264
NOUS43 KDMX 202133
PNSDMX
IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>050-057>062-070>075-
081>086-092>097-210945-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
433 PM CDT WED MAY 20 2026
..NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR MAY 16 THROUGH MAY 18 TORNADO EVENTS
OVERVIEW
A MULTI-DAY SEVERE WEATHER EPISODE PRODUCED AT LEAST 15 TORNADOES
ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN IOWA FROM MAY 16 THROUGH
MAY 18. THE MOST ACTIVE DAY WAS ON SUNDAY, MAY 16TH, WHERE AT
LEAST 13 TORNADOES WERE OBSERVED ACROSS NORTHERN IOWA. THE
NUMBER OF TORNADOES, TORNADO TRACK LOCATIONS, AND TIMING WILL BE
REFINED AS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS ASSESSED OVER THE COMING
DAYS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE HAS MORE INFORMATION AND WILL
BE UPDATED AS NEW INFORMATION IS RECEIVED.
WEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES/2026-05-15-18-CENTRAL-IOWA-MULTIDAY-SEVERE
GRAVITY TORNADO - SATURDAY
RATING: EFU
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: UNKNOWN
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 0.80 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 20 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 05/16/2026
START TIME: 05:51 PM CDT
START LOCATION: 3 SW GRAVITY / TAYLOR COUNTY / IA
START LAT/LON: 40.7295 / -94.7897
END DATE: 05/16/2026
END TIME: 05:57 PM CDT
END LOCATION: 2 SW GRAVITY / TAYLOR COUNTY / IA
END LAT/LON: 40.7312 / -94.775
SURVEY SUMMARY:
INTERMITTENT TOUCHDOWNS THROUGHOUT THE PATH.
KNOKE TORNADO - SUNDAY
RATING: EF1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 110 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 4.16 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 30 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 05/17/2026
START TIME: 09:01 PM CDT
START LOCATION: 3 NW JOLLEY / CALHOUN COUNTY / IA
START LAT/LON: 42.5098 / -94.7648
END DATE: 05/17/2026
END TIME: 09:05 PM CDT
END LOCATION: 2 SSW POMEROY / CALHOUN COUNTY / IA
END LAT/LON: 42.5285 / -94.6877
PLOVER TORNADO - SUNDAY
RATING: EF1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 95 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 1.09 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 30 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 05/17/2026
START TIME: 09:05 PM CDT
START LOCATION: 1 SW PLOVER / POCAHONTAS COUNTY / IA
START LAT/LON: 42.8684 / -94.6369
END DATE: 05/17/2026
END TIME: 09:06 PM CDT
END LOCATION: PLOVER / POCAHONTAS COUNTY / IA
END LAT/LON: 42.8758 / -94.618
SURVEY SUMMARY:
DAMAGE IN PLOVER. TORNADO REPORTED IN THE AREA.
MALLARD TORNADO - SUNDAY
RATING: EF1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 0 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 2.76 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 25 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 05/17/2026
START TIME: 09:09 PM CDT
START LOCATION: 2 SW MALLARD / PALO ALTO COUNTY / IA
START LAT/LON: 42.921 / -94.7058
END DATE: 05/17/2026
END TIME: 09:12 PM CDT
END LOCATION: 1 NNE MALLARD / PALO ALTO COUNTY / IA
END LAT/LON: 42.9551 / -94.6777
ROCKWELL CITY TORNADO - SUNDAY
RATING: EF1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 105 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 0.18 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 30 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 05/17/2026
START TIME: 09:10 PM CDT
START LOCATION: ROCKWELL CITY / CALHOUN COUNTY / IA
START LAT/LON: 42.3953 / -94.6301
END DATE: 05/17/2026
END TIME: 09:10 PM CDT
END LOCATION: ROCKWELL CITY / CALHOUN COUNTY / IA
END LAT/LON: 42.3957 / -94.6266
EMMETSBURG TORNADO - SUNDAY
RATING: EF0
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 0 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 0.79 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 25 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 05/17/2026
START TIME: 09:12 PM CDT
START LOCATION: 1 S EMMETSBURG / PALO ALTO COUNTY / IA
START LAT/LON: 43.0941 / -94.686
END DATE: 05/17/2026
END TIME: 09:14 PM CDT
END LOCATION: 1 SSE EMMETSBURG / PALO ALTO COUNTY / IA
END LAT/LON: 43.1027 / -94.6767
GRAETTINGER TORNADO - SUNDAY
RATING: EF0
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 75 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 1.06 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 20 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 05/17/2026
START TIME: 09:13 PM CDT
START LOCATION: 1 S GRAETTINGER / PALO ALTO COUNTY / IA
START LAT/LON: 43.2274 / -94.7494
END DATE: 05/17/2026
END TIME: 09:14 PM CDT
END LOCATION: GRAETTINGER / PALO ALTO COUNTY / IA
END LAT/LON: 43.2423 / -94.7447
SURVEY SUMMARY:
DRONE FOOTAGE AND PHOTOS SHOWS NARROW DAMAGE TRACK ACROSS THE
EASTERN SIDE OF GRAETTINGER.
