Multiple rounds of storms will spread across Iowa on Tuesday, bringing repeated chances for severe weather to the Hawkeye State.
A round of rain passed through central Iowa early on Tuesday morning and by mid-morning one round of severe thunderstorms passed through. Another round of storms, with the highest risk for severe weather, is expected Tuesday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
Here are the latest updates (Jump to Severe weather outlook | Radar | Safety tips):
Severe thunderstorm warning issued for Des Moines metro as strong storms arrive
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued as a line of storms approaches the Des Moines metro area.
The entire metro area is included in the warning that stretches south of the metro and up north to Ames, Gilbert and Nevada. It includes Winterset on the western edge and through to mItchelville on the east side.
Threats include wind up to 60 mph as well as possible quarter-sized hail and tornadoes.
Tornado warning issued around Webster City
A tornado warning has been issued to include Webster City, Jewell Junction and Stratford until 4:45 p.m.
The NWS warning is for a radar-indicated tornado and the risk of quarter-sized hail.
What is a stovepipe tornado?
A stovepipe tornado is one where the width of the tornado is about the same from when it meets the ground all the way up to where it connects to the base of the above thunderstorm, according to AccuWeather. Stormchasers have described some storms in western Iowa Tuesday as stovepipe tornadoes.
It is considered the cousin of a cone tornado, which is similar in size but tapers as it extends downward to the ground.
3:55 p.m.: Flood warning issued for Fourmile Creek in Des Moines
A flood warning has been issued for Fourmile Creek on the east side of Des Moines, according to the NWS.
The crest forecast is 13.9 feet, assuming Des Moines gets 0.75 inches of additional rain. At 13 feet the water threatens the dog park on Hubbell Avenue At 14 feet, widespread flooding occurs, NWS said, affecting lowland areas like the community center on Easton Boulevard.
3:40 p.m. Tornado warning issued for Greenfield, Winterset, Earlham as storms move closer to Des Moines
As storms head east, they have begun to enter the Des Moines metro area.
A tornado warning centered around Greenfield is in effect until 4:15 p.m.
The warning includes Stuart and stretches to Redfield in southwest Dallas County until 4:15 p.m.
Another warning includes Creston and stretches up toward Earlham and Winterset on the edges of the Des Moines metro. That warning goes until 4:30 p.m.
3:14 p.m.: Tornado reported near Corning, Prescott
Additional tornado warnings continue to be issued in southwest Iowa.
A warning for Corning, Orient and Prescott is in effect until 4 p.m. KCCI meteorologist Zane Satre was near Prescott with a live feed of a tornado on the ground.
A storm chaser with The Weather Channel captured footage showing a tornado in Carbon.
A warning is also in effect for Guthrie Center, Panora and Exire until 4 p.m.
3:05 p.m.: Damaging tornado reported in southwest Iowa:
The National Weather Service is continuing a warning for Fontanelle, Orient and Bridgewater until 3:45 p.m. The alert described it as a "life-threatening situation" with a damaging tornado reported.
3 p.m.: Tornado reported in Red Oak, Iowa; warnings in southwest Iowa
Meteorologists and storm chasers in western Iowa have reported a tornado on the ground in Red Oak. An emergency manager in the area said it was located near the Red Oak airport around 2:27 p.m.
The area is under a tornado warning until 3 p.m.
A tornado warning is also in effect for areas around Essex, Hepburn, Stanton and Villisca until 3:30 p.m.
The NWS issued a new tornado warning at 2:57 p.m. for Fontanele, Orient and Bridgewater for a radar-indicated tornado and quarter-size hail possible. It expires at 3:45 p.m.
Tornado watches issued for all of Iowa ahead of next round of severe weather
All of Iowa is under a tornado watch for Tuesday afternoon.
A tornado watch issued around 1:15 p.m. covers all of central and eastern Iowa and extends into portions of western Iowa. It will be in effect until 9 p.m. Tuesday.
The main threats are several strong tornadoes, scattered softball-size hail and wind gusts up to 90 mph, according to a post announcing the watch from the National Weather Service.
The National Weather Service in Omaha has issued several tornado warnings for eastern Nebraska and western Iowa for radar-indicated tornadoes as the storms develop in that area.
An earlier watch covers the remaining western Iowa counties until 5 p.m. Forecasters warned of winds up to 70 mph in those areas.
When will more severe storms hit Iowa? NWS says this afternoon could be 'very dangerous'
The National Weather Service shared a graphic on social media showing the approximate timing for storms later today. In a comment on a Facebook post , the NWS said this afternoon's storms are "expected to be very dangerous"
Thunderstorms will likely start in west Iowa around 2 p.m., making their way to Des Moines and central Iowa around 4 p.m. At 7 p.m., the severe weather will be entering eastern Iowa.
What's the difference between a severe weather watch and a severe weather warning?
A watch is issued when conditions are favorable for severe weather to develop. They often cover large areas.
Warnings are issued when severe weather is actually happening and Iowans need to take action.
Read more:What's the difference between a severe weather watch and a warning?
12:10 p.m.: Thousands without power after storms hit central Iowa
Crews are working quickly to restore power to Iowans across the state. At one point, MidAmerican showed more than 7,000 people without power in Iowa as a result of Tuesday’s storms.
As of 12:10 p.m., the number of customers without power in the Des Moines metro area was around 2,100. The Council Bluffs area was down to about 100 customers, after having more than 1,000 outages this morning.
Alliant Energy was down to about 60 customers in the state without power.
11:48 a.m.: Large hail reported in Waukee, Pella
A severe thunderstorm moving through central Iowa produced large hail.
Two reports submitted to the National Weather Service around 11:20 a.m. listed 2 inch diameter hail near Pella.
