Severe weather continues near Des Moines Tuesday night, large hail possible

Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez and Kate Kealey, Des Moines Register
Updated ·4 min read

It's not over yet: Iowa experienced more severe weather Tuesday night, including severe thunderstorm warnings, hail, and tornado watches and warnings throughout the state.

7:25 p.m.: Tornado warning in Russell, severe weather continues near Des Moines

A tornado warning was issued by NWS to include Russell, Mystic and Melrose until 8:15 p.m.

NWS posted online that strong to severe thunderstorms will continue to affect areas from Des Moines south and east until 9 p.m. Large hail remains the main threat, but tornados are possible.

5:50 p.m.: Severe thunderstorm warning includes Indianola

Severe weather is nearing the Des Moines metro. NWS has issued a severe thunderstorm warning to include Indianola, Winterset and Milo until 6:30 p.m. and warned that this storm will contain golf ball-sized hail.

5:40 p.m.: Severe thunderstorm warning includes Boone

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Boone, Perry and Jefferson by NWS until 6:30 p.m.

3:45 p.m.: Severe storms cross into western Iowa, one tornado warning issued

Severe weather has touched down in parts of Nebraska and Iowa. Primary hazards have been large hail, up to two inches in size, and damaging wind gusts up to 70 miles per hour, according to the NWS, which has issued several severe thunderstorm warnings in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.

Golf ball sized hail was reported west of Malvern, Iowa online by Caleb Beacham, storm chaser from The Y'all Squad.

A tornado warning was issued around 3:40 p.m. for the areas around Red Oak, Malvern and Emerson in far southwestern Iowa until 4:15 p.m. The warning was issued for a radar-indicated tornado and the thread of tennis ball-sized hail.

1:33 p.m.: Tornado watch issued for central and western Iowa

Much of central and southwestern Iowa is under a tornado watch as of Tuesday afternoon.

Sioux City down to Shenandoah and all the way to Ottumwa are under the watch until 10 p.m. Tuesday. It also includes the Des Moines metro area and Ames.

Likely threats include hail up to the size of tennis balls and scattered wind gusts up to 80 mph. A few tornadoes are possible, according to the National Weather Service.

Radar: What's the weather radar in Des Moines, central Iowa?

Here's a look at the National Weather Service's Des Moines radar loop:

Weather

Embedded content: https://radar.weather.gov/ridge/standard/KDMX_loop.gif

Will Iowa see 'gorilla hail'?

Some storm chasers are talking on social media about the risk of "gorilla hail" in Iowa on Tuesday night.

The NWS doesn't recognize "gorilla hail" as an official definition but said many use it to refer to large hail that's 2 inches in diameter or larger.

Hail that size is possible, meteorologist Brad Small told the Register.

What time will storms arrive in Iowa?

NWS said storms should begin developing in northeast Nebraska and western Iowa this afternoon. A few severe thunderstorms were already reported Tuesdsay morning in Nebraska.

  • 3-6 p.m.: Storms will develop in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa, and may quickly become severe.

  • 6-9 p.m.: Scattered to widespread storms will move through central Iowa.

  • 9-11 p.m.: Severe threats will begin to diminish as storms push into eastern Iowa.

What is the severe weather outlook for Iowa on Tuesday?

There are slight to enhanced risks for severe weather for much of the state today, according to the NWS. Storms will track from west to east from mid to late afternoon and into the evening.

The primary risks are large hail and damaging winds, but some tornadoes are possible. Storms will likely begin at 3 p.m. and end around 11 p.m., the NWS said.

An outbreak like last week's isn't anticipated, NWS said. But, stronger winds could be more than 70 miles per hour and tornadoes are still possible.

Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at vreynarodriguez@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter @VictoriaReynaR.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Tornado watch issued for same parts of Iowa that saw tornadoes Friday