March 14, 2025 Fire, Wind, and Thunderstorm Summary

Overview

A strong storm system impacted the forecast area on March 14, resulting in a multitude of hazards seen through the afternoon and evening. Through the late morning and afternoon hours, the storm system created quite the strong wind field throughout much of the Midwest, resulting in widespread strong winds gusting upwards to 40-55 mph through the day. These very strong winds combined with dry antecedent conditions led to a very high fire danger area-wide, prompting a Red Flag Warning. Several fires resulted from these conditions, with gusty winds aiding the spread of the fires.

Not only did we have an active start to the day with winds and fire weather conditions in place, but the system also brought a line of showers and severe thunderstorms through the area that evening. While lightning activity remained on the low-end, convection that developed was able to mix down the strong winds aloft, causing damaging winds to occur at the surface. This resulted in widespread 60-80 mph winds, with some locations that saw over 80 mph. With such strong winds, numerous power outages were noted throughout the area. These winds also resulted in damage to trees, structures, and power poles/lines. In Johnson County Iowa, lightning struck in a field of timber, resulting in a fire that the strong winds spread for about 25 acres. We also confirmed one EF-0 tornado that occurred just northeast of Wilton, IA. The tornado occurred between 8:49-8:51 PM Friday evening, with estimated peak winds of 85 mph and a path length of 1.9 miles.

Event Recap

Tornado Event

Severe Thunderstorm Recap Slide

Estimated Maximum Wind Gusts (Courtesy NWS Chicago)

Wilton, Iowa EF0 Tornado (Full Public Information Statement)

Other NWS Event Summaries: Chicago IL, Lincoln IL, Des Moines IA

Photos & Video
Radar
Storm Reports
Environment

Photos & Video


Thunderstorm winds flipped a portable heavy chicken coop on the north side of Orion, IL - Courtesy of Jennifer Horwath Burnham	Thunderstorm winds severely damaged a machine shed near West Point, IL - Courtesy of Brent Clair


Sheet metal from machine shed blown across gravel road - Courtesy of Brent Clair	Lightning sparked this 25 acre fire near Green Castle Airport in Johnson county - Courtesy of Johnson County IA EMA

Radar

Radar Loop With Warnings and Storm Reports

Storm Reports

Storm Report Map of County Warning Area and Adjacent Areas

Note numbers of reports on key are nationwide totals from March 14, 2025

Interactive Storm Report Map (SPC)

Nationwide Storm Report Map Image (SPC)

Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
508 PM CDT Mon Mar 17 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0710 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     1 W Medill              40.43N 91.78W
03/14/2025  E60 MPH          Clark              MO   Law Enforcement  

            Relay of a 55 to 60 MPH thunderstorm wind 
            gust. 

0715 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     1 SE Fairfield Municipa 41.03N 91.97W
03/14/2025  M60 MPH          Jefferson          IA   AWOS             

            AWOS station KFFL Fairfield Arpt. 

0734 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     1 S Stockport           40.84N 91.83W
03/14/2025  M61 MPH          Van Buren          IA   Public           

            EM reported a 61 mph wind gust just south of 
            Stockport. 

0735 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     4 WSW Newhall           41.96N 92.03W
03/14/2025  M60 MPH          Benton             IA   Mesonet          

            Mesonet station RVHI4 Us-30 At Us-218. 

0737 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 W Nauvoo              40.56N 91.42W
03/14/2025  M63 MPH          Lee                IA   Public           

             

0737 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 S Salem               40.83N 91.62W
03/14/2025                   Henry              IA   CO-OP Observer   

            Time estimated from radar. Shingles off roof 
            with outdoor furniture blown over. 

0745 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 NNW Carthage          40.42N 91.14W
03/14/2025                   Hancock            IL   Trained Spotter  

            Large pine tree down, lost power in town for 
            approx 3 hrs. Time estimated from radar. 

0745 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 N Washington          41.34N 91.70W
03/14/2025  M74 MPH          Washington         IA   Trained Spotter  

            Spotter reported a measured 74 mph wind gust 
            north of Washington on G36. 

0748 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 N Oakland Mills       40.97N 91.62W
03/14/2025  M77 MPH          Henry              IA   Trained Spotter  

            Wind equipment measurement. 

0750 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 E Marengo             41.79N 92.04W
03/14/2025  M65 MPH          Iowa               IA   Public           

             

0753 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Brighton                41.17N 91.82W
03/14/2025                   Washington         IA   Trained Spotter  

            Spotter reporting power poles down in 
            Brighton Iowa. 

0753 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 NNW Noble             41.18N 91.62W
03/14/2025                   Washington         IA   Emergency Mngr   

            Turkey house lost roof and blown onto the 
            road and pulling on power lines/poles. 
            Multiple poles down in the area of the 
            turkey farm and along a line towards 
            Brighton. Two power poles on fire. Time 
            estimated. 

0755 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     1 S Washington Airport  41.27N 91.67W
03/14/2025  M67 MPH          Washington         IA   AWOS             

            AWOS station KAWG Washington Arpt. 

0755 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 N Washington          41.34N 91.70W
03/14/2025                   Washington         IA   Public           

            Delayed report of a destroyed machine shed 
            and cattle shed about a quarter of a mile 
            apart. Both buildings were open to the 
            south. The time of the event was estimated 
            using radar and near by observation at the 
            Washington AWOS (KAWG). 