Waukee experienced hail ranging from the size of a nickel to as big as a quarter, at 9:07 a.m. according to a trained weather sportter. Wind gusts up to 55 mph were also reported.
A warning issued for Pottawattamie County, home to Council Bluffs, until 7:30 a.m. warned of baseball size hail.
Hail that large is sometimes called "gorilla" hail for its large size and destructive power.
11:28 a.m.: Metro schools dismissing early due to severe weather threat
Several Des Moines metro school districts plan to dismiss classes early on Tuesday due to the threat of more severe storms this afternoon.
- Ankeny Schools: Two hour early out
- Des Moines Public Schools: Two hour early dismissal. There will be no Metro Kids Care or evening activities. Elementary schools are out at 12:40 p.m. while middle and high schools are out at 1:25 p.m.
- Southeast Polk Community School District: Two hour early dismissal resulting in no evening preschool or evening activities.
- Urbandale Community School District: Early dismissal and no half-day preschool
- Waukee Community School District: Two hour early dismissal and after school activities are canceled. The district is still waiting for state guidance regarding state playoff events.
- West Des Moines Community Schools: Two out early dismissal
11:18 a.m.: Storms dump nearly 3 inches of rain in central Iowa
Des Moines has received just over an inch and a half of rain since severe weather entered Iowa early on Monday, with 1.07 inches since midnight.
Some locations in the state are nearing three inches of rain since last night. Here are the highest rainfall totals as of 11 a.m Tuesday:
- Harlan: 2.99 inches
- Audubon: 2.95 inches
- Iowa Falls: 2.63 inches
- Waterloo: 2.57 inches
- Decorah: 2.15 inches
- Ankeny: 2.02 inches
9:55 a.m.: Des Moines roads blocked by storm debris
At least two roads in Des Moines are closed after a round of severe storms moved through the metro area.
The Des Moines Police Department received a small number of reports of power lines down and tree damage.
There are temporary lane closures at the 3300 block of Grand Avenue and the 3900 block of Urbandale Avenue. No significant damage or injury have been reported as of now, according to DMPD.
9:28 a.m.: Severe thunderstorm warning extended in Polk County, to the east
The severe thunderstorm warning for parts of the Des Moines metro has been extended until 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Dallas County has been dropped from the warning, but it now extends into Jasper County and as far east as Grinnell and as far south as Pella.
Threats include 60 mph winds and quarter-sized hail. The extended warning covers over 349,600 people.
8:42 a.m.: Sirens sound in Des Moines as severe thunderstorm warning issued
Much of Dallas and Polk counties are under a severe thunderstorm warning until 9:45 a.m. Tuesday.
Storm sirens began sounding just after 8:40 a.m. in the metro. Cities around Des Moines are at risk of winds up to 70 mph and quarter-sized hail.
The warning covers just north of Ankeny and as far south as Truro. It stretches to Redfield and Winterset in the west and Milo in the east.
Dallas and Polk counties both activate sirens for tornadoes or severe thunderstorms with winds over 70 mph. The warning meets that criteria, unlike a storm on Sunday night that activated the sirens in error.
Sirens do not sound continuously during a warning. They will sound for 3-5 minutes and then pause for 10-15 before repeating. There is not an all-clear sound when a warning expires.
What does the Des Moines, Iowa doppler radar show?
Here's a look at the current National Weather Service radar loop for central Iowa:
8:10 a.m.: Severe thunderstorm warning issued on edge of Des Moines' western suburbs
Areas around the Des Moines metro are under a severe thunderstorm warning until 9 a.m. Tuesday.
The warning extends from Dallas Center, down to Winterset and as far west as Adel. Possible threats include winds up to 70 mph and quarter-sized hail.
Just over 34,000 people live within the warning area.
What is Tuesday's severe weather outlook in Des Moines?
The National Weather Service upgraded the risk of severe weather for most of Iowa. A majority of the state it rated "moderate" risk, a level 4 on a scale of 1-5.
More:How much rain did Des Moines get so far? Here are the rainfall totals for Iowa through Monday morning
Multiple rounds of storms are expected to continue through the morning. But, the strongest storms are expected to arrive in central Iowa between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Damaging winds, hail and flash flooding are the primary threats, according to the NWS. Tornadoes — some strong — are also possible.
More:How do tornadoes form? Explaining the severe weather after dozens of recent Iowa tornadoes
Severe thunderstorm watch in effect for Iowa until 1 p.m.
A large portion of central Iowa extending from the southern border to U.S. Highway 20 is under a severe thunderstorm watch until 1 p.m. Tuesday.
The main threats are ping-pong ball-sized hail and wind gusts that could reach 75 mph. Tornadoes are also possible.
What should you do during a severe thunderstorm warning or tornado warning?
During a severe weather warning, it's time to take action and follow your plan.
NWS has tips for what to do at different locations:
- Stay Weather Ready:Continue to follow local news or listen to aNOAA Weather Radioto stay updated about watches and warnings.
- At Your House:Go to your secure location, like the basem*nt or lowest floor level, if you hear a warning. Take your pets with you if time allows.
- At Your Workplace or School:Stay away from windows. Do not go to large open rooms such as cafeterias, gymnasiums or auditoriums.
- Outside:Go inside a sturdy building immediately. Sheds and storage facilities are not safe. Taking shelter under a tree can be deadly.
- In a Vehicle:Being in a vehicle during severe weather is safer than being outside, but, drive to the closest secure shelter if there is sufficient time. Do not stop and park under a bridge or underpass.
Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her atvreynarodriguez@registermedia.comor follow her on Twitter@VictoriaReynaR.
