Storm Events Database
- Data Access
- Search
- FTP Access
- Database Download
- Storm Data Publication
- Documentation
- Storm Data FAQ
- Storm Data Preparation
- Tornado EF Scale
- External Resources
- NOAA's SPC Reports
- NOAA's SPC WCM Page
- SHELDUS
Storm Events Database
Event Details
| Event | Thunderstorm Wind |
| Magnitude | 50 kts. |
| State | IOWA |
| County/Area | GRUNDY |
| WFO | DMX |
| Begin Date | 07/07/2008 17:39:00 CST-6 |
| Begin Range | 1 |
| Begin Azimuth | S |
| Begin Location | GRUNDY CENTER |
| Begin Lat/Lon | 42.36/-92.77 |
| End Date | 07/07/2008 17:39:00 CST-6 |
| Deaths Direct/Indirect | 0/0 (fatality details below, when available...) |
| Injuries Direct/Indirect | 0/0 |
| Property Damage | 2.00K |
| Crop Damage | 0.00K |
| Episode Narrative | A warm front lifted northeast across Iowa during the day on the 7th as a cold front approached from the northwest. The cold front reached northwest Iowa by the early morning hours of the 8th, however a shortwave lifted northeast across the state during the afternoon and evening of the 7th. The airmass became very unstable by the mid and late afternoon hours as temperatures warmed to the upper 80s to mid 90s and dewpoint temperatures warmed to the upper 60s to mid 70s. CAPE values rose to between 4000 and 6500 J/kg by late afternoon, and lifted indices fell to between -7 and -10 C. The environment was moderately sheared with 25 to 35 kts of shear available. The downdraft CAPE was quite high, and was between 800 and 1300 J/kg. A decent amount of CAPE was available, 300 to 500 J/kg, in the -10 to -30 C. layer of the atmosphere, however the freezing level was very high. Freezing levels ranged from 14,500 feet over northern Iowa to 16,000 feet over the south. With the high freezing level, there was a very deep warm cloud layer with precipitable water values in the 1.6 to 1.8 inch range. The threat for tornadoes with this system was minimal with LCL values around 1500 meters at the beginning of the event, and 2500 meters by early evening. Thunderstorms developed over north central into west central Iowa by the mid afternoon. Very heavy rain fell in north central Iowa where the storms intersected the warm front. Upwards of 4 inches fell in a 2 hour period, however no flooding was reported. As the event unfolded it became a high wind event. The downdraft CAPE was able to be realized with numerous gusts in the 60 to 70 MPH range. There were numerous reports of tree branches broken and several whole trees toppled. Winds of 70 MPH hit the Waterloo-Cedar Falls area. Tree and power line damage was extensive in the area. High winds in Boone County overturned a semi-tractor trailer. No injuries were reported however. Heavy rainfall became a problem, especially after sunset when the line of thunderstorms became stationary over southern Iowa. The heavy rain over the northern part of the state, such as the 2.44 inches that fell in Clarksville in Butler County, did not cause much in the way of flooding. Overnight, a large area of thunderstorms remained over the same areas of south central Iowa. Numerous reports of rain in the 4 to 6 inch range were received in the area with the heaviest rain occurring in the Appanoose and Davis County areas. The schoolnet site in Bloomfield reported 7.68 inches of rain, while the Centerville Schoolnet site reported 7.58 inches. A measured rainfall of 6.9 inches was received from southwest of the Bloomfield area for one of the heavier non-automated totals. Centerville received 6.13 inches from overnight rains as reported by the Cooperative Observer. Appanoose County had received heavy rainfall the day before, as did many of the surrounding areas. The heavy rainfall caused water to flow over may roads and even over a few state highways. Iowa Highway 5 was closed north of Marysville by high water for example. Water also covered U.S. Highway 34 near Albia. |
| Event Narrative | Four to five inch diameter tree limbs down in Grundy Center. |
All events for this episode:
| Location | County/Zone | St. | Date | Time | T.Z. | Type | Mag | Dth | Inj | PrD | CrD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Totals: | 0 | 0 | 575.00K | 5.00K | |||||||
| DEER CREEK | WORTH CO. | IA | 07/07/2008 | 12:55 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 3.00K | 0.00K |
| MANLY | WORTH CO. | IA | 07/07/2008 | 13:00 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 2.00K | 0.00K |
| GRAFTON | WORTH CO. | IA | 07/07/2008 | 13:33 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 5.00K | 0.00K |
| CLARKSVILLE | BUTLER CO. | IA | 07/07/2008 | 15:20 | CST-6 | Heavy Rain | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| CHURDAN | GREENE CO. | IA | 07/07/2008 | 15:43 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 5.00K | 0.00K |