0800 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Washington              41.30N 91.69W
03/14/2025  M78 MPH          Washington         IA   Emergency Mngr   

            Measured at the Washington County EOC. 

0801 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     1 ENE Burlington        40.81N 91.10W
03/14/2025  M75 MPH          Des Moines         IA   Trained Spotter  

            Measured on the riverfront and Main street. 

0805 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 NNE Ainsworth         41.31N 91.54W
03/14/2025  M62 MPH          Washington         IA   Trained Spotter  

             

0806 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Burlington Regional Air 40.79N 91.13W
03/14/2025  M62 MPH          Des Moines         IA   Public           

            ASOS equipment. 

0810 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     West Point              40.26N 91.18W
03/14/2025                   Hancock            IL   Emergency Mngr   

            Delayed report of photos of a destroyed 
            machine shed with nearby broken power poles. 
            Metal roofing blown across road to the 
            northeast. Time of the event was estimated 
            using radar. 

0812 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     cedar Rapids Municipal  41.90N 91.70W
03/14/2025  M79 MPH          Linn               IA   Other Federal    

            Corrects previous tstm wnd gst report from 
            cedar Rapids Municipal Airport. Report from 
            the control tower. 

0815 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     4 WSW Mount Union       41.03N 91.45W
03/14/2025  E70 MPH          Henry              IA   Trained Spotter  

             

0821 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     1 W Kingston            40.99N 91.06W
03/14/2025  M77 MPH          Des Moines         IA   Public           

            Branches down. 

0831 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     4 SE Blandinsville      40.52N 90.81W
03/14/2025  M81 MPH          McDonough          IL   Trained Spotter  

             

0840 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 E Bald Bluff          41.02N 90.81W
03/14/2025  E60 MPH          Henderson          IL   Trained Spotter  

            Corrects time of occurrence for previous 
            tstm wnd gst report from 2 E Bald Bluff. 
            Estimated storm outflow gust. 

0849 PM     Tornado          2 ENE Wilton            41.60N 91.00W
03/14/2025                   Cedar              IA   NWS Storm Survey 

            A fast moving EF-0 tornado begun on the 
            Muscatine/Cedar counties line. Causing roof 
            damage, tree damage and eventually damage to 
            farm outbuildings. The tornado had wind 
            speeds of 85 MPH and at its widest was 50 
            yards. 

0852 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 WSW Sunbury           41.64N 90.99W
03/14/2025                   Cedar              IA   NWS Storm Survey 

            Storm survey found sporadic damage 
            associated with straight line winds through 
            Sunbury. Winds were estimated to be 80-90 
            MPH. 

0853 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     1 W Manchester          42.48N 91.47W
03/14/2025  E65 MPH          Delaware           IA   Trained Spotter  

             

0855 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     4 SW Adair              40.38N 90.56W
03/14/2025  E65 MPH          McDonough          IL   Public           

            Public report of 60 to 70 MPH wind gusts. 
            Some small branches reported down. 

0904 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Gerlaw                  40.99N 90.60W
03/14/2025                   Warren             IL   Broadcast Media  

            Delayed report and time estimated from 
            radar. Steeple blown off a church. 

0905 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Macomb                  40.47N 90.68W
03/14/2025                   McDonough          IL   Public           

            Sheriff department reported multiple 
            powerlines down throughout the county. 

0905 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Central City            42.21N 91.52W
03/14/2025                   Linn               IA   Fire Dept/Rescue 

            A 12 foot tree uprooted. 

0905 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Lowden                  41.86N 90.92W
03/14/2025  M60 MPH          Cedar              IA   CO-OP Observer   

             

0920 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Wilton                  41.59N 91.03W
03/14/2025                   Muscatine          IA   Amateur Radio    

            Windows broken out of a home along with a 
            patio table blown off the porch. 

0937 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Charlotte               41.96N 90.47W
03/14/2025                   Clinton            IA   Trained Spotter  

            Time estimated by radar. Report that part of 
            a barn roof was ripped off by the 
            thunderstorm winds. 

0941 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Cambridge               41.30N 90.20W
03/14/2025  M70 MPH          Henry              IL   Trained Spotter  

             

0947 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 ENE Clinton           41.86N 90.19W
03/14/2025  M75 MPH          Clinton            IA   Trained Spotter  

             

0951 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 NNW Center Grove      42.50N 90.72W
03/14/2025                   Dubuque            IA   Fire Dept/Rescue 

            Delayed report and time estimated from 
            radar. Large business sign down just south 
            of the Pennsylvania Ave and JFK Road 
            intersection. 

1005 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     Geneseo                 41.45N 90.15W
03/14/2025                   Henry              IL   Law Enforcement  

            Two power poles down. 

1028 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Tampico                 41.63N 89.79W
03/14/2025  M60 MPH          Whiteside          IL   Public           

            Measured from personal weather station. Time 
            estimated. 

1035 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 S Hennepin            41.25N 89.35W
03/14/2025                   Putnam             IL   Law Enforcement  

            Numerous trees down blocking roads south of 
            Hennepin. 

1039 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 E Hennepin            41.25N 89.34W
03/14/2025                   Putnam             IL   Law Enforcement  

            Several power poles sheared off between 
            Hennepin and Mark. 1400 customers without 
            power.

Outlooks and Environment

Storm Prediction Center Outlooks