Tornadoes of August 19,2009

The National Weather Service (NWS) conducted a storm survey on the tornadoes that affected parts of Chickasaw, Fayette, and Winneshiek counties in northeast Iowa on Wednesday, August 19th. Three distinct, small tornadoes were identified during this survey.  A fourth small tornado was identified via use of aerial crop imagery in rural Howard County, IA.  Information on these tornadoes is noted below.

Tornado near Fredericksburg, IA (Chickasaw County)...

• This tornado touched down between 3:09 pm and 3:14 pm approximately 3 miles southeast of Fredericksburg.
• Path of the tornado was southwest to northeast and covered about a half mile.
• The width of the tornado was approximately 40 yards wide.
• Strength of the tornado was rated as EF0.

Damage path of tornado near Fredericksburg, IA (click on image to enlarge)

Some damage which was caused by this tornado, included: (click on images below to enlarge)

• damage to an attached garage
• brief path (with signs of rotation) in nearby corn field
• damage to an old barn with minimal debris noted

Tornado near West Union, IA (Fayette County)...

• This tornado touched down between 3:50 pm and 4:00 pm approximately 2 miles west-southwest of West Union.
• Path of the tornado was southwest to northeast and began approximately 1.7 miles south of State Highway 18 on Neon Road.
• The width of the tornado was approximately 40 yards wide.
• This tornado was rated an EF0.

Damage path of tornado near West Union, IA (click on image to enlarge)

 Some damage which was caused by this tornado, included: (click on images below to enlarge)

• some tree damage at residences about 1.7 miles south of Highway 18 on Neon Road
• semi-continuous path of damage in corn field near Neon Road and crossing Highway 18 west of West Union
• roof damage to an empty poultry barn just northwest of West Union with debris thrown about half mile to the north

 Tornado near Calmar, IA (Winneshiek County)...

• This tornado touched down at approximately 4:00 pm about 1 mile northeast of Calmar.
• The tornado path ended about 1 mile northwest of Nordness, occasionally touching down along a 4 mile southwest to northeast track. 
• The width of the tornado was very narrow...approximately 20-30 yards at most.
• Strength of the tornado was rated EF0.

Damage path of tornado near Calmar, IA (click on image to enlarge)

 Some damage which was caused by this tornado, included: (click on image below to enlarge)

• very distinct and narrow tornadic damage path about 20 yards wide in a corn field near 187th Street and 227th Avenue
• occasional tree damage
• other minor damage, including a path in corn fields, was noted along Skyline View Road and Middle Ossian Road

 Tornado north of Elma, IA (Howard County)...

• This tornado touched down briefly at approximately 3:50 p.m. about 6 miles north-northeast of Elma.
• The tornado touched down in the center of a corn field; path and width were very short.
• Strength of the tornado was rated EF0.

The National Weather Service would like to thank Emergency Management directors and those public citizens who were interviewed about the storms and damage.