| LANYON | WEBSTER CO. | IA | 07/07/2008 | 16:00 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 1.00K | 0.00K |
| BOXHOLM | BOONE CO. | IA | 07/07/2008 | 16:06 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 5.00K | 0.00K |
| PILOT MOUND | BOONE CO. | IA | 07/07/2008 | 16:15 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 2.00K | 0.00K |
| BRADFORD | FRANKLIN CO. | IA | 07/07/2008 | 16:33 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 56 kts. MG | 0 | 0 | 2.00K | 0.00K |
| PLAINFIELD | BREMER CO. | IA | 07/07/2008 | 16:42 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 3.00K | 0.00K |
| WAVERLY | BREMER CO. | IA | 07/07/2008 | 16:44 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 5.00K | 0.00K |
| CLARKSVILLE | BUTLER CO. | IA | 07/07/2008 | 16:50 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 57 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 10.00K | 0.00K |
| SHELL ROCK | BUTLER CO. | IA | 07/07/2008 | 17:00 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 15.00K | 0.00K |
| CLARKSVILLE | BUTLER CO. | IA | 07/07/2008 | 17:00 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 5.00K | 0.00K |
| WAVERLY | BREMER CO. | IA | 07/07/2008 | 17:10 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 5.00K | 5.00K |
| FAULKNER | FRANKLIN CO. | IA | 07/07/2008 | 17:20 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 5.00K | 0.00K |
| GRUNDY CENTER | GRUNDY CO. | IA | 07/07/2008 | 17:39 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 2.00K | 0.00K |
| (ALO)WATERLOO MUNI A | BLACK HAWK CO. | IA | 07/07/2008 | 18:00 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 kts. MG | 0 | 0 | 5.00K | 0.00K |
| (ALO)WATERLOO MUNI A | BLACK HAWK CO. | IA | 07/07/2008 | 18:01 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 kts. MG | 0 | 0 | 10.00K | 0.00K |
| CEDAR FALLS | BLACK HAWK CO. | IA | 07/07/2008 | 18:03 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 5.00K | 0.00K |
| WATERLOO | BLACK HAWK CO. | IA | 07/07/2008 | 18:05 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 57 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 20.00K | 0.00K |
| CEDAR FALLS | BLACK HAWK CO. | IA | 07/07/2008 | 18:12 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 57 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 25.00K | 0.00K |
| TOLEDO | TAMA CO. | IA | 07/07/2008 | 18:35 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 5.00K | 0.00K |
| ATLANTIC | CASS CO. | IA | 07/07/2008 | 20:30 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 20.00K | 0.00K |
| CENTERVILLE | APPANOOSE CO. | IA | 07/07/2008 | 23:00 | CST-6 | Heavy Rain | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| BLOOMFIELD | DAVIS CO. | IA | 07/07/2008 | 23:00 | CST-6 | Heavy Rain | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| CENTERVILLE | APPANOOSE CO. | IA | 07/07/2008 | 23:35 | CST-6 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 25.00K | 0.00K | |
| SHARON | APPANOOSE CO. | IA | 07/08/2008 | 00:00 | CST-6 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 25.00K | 0.00K | |
| ALBIA | MONROE CO. | IA | 07/08/2008 | 00:00 | CST-6 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 10.00K | 0.00K | |
| MELROSE | MONROE CO. | IA | 07/08/2008 | 00:20 | CST-6 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 30.00K | 0.00K | |
| INDIANOLA | WARREN CO. | IA | 07/08/2008 | 00:30 | CST-6 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 20.00K | 0.00K | |
| ATTICA | MARION CO. | IA | 07/08/2008 | 00:40 | CST-6 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 25.00K | 0.00K | |
| AVERY | MONROE CO. | IA | 07/08/2008 | 01:00 | CST-6 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 25.00K | 0.00K | |
| NEWBERN | MARION CO. | IA | 07/08/2008 | 01:00 | CST-6 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 25.00K | 0.00K | |
| MELCHER | MARION CO. | IA | 07/08/2008 | 01:00 | CST-6 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 25.00K | 0.00K | |
| BLOOMFIELD | DAVIS CO. | IA | 07/08/2008 | 02:00 | CST-6 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 75.00K | 0.00K | |
| SELECTION | MONROE CO. | IA | 07/08/2008 | 02:00 | CST-6 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 50.00K | 0.00K | |
| STEUBEN | DAVIS CO. | IA | 07/08/2008 | 02:20 | CST-6 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 25.00K | 0.00K | |
| MARYSVILLE | MARION CO. | IA | 07/08/2008 | 04:30 | CST-6 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 50.00K | 0.00K | |
| Totals: | 0 | 0 | 575.00K | 5.00K |


