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Storm Events Database
Event Details:
| Event | Tornado |
| -- Scale | EF0 |
| -- Length | 1.7 Miles |
| -- Width | 50 Yards |
| State | IOWA |
| County/Area | MADISON |
| WFO | DMX |
| Report Source | NWS Storm Survey |
| NCEI Data Source | CSV |
| Begin Date | 2015-05-17 01:27 CST-6 |
| Begin Location | 3WNW EAST PERU |
| Begin Lat/Lon | 41.2513/-93.982 |
| End Date | 2015-05-17 01:31 CST-6 |
| End Location | 3NNW EAST PERU |
| End Lat/Lon | 41.2718/-93.9639 |
| Deaths Direct/Indirect | 0/0 (fatality details below, when available...) |
| Injuries Direct/Indirect | 0/0 |
| Property Damage | 0.00K |
| Crop Damage | 1.00K |
| Episode Narrative | A strong upper level low pressure system lifted northeast out of the southwest U.S. during the early morning hours of the 17th. The surface low was over South Dakota as a line of thunderstorms developed ahead of an advancing dry line that was south of the low. The atmosphere was moderately unstable with about 2000 J/kg as the storms developed in the evening. CAPE in the -10 to -30 C layer of the atmosphere was only about 400 J/kg with a freezing level around 13,000 feet. The lifted index was in the -4 to -5 C range as the storms approached with 40 to 45 kts of shear available. The LCL was quite low, around 750 meters. CAPE in the zero to 3 km layer was 50 to 100 J/kg. Precipitable water values were quite high, in the 1.25 to 1.5 inch range. For the most part, the thunderstorms were not severe and produced mainly heavy rainfall. Several reports of 2 to 3 inches of rainfall were received from southwest into north central Iowa. As the line advanced eastward, a small mesoscale vorticity maximum was observed riding north along the line. The thunderstorms became enhanced as it moved north with a line of damage extending from Clarke County north to Webster County. Eighty two cars of a railroad train were derailed by the winds, with two of them blown off into the nearby field. Numerous very large trees were downed and some farm buildings lost roofs. Reports of trees and power lines being blown down continued north as the vorticity maximum lifted north. |
| Event Narrative | This short-lived tornado damaged a few trees along its path. |
Event Map:
Note: The tornado track is approximate based on the beginning (B) and ending (E) locations. The actual tornado path may differ from a straight line.
All events for this episode:
| Location | County/Zone | St. | Date | Time | T.Z. | Type | Mag | Dth | Inj | PrD | CrD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Totals: | 0 | 0 | 785.00K | 13.00K | |||||||
| DECATUR CITY | DECATUR CO. | IA | 05/17/2015 | 00:42 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 100.00K | 0.00K |
| DECATUR CITY | DECATUR CO. | IA | 05/17/2015 | 00:51 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 54 kts. MG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| VAN WERT | DECATUR CO. | IA | 05/17/2015 | 00:55 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 50.00K | 0.00K |
| OSCEOLA MUNI ARPT | CLARKE CO. | IA | 05/17/2015 | 01:05 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 75.00K | 0.00K |
| MURRAY | CLARKE CO. | IA | 05/17/2015 | 01:10 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 100.00K | 0.00K |
| OSCEOLA | CLARKE CO. | IA | 05/17/2015 | 01:10 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 250.00K | 0.00K |
| OSCEOLA | CLARKE CO. | IA | 05/17/2015 | 01:15 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 65 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 50.00K | 0.00K |
| TRURO | MADISON CO. | IA | 05/17/2015 | 01:20 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF0 | 0 | 0 | 25.00K | 5.00K |
| EAST PERU | MADISON CO. | IA | 05/17/2015 | 01:27 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 1.00K |
| ST CHARLES | MADISON CO. | IA | 05/17/2015 | 01:35 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 15.00K | 0.00K |
| PATTERSON | MADISON CO. | IA | 05/17/2015 | 01:40 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 50.00K | 5.00K |
| PATTERSON | MADISON CO. | IA | 05/17/2015 | 01:40 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 2.00K |
| WINTERSET ARPT | MADISON CO. | IA | 05/17/2015 | 01:50 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 65 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| VAN METER | DALLAS CO. | IA | 05/17/2015 | 01:57 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 5.00K | 0.00K |
| VAN METER | DALLAS CO. | IA | 05/17/2015 | 02:00 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| DALLAS CENTER ARPT | DALLAS CO. | IA | 05/17/2015 | 02:12 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 10.00K | 0.00K |
| BOUTON | DALLAS CO. | IA | 05/17/2015 | 02:28 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 50.00K | 0.00K |
| BLOCKTON | TAYLOR CO. | IA | 05/17/2015 | 02:30 | CST-6 | Heavy Rain | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| OGDEN | BOONE CO. | IA | 05/17/2015 | 02:52 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 5.00K | 0.00K |
| BEACONSFIELD | RINGGOLD CO. | IA | 05/17/2015 | 03:00 | CST-6 | Heavy Rain | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| DAKOTA CITY | HUMBOLDT CO. | IA | 05/17/2015 | 05:30 | CST-6 | Heavy Rain | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| Totals: | 0 | 0 | 785.00K | 13.00K |