WHITTEMORE TORNADO - SUNDAY
RATING: EF0
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 85 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 1.61 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 25 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 05/17/2026
START TIME: 09:17 PM CDT
START LOCATION: WHITTEMORE / KOSSUTH COUNTY / IA
START LAT/LON: 43.0681 / -94.4241
END DATE: 05/17/2026
END TIME: 09:18 PM CDT
END LOCATION: 2 NE WHITTEMORE / KOSSUTH COUNTY / IA
END LAT/LON: 43.0838 / -94.4006
LONE ROCK TORNADO - SUNDAY
RATING: EF1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 100 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 0.74 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 30 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 05/17/2026
START TIME: 09:29 PM CDT
START LOCATION: 1 SSW LONE ROCK / KOSSUTH COUNTY / IA
START LAT/LON: 43.2114 / -94.3315
END DATE: 05/17/2026
END TIME: 09:30 PM CDT
END LOCATION: LONE ROCK / KOSSUTH COUNTY / IA
END LAT/LON: 43.2207 / -94.3242
MOORLAND TORNADO - SUNDAY
RATING: EF0
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 0 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 4.68 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 50 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 05/17/2026
START TIME: 09:29 PM CDT
START LOCATION: 2 W MOORLAND / WEBSTER COUNTY / IA
START LAT/LON: 42.4348 / -94.3454
END DATE: 05/17/2026
END TIME: 09:33 PM CDT
END LOCATION: 2 ENE MOORLAND / WEBSTER COUNTY / IA
END LAT/LON: 42.4501 / -94.2563
SURVEY SUMMARY:
ESTIMATED TORNADO PATH VIA VIDEO, RADAR, DAMAGE, AND TOWER
CAMERA.
WODEN TORNADO - SUNDAY
RATING: EF1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 95 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 10.20 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 25 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 05/17/2026
START TIME: 09:44 PM CDT
START LOCATION: 3 N WESLEY / KOSSUTH COUNTY / IA
START LAT/LON: 43.1427 / -93.9901
END DATE: 05/17/2026
END TIME: 09:51 PM CDT
END LOCATION: 3 WNW CRYSTAL LAKE / HANCOCK COUNTY / IA
END LAT/LON: 43.2425 / -93.8435
VENTURA TORNADO - SUNDAY
RATING: EF1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 105 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 0.24 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 25 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 05/17/2026
START TIME: 10:07 PM CDT
START LOCATION: VENTURA / CERRO GORDO COUNTY / IA
START LAT/LON: 43.1259 / -93.4621
END DATE: 05/17/2026
END TIME: 10:08 PM CDT
END LOCATION: VENTURA / CERRO GORDO COUNTY / IA
END LAT/LON: 43.1272 / -93.4576
JOICE TORNADO - SUNDAY
RATING: EF1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 110 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 9.25 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 25 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 05/17/2026
START TIME: 10:10 PM CDT
START LOCATION: 1 S JOICE / WORTH COUNTY / IA
START LAT/LON: 43.3441 / -93.4595
END DATE: 05/17/2026
END TIME: 10:21 PM CDT
END LOCATION: 5 SW NORTHWOOD / WORTH COUNTY / IA
END LAT/LON: 43.4011 / -93.2977
PLYMOUTH TORNADO - SUNDAY
RATING: EF1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 105 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 6.97 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 40 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 05/17/2026
START TIME: 10:23 PM CDT
START LOCATION: 2 WSW PLYMOUTH / CERRO GORDO COUNTY / IA
START LAT/LON: 43.232 / -93.1663
END DATE: 05/17/2026
END TIME: 10:29 PM CDT
END LOCATION: 4 ENE PLYMOUTH / WORTH COUNTY / IA
END LAT/LON: 43.2625 / -93.0351
SURVEY SUMMARY:
DAMAGE TO TREES AND OUTBUILDINGS.
.MT AYR TORNADO - MONDAY
RATING: EF0
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 80 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 6.06 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 30 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 05/18/2026
START TIME: 06:54 PM CDT
START LOCATION: 1 ENE MALOY / RINGGOLD COUNTY / IA
START LAT/LON: 40.6812 / -94.3955
END DATE: 05/18/2026
END TIME: 07:01 PM CDT
END LOCATION: 3 W MOUNT AYR / RINGGOLD COUNTY / IA
END LAT/LON: 40.7147 / -94.2992
SURVEY SUMMARY:
DAMAGE ALONG PATH CONSISTENT OF WEAK TORNADO. SRV ROTATIONAL
COUPLET EVIDENT AT THIS TIME. PHOTO EVIDENCE OF TORNADO PROVIDED
BY RINGGOLD COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
EF SCALE: THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE CLASSIFIES TORNADOES INTO THE
FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:
EF0.....65 TO 85 MPH
EF1.....86 TO 110 MPH
EF2.....111 TO 135 MPH
EF3.....136 TO 165 MPH
EF4.....166 TO 200 MPH
EF5.....>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.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO PREVIOUS BULLETINS.
Main Text Page