Overview
An unseasonably strong and dynamic winter system brought severe thunderstorms and tornadoes to portions of Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin on Wednesday, December 15. In addition to this, the region experienced widespread strong winds, which resulted in numerous trees, structures, and powerlines being damaged. To put things into perspective on how rare this event was, it was the first time since record keeping began in 1986 that our office had to issue both a severe thunderstorm and tornado warning during the month of December, with 6 and 8 issued respectively. In total, this event led to 189 warnings being issued across the central U.S., with 118 of those being for severe thunderstorms and the remaining 71 being for tornadoes.
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SPC Day 1 Outlook and Reports - December 15, 2021 |
Tornadoes
Tornado - AURELIA
Track Map Downloadable KMZ File |
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Tornado - SERGEANT BLUFF
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Tornado - LAWTON
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Tornado - KINGSLEY
Track Map Downloadable KMZ File |
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Tornado - BATTLE CREEK
Track Map Downloadable KMZ File |
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Tornado - ALTA
Track Map Downloadable KMZ File |
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Tornado - REMBRANDT
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Tornado - MILFORD
Track Map Downloadable KMZ File |
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Tornado - LARRABEE
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Tornado - SALIX
Track Map Downloadable KMZ File |
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The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:
EF0 Weak 65-85 mph |
EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph |
EF2 Significant 111-135 mph |
EF3 Severe 136-165 mph |
EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph |
EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph |
Wind:
One of the main impacts from this storm system were widespread strong winds, which resulted in extensive damage to trees, structures, and power lines. While most of the gusts were driven by synoptic winds, Sioux City did observe a peak thunderstorm wind gust of 82 MPH.
Peak Non-Thunderstorm Winds | Preliminary High Wind and Damage Reports | Preliminary Local Severe Weather Reports |
Photos & Video
Warnings and Severe Weather Reports
Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Warnings Issued | Severe Thunderstorm Warnings Issued | Tornado Warnings Issued | Preliminary Severe Weather Reports |
Historical Perspective of Event | Temperature and Precipitation Highlights | Local Confirmed Tornadoes | Regional Confirmed Tornadoes |
Storm Damage
Kingsley, IA (Courtesy: Alex Resel) |
Kingsley, IA (Courtesy: Alex Resel) |
Lawton, IA (Courtesy: Tanner Schaff) |
Alta, IA (Courtesy: Beth Jensen) |
Radar
Loops of the Event
Radar Loop valid from 3 - 9 PM December 15, 2021 | Satellite Loop of the event. Credit given to NOAA Satellite - Public Affairs | Snow depth leading up to the event |
Areas of Interest
Aurelia Tornado | Sergeant Bluff Tornado | Lawton Tornado | Alta Tornado |
Rembrandt Tornado | Milford Tornado | Larrabee Tornado | Kingsley Tornado |
Battle Creek Tornado | Overview Radar (From KFSD) |
Storm Reports
***Collection of reports remains on-going*** To see all reports from across the region, feel free to visit: https://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/211215_rpts.html PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD 1029 PM CST WED DEC 15 2021 ..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 0410 PM TSTM WND DMG HOMER 42.32N 96.49W 12/15/2021 DAKOTA NE EMERGENCY MNGR ELECTRIC POLE BLOWN DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 0417 PM TORNADO 2 S SALIX 42.28N 96.28W 12/15/2021 WOODBURY IA LAW ENFORCEMENT 0417 PM TORNADO 2 SW BRONSON 42.39N 96.23W 12/15/2021 WOODBURY IA FIRE DEPT/RESCUE 0419 PM TSTM WND DMG HORNICK 42.23N 96.10W 12/15/2021 WOODBURY IA EMERGENCY MNGR OVERTURNED PROPANE TANKS. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 0420 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 W BRONSON 42.40N 96.28W 12/15/2021 WOODBURY IA STORM CHASER BUILDING DAMAGED. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 0421 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 E SERGEANT BLUFF 42.40N 96.31W 12/15/2021 WOODBURY IA PUBLIC ROOFS OFF A COUPLE OF HOMES BETWEEN SERGEANT BLUFF AND BRONSON. