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The Late May Snowstorm of 1947

In Historical by Jeff Wilcox

This is certainly something you wouldn’t expect as you head into Memorial Day Weekend, but those in the upper midwest thought the same thing as Memorial Day (then Decoration Day) approached. Temperatures preceding the storm had been in the 60s and 70s (around average for the time of year). A cold front moved through the upper midwest before stalling in …

Tornado Outbreak of 1995

In Historical by Jeff Wilcox

A small but very strong tornado outbreak occurred on this date 15 years ago this evening. Numerous thunderstorms were moving through the western and central portions of the state early in the evening hours. The first tornado warnings were issued just before 7pm near Sioux City. Between 7-11pm, 26 more tornado warnings were issued (25 from the NWS in Des …

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Charles City-Oelwein Tornadoes of 1968

In Historical by Jeff Wilcox

NOTE: The woman on the front page of the Oelwein Daily Register (above) died shortly after the picture was taken. She was one of the 2 fatalities in Oelwein, the other 2 mentioned in the newspaper were from nearby Maynard. On the afternoon of May 15, 1968, an F5 tornado moved through Butler, Chickasaw, Floyd, Franklin, and Howard Counties in …

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Largest Tornado Outbreak in Iowa

In Historical by Jeff Wilcox

The morning of Wednesday April 11, 2001 was a stormy one across the state. Numerous showers and thunderstorms were roaming the countryside as a storm system was strengthening over the central plains. A warm front was sprawled along the Interstate 80 corridor. It had already been an active weather week. Numerous severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings had been issued two …