Sergeant Bluff Tornado	Lawton Tornado	Alta Tornado

Rembrandt Tornado	Milford Tornado	Larrabee Tornado	Kingsley Tornado

Battle Creek Tornado	Overview Radar (From KFSD)

Storm Reports

***Collection of reports remains on-going***

To see all reports from across the region, feel free to visit: https://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/211215_rpts.html

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
1029 PM CST WED DEC 15 2021

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

0410 PM     TSTM WND DMG     HOMER                   42.32N 96.49W
12/15/2021                   DAKOTA             NE   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            ELECTRIC POLE BLOWN DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED 
            FROM RADAR. 

0417 PM     TORNADO          2 S SALIX               42.28N 96.28W
12/15/2021                   WOODBURY           IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

             

0417 PM     TORNADO          2 SW BRONSON            42.39N 96.23W
12/15/2021                   WOODBURY           IA   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE 

             

0419 PM     TSTM WND DMG     HORNICK                 42.23N 96.10W
12/15/2021                   WOODBURY           IA   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            OVERTURNED PROPANE TANKS. TIME ESTIMATED 
            FROM RADAR. 

0420 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 W BRONSON             42.40N 96.28W
12/15/2021                   WOODBURY           IA   STORM CHASER     

            BUILDING DAMAGED. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 

0421 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 E SERGEANT BLUFF      42.40N 96.31W
12/15/2021                   WOODBURY           IA   PUBLIC           

            ROOFS OFF A COUPLE OF HOMES BETWEEN SERGEANT 
            BLUFF AND BRONSON. TIME ESTIMATED FROM 
            RADAR. 

0423 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 WSW SERGEANT BLUFF    42.39N 96.37W
12/15/2021  M82 MPH          WOODBURY           IA   ASOS             

             

0424 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 ENE SERGEANT BLUFF    42.43N 96.29W
12/15/2021                   WOODBURY           IA   PUBLIC           

            DAMAGE TO BUILDING. 

0431 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 E LAWTON              42.48N 96.15W
12/15/2021                   WOODBURY           IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            POWER LINES DOWN ACROSS HWY 20. TIME 
            ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 

0431 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 ENE LAWTON            42.49N 96.15W
12/15/2021                   WOODBURY           IA   STORM CHASER     

            POLE SHED ROOF OFF WITH DEBRIS BLOWN INTO 
            FIELD. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 

0433 PM     TORNADO          3 ENE LAWTON            42.50N 96.13W
12/15/2021                   WOODBURY           IA   STORM CHASER     

            REPORT OF POWER FLASHES FROM POWER LINES. 

0434 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 W ANTHON              42.39N 95.88W
12/15/2021                   WOODBURY           IA   PUBLIC           

            CATTLE BARN AND GARAGE DAMAGED. TIME 
            ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 

0435 PM     TSTM WND DMG     KINGSLEY                42.58N 95.96W
12/15/2021                   PLYMOUTH           IA   PUBLIC           

            ROOF TOWN OFF OF BUILDING. TIME ESTIMATED 
            FROM RADAR. 

0510 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SSE SUTHERLAND        42.95N 95.49W
12/15/2021                   O'BRIEN            IA   PUBLIC           

            DESTROYED BUILDING BLOCKING HIGHWAY 10 SOUTH 
            OF SUTHERLAND. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 

0511 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SUTHERLAND              42.97N 95.49W
12/15/2021                   O'BRIEN            IA   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            LARGE TREE BRANCH DOWN IN TOWN. TIME 
            ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 

0443 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 NW BATTLE CREEK       42.34N 95.63W
12/15/2021                   IDA                IA   PUBLIC           

            MACHINE SHED DAMAGED. TIME ESTIMATED FROM 
            RADAR. 

0448 PM     TSTM WND DMG     6 NW IDA GROVE          42.40N 95.55W
12/15/2021                   IDA                IA   PUBLIC           

            MACHINE SHED DAMAGE. TIME ESTIMATED FROM 
            RADAR. 

0450 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 SSE HOLSTEIN          42.43N 95.52W
12/15/2021                   IDA                IA   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            TREES DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 

0457 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 NNW GALVA             42.53N 95.43W
12/15/2021                   IDA                IA   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            HOUSE DAMAGED WITH ROOF TORN OFF. HOOP BARN 
            DESTROYED AND 100 YEAR OLD MARCHINE SHED 
            DESTOYED. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 

0535 PM     TSTM WND GST     8 WSW MILFORD           43.29N 95.31W
12/15/2021  E60 MPH          DICKINSON          IA   EMERGENCY MNGR   

             

0540 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 ENE FOSTORIA          43.27N 95.08W
12/15/2021                   DICKINSON          IA   PUBLIC           

            ROOF GONE OFF OF A LARGE SHED, 2-3 TREES 
            UPROOTED AND SEVERAL POWER POLES WERE 
            KNOCKED DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 

0549 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 E SPIRIT LAKE         43.42N 95.10W
12/15/2021                   DICKINSON          IA   PUBLIC           

            POWER POLES DOWN IN TOWN. TIME ESTIMATED 
            FROM RADAR. 

0552 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SUPERIOR                43.43N 94.95W
12/15/2021                   DICKINSON          IA   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            LARGE BRANCHES DOWN AND SHINGLES OFF OF 
            ROOF. GARAGE BLOWN OFF OF FOUNDATION. TIME 
            ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 

0525 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 E ROYAL               43.07N 95.23W
12/15/2021                   CLAY               IA   EMERGENCY MNGR   

            LARGE PINE TREE BLOW DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED 
            FROM RADAR. 

0531 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 SSE SPENCER           43.14N 95.15W
12/15/2021                   CLAY               IA   PUBLIC           

            TREES DOWN IN TOWN. TIME ESTIMATED FROM 
            RADAR. 

0533 PM     TSTM WND GST     3 WNW SPENCER           43.17N 95.20W
12/15/2021  M54 MPH          CLAY               IA   ASOS             

             

0503 PM     TSTM WND DMG     AURELIA                 42.71N 95.44W
12/15/2021                   CHEROKEE           IA   PUBLIC           

            UPDATES PREVIOUS TSTM WND DMG REPORT FROM 
            AURELIA. SILO DAMAGED, TREES DOWN AND SHEET 
            METAL FROM BUILDINGS ON ROAD. 3 RAIL CARS 
            BLOWN OVER, AND A HOME DESTROYED. POWER OUT 
            IN TOWN. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 

0510 PM     TSTM WND GST     4 WSW LAKESIDE          42.60N 95.24W
12/15/2021  M51 MPH          BUENA VISTA        IA   BROADCAST MEDIA  

            TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 

0501 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 SW ALTA               42.61N 95.37W
12/15/2021                   BUENA VISTA        IA   PUBLIC

            NUMEROUS TREES AND BRANCHES DOWN. REPORT
            RECEIVED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. TIME ESTIMATED
            FROM RADAR.

0421 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 WNW SIOUX CITY        42.52N 96.48W
12/15/2021                   WOODBURY           IA   PUBLIC

            TREE UPROOTED. REPORT VIA SOCIAL MEDIA AND
            TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

0425 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 SE SIOUX CITY         42.46N 96.36W
12/15/2021                   WOODBURY           IA   PUBLIC

            POWER POLES LEARNING. REPORT RECEIVED VIA
            SOCIAL MEDIA. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.