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 0423 PM TSTM WND GST 1 WSW SERGEANT BLUFF 42.39N 96.37W 12/15/2021 M82 MPH WOODBURY IA ASOS 0424 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 ENE SERGEANT BLUFF 42.43N 96.29W 12/15/2021 WOODBURY IA PUBLIC DAMAGE TO BUILDING. 0431 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 E LAWTON 42.48N 96.15W 12/15/2021 WOODBURY IA LAW ENFORCEMENT POWER LINES DOWN ACROSS HWY 20. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 0431 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 ENE LAWTON 42.49N 96.15W 12/15/2021 WOODBURY IA STORM CHASER POLE SHED ROOF OFF WITH DEBRIS BLOWN INTO FIELD. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 0433 PM TORNADO 3 ENE LAWTON 42.50N 96.13W 12/15/2021 WOODBURY IA STORM CHASER REPORT OF POWER FLASHES FROM POWER LINES. 0434 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 W ANTHON 42.39N 95.88W 12/15/2021 WOODBURY IA PUBLIC CATTLE BARN AND GARAGE DAMAGED. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 0435 PM TSTM WND DMG KINGSLEY 42.58N 95.96W 12/15/2021 PLYMOUTH IA PUBLIC ROOF TOWN OFF OF BUILDING. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 0510 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 SSE SUTHERLAND 42.95N 95.49W 12/15/2021 O'BRIEN IA PUBLIC DESTROYED BUILDING BLOCKING HIGHWAY 10 SOUTH OF SUTHERLAND. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 0511 PM TSTM WND DMG SUTHERLAND 42.97N 95.49W 12/15/2021 O'BRIEN IA EMERGENCY MNGR LARGE TREE BRANCH DOWN IN TOWN. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 0443 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 NW BATTLE CREEK 42.34N 95.63W 12/15/2021 IDA IA PUBLIC MACHINE SHED DAMAGED. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 0448 PM TSTM WND DMG 6 NW IDA GROVE 42.40N 95.55W 12/15/2021 IDA IA PUBLIC MACHINE SHED DAMAGE. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 0450 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 SSE HOLSTEIN 42.43N 95.52W 12/15/2021 IDA IA EMERGENCY MNGR TREES DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 0457 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 NNW GALVA 42.53N 95.43W 12/15/2021 IDA IA EMERGENCY MNGR HOUSE DAMAGED WITH ROOF TORN OFF. HOOP BARN DESTROYED AND 100 YEAR OLD MARCHINE SHED DESTOYED. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 0535 PM TSTM WND GST 8 WSW MILFORD 43.29N 95.31W 12/15/2021 E60 MPH DICKINSON IA EMERGENCY MNGR 0540 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 ENE FOSTORIA 43.27N 95.08W 12/15/2021 DICKINSON IA PUBLIC ROOF GONE OFF OF A LARGE SHED, 2-3 TREES UPROOTED AND SEVERAL POWER POLES WERE KNOCKED DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 0549 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 E SPIRIT LAKE 43.42N 95.10W 12/15/2021 DICKINSON IA PUBLIC POWER POLES DOWN IN TOWN. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 0552 PM TSTM WND DMG SUPERIOR 43.43N 94.95W 12/15/2021 DICKINSON IA EMERGENCY MNGR LARGE BRANCHES DOWN AND SHINGLES OFF OF ROOF. GARAGE BLOWN OFF OF FOUNDATION. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 0525 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 E ROYAL 43.07N 95.23W 12/15/2021 CLAY IA EMERGENCY MNGR LARGE PINE TREE BLOW DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 0531 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 SSE SPENCER 43.14N 95.15W 12/15/2021 CLAY IA PUBLIC TREES DOWN IN TOWN. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 0533 PM TSTM WND GST 3 WNW SPENCER 43.17N 95.20W 12/15/2021 M54 MPH CLAY IA ASOS 0503 PM TSTM WND DMG AURELIA 42.71N 95.44W 12/15/2021 CHEROKEE IA PUBLIC UPDATES PREVIOUS TSTM WND DMG REPORT FROM AURELIA. SILO DAMAGED, TREES DOWN AND SHEET METAL FROM BUILDINGS ON ROAD. 3 RAIL CARS BLOWN OVER, AND A HOME DESTROYED. POWER OUT IN TOWN. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 0510 PM TSTM WND GST 4 WSW LAKESIDE 42.60N 95.24W 12/15/2021 M51 MPH BUENA VISTA IA BROADCAST MEDIA TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
0501 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 SW ALTA 42.61N 95.37W 12/15/2021 BUENA VISTA IA PUBLIC NUMEROUS TREES AND BRANCHES DOWN. REPORT RECEIVED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
0421 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 WNW SIOUX CITY 42.52N 96.48W 12/15/2021 WOODBURY IA PUBLIC TREE UPROOTED. REPORT VIA SOCIAL MEDIA AND TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
0425 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 SE SIOUX CITY 42.46N 96.36W 12/15/2021 WOODBURY IA PUBLIC POWER POLES LEARNING. REPORT RECEIVED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
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