Storm Events Database

Storm Events Database

Event Details:

Event Tornado
-- Scale EF1
-- Length 6.95 Miles
-- Width 75 Yards
State IOWA
County/Area LYON
WFO FSD
Report Source NWS Storm Survey
NCEI Data Source CSV
Begin Date 2019-08-17 21:34 CST-6
Begin Location 3ESE LOSTER
Begin Lat/Lon 43.4212/-96.2725
End Date 2019-08-17 21:43 CST-6
End Location 3SE ROCK RAPIDS
End Lat/Lon 43.4058/-96.1372
Deaths Direct/Indirect 0/0 (fatality details below, when available...)
Injuries Direct/Indirect 0/0
Property Damage 200.00K
Crop Damage
Episode Narrative As a strong upper level wave pushed into the western Dakotas during the evening hours, isolated supercellular storms developed across central South Dakota and moved through areas west of the James River. With 2000-2500 J/kg of MLCAPE and deep layer shear of 35 to 45 knots, the isolated storms produced hail up to golf ball size. Soon, an increasing amount of DCAPE of 1000-1250 J/kg and increase in 0-3 km shear with development of a strong low-level jet aided in the transition to enhanced linear structures, which then developed a series of mesovortices as the line moved into far eastern South Dakota, southwest Minnesota and northwest Iowa. Several brief tornadoes developed with mesovortices in southwest Minnesota and northwest Iowa, along with areas of enhanced wind damage.
Event Narrative A tornado touched down 5 miles west of Rock Rapids, just east of Fig Avenue north of 160th Street, marked by damage to a corn field. The tornado traveled in a general east-southeast direction, striking a farmstead and flattening a silo within the first half-mile of its track. Within another minute, the tornado slashed through another farmstead, causing significant damage to a grain bin, large trees, and removed roofing from a home and a livestock shed. Around three miles west-southwest of Rock Rapids, several power transmission poles were broken. As the tornado passed just south of Rock Rapids, damage was mainly to trees, with several uprooted. The final structural damage occurred south of Rock Rapids just east of U.S. Highway 75 with roof panels torn off another livestock shed. The tornado lifted just over 2 miles southeast of Rock Rapids after crossing County Road K52. The average path width was 50 yards.


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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.
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Measure
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All events for this episode:

Location County/Zone St. Date Time T.Z. Type Mag Dth Inj PrD CrD
Totals: 0 0 685.00K 0.00K
LOSTER LYON CO. IA 08/17/2019 21:34 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 200.00K 0.00K
SIBLEY OSCEOLA CO. IA 08/17/2019 22:01 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 61 kts. EG 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
SIBLEY OSCEOLA CO. IA 08/17/2019 22:01 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 65 kts. EG 0 0 75.00K 0.00K
SIBLEY MUNI ARPT OSCEOLA CO. IA 08/17/2019 22:02 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 74 kts. EG 0 0 100.00K 0.00K
LAKE PARK DICKINSON CO. IA 08/17/2019 22:24 CST-6 Hail 0.88 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
WAHPETON DICKINSON CO. IA 08/17/2019 22:30 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 65 kts. EG 0 0 10.00K 0.00K
WAHPETON DICKINSON CO. IA 08/17/2019 22:32 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 56 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
OKOBOJI DICKINSON CO. IA 08/17/2019 22:34 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 81 kts. EG 0 0 250.00K 0.00K
Totals: 0 0 685.00K 0.00K