EF0 Tornado — Pocahontas, Iowa

2024-04-16 · near Palmer, Pocahontas, Iowa

Event narrative

Storm chaser had video of entire life cycle of tornado. The tornado developed on the edge of a farmstead producing minor tree damage. The tornado continued northeast through rural farmland before turning northwest. The tornado remained in open farmland for the remainder of its path before dissipating.

Wider weather episode

A strong low pressure brought multiple rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms to portions of central Iowa on Tuesday, April 16th, 2024. Elevated thunderstorms developed overnight and lingered into the morning across the area, remaining sub severe. This was followed by a second line of storms that lifted into the area by late morning. This line produced a few tornadoes in southwest to central Iowa. This was then followed by a third round of thunderstorms, more discrete in storm mode, that produced a few more tornadoes in northwest portions of Iowa. At least 8 short-lived tornadoes touched down, some causing damage in portions of central Iowa from late morning through the afternoon. A few of the severe thunderstorms also produced hail of 1 to 2 inches in diameter and wind gusts of 50-60 mph. Environmental winds behind the dry line were quite strong as well, occasionally gusting in excess of 50-55 mph.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (42.6140, -94.5218)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1169950. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.