730  
NOUS43 KDMX 012235  
PNSDMX  
IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>050-057>062-070>075-  
081>086-092>097-021045-  
 
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA  
535 PM CDT SAT APR 1 2023  
   
..NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 03/31/2023 TORNADO EVENT
 
 
   
TORNADO #1 - WAPELLO COUNTY NORTHEAST OF OTTUMWA
 
 
NOTE THIS TORNADO PATH EXTENDS INTO KEOKUK COUNTY AND THAT SURVEY  
WILL BE SENT BY THE NWS QUAD CITIES.  
THIS SURVEY ONLY COVERS THE WAPELLO COUNTY PORTION OF THE TORNADO  
TRACK.  
 
RATING: EF-2  
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 135 MPH  
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 8.1 MILES  
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: TBD  
FATALITIES: 0  
INJURIES: UNKNOWN  
 
START DATE: 03/31/  
START TIME: 03:37 PM CDT  
START LOCATION: 4 NE OTTUMWA / WAPELLO COUNTY / IA  
START LAT/LON: 41.062/-92.332  
 
END DATE: 03/31/2023  
END TIME: 03:50 PM CDT (ESTIMATED TIME CROSSED INTO KEOKUK CO)  
END LOCATION: 12 NE OTTUMWA / WAPELLO COUNTY / IA  
END_LAT/LON: 41.163/-92.234  
 
SURVEY_SUMMARY: OPTIONAL:  
LONG TRACK TORNADO BEGAN IN WAPELLO COUNTY NORTHEAST OF OTTUMWA  
THEN TRACKED NORTHEAST INTO KEOKUK COUNTY. THE PRIMARY DAMAGE IN  
WAPELLO COUNTY CONSISTED OF THREE HOMES AND ONE HOG CONFINEMENT  
FACILITY. THE FIRST HOME LOST THE ENTIRE ROOF AND ONE EXTERNAL  
WALL. THE FIRST FAILURE POINT WAS LIKELYTHE WIND ENTERING AND  
LIFTING THE GARAGE WHICH THEN LED TO FAILURE OF THE ROOF. THE HOME  
ONLY HAD STRAIGHT NAILED CONNECTIONS TO THE EXTERNAL WALLS SPACED  
EVERY 18 INCHES AND LESS TO THE ROOF. AN UNOCCUPIED MOBILE HOME  
ON THE PROPERTY WAS NOT WELL ANCHORED AND ROLLED TO TOTAL  
DESTRUCTION. THIS LOCATION WAS RATED 110 MPH AND EF-1. TWO WELL  
ANCHORED HOG CONFINEMENT BUILDINGS WERE TOTALLY DESTROYED AND WERE  
RATED EF-2. THE TORNADO THEN IMPACTED A LOCATION WITH A WELL  
BUILT 2 STORY BRICK HOUSE. THE HOUSE SUFFERED SOME ROOF AND WINDOW  
DAMAGE AND A LOSS OF A GARAGE DOOR BUT SUSTAINED LITTLE OTHER  
DAMAGE. OTHER DAMAGE INDICATORS AT THE SITE SUGGESTED EF-1 WINDS.  
TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF A HOUSE OCCURRED JUST PRIOR TO THE TORNADO  
EXITING THE COUNTY. THIS OLDER HOUSE SAT UNANCHORED TO THE  
CONCRETE BLOCK BASEMENT. THE HOUSE WAS PUSHED OFF THE FOUNDATION  
AND CRUMBLED. SOME TREES NEAR THE HOUSE AND A PROPANE TANK WERE  
MOSTLY LEFT WITH LITTLE DAMAGE. A LARGER TREE DIRECTLY NEXT TO THE  
HOUSE ON THE WIND SIDE HAD SEVERAL LARGE LIMBS REMOVED. DUE TO  
ALL OF THESE REASONS, THE WIND AT THIS LOCATION HAS BEEN RATED AT  
135 MPH, OR HIGH END EF-2.  
 
EF0...WEAK......65 TO 85 MPH  
EF1...WEAK......86 TO 110 MPH  
EF2...STRONG....111 TO 135 MPH  
EF3...STRONG....136 TO 165 MPH  
EF4...VIOLENT...166 TO 200 MPH  
EF5...VIOLENT...>200 MPH  
 
NOTE:  
THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO  
CHANGE PENDING FINAL REVIEW OF THE EVENT AND PUBLICATION IN  
NWS STORM DATA.  
 

 
 
DONAVON/CARTER  
 
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