Iowa tornado outbreak of November 2005

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Iowa tornado outbreak of November 2005
Woodward Iowa Tornado Damage.JPG
Photograph from NWS damage survey in Woodward, Iowa
TypeTornado outbreak
DurationNovember 1213 2005
Tornadoes
confirmed
14
Max. rating1 F3 tornado
Duration of
tornado outbreak2
6 hours, 22 minutes
Fatalities1 fatality, 7 injuries
Damage$18.607 million (2005 USD) [1]
Areas affected Iowa, Arkansas, Missouri

1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale
2Time from first tornado to last tornado

A large and exceptionally rare late autumn season tornado outbreak occurred during the afternoon and evening hours of November 12, 2005 with the majority of them concentrated in central Iowa. One person was killed and there was extensive damage in several communities.

Contents

There were preliminary reports of as many as twenty tornadoes in Iowa, and 14 were later confirmed, including 12 in Iowa alone. It is the largest ever tornado outbreak in Iowa in November; and among the largest outbreaks that far north and west in the United States that late in the year. Only 23 confirmed tornadoes have been recorded in Iowa in November from 1950 to 2004. There were also many reports of very large hail and strong straight-line winds, starting in southeast South Dakota.

In addition, the tornado sirens sounded just before an Iowa State University Cyclones football game incurring an evacuation of the stadium. The tornado was visible from the stadium. The Iowa State Cyclones, named partly for a violent tornado in the early 20th century returned to the field and were victorious.[ citation needed ] Another tornado struck the actual ISU campus a couple months prior on September 8 with minor damage.

Confirmed tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FUF0F1F2F3F4F5Total
056210014
F# LocationCountyStateTime (UTC)Path lengthDamage
F1S of Scranton Greene IA 21501 mile (1.6 km)Brief tornado caused little damage as it moved through fields.
F3S of Boxholm to NE of Stratford Boone, Webster, Hamilton IA 222717.6 miles (28.3 km)1 death – In Boone County, the tornado struck a farm at F1 intensity, damaging the home and some outbuildings. It also flipped over one pickup truck and killed two horses at this location. The tornado reached F2 intensity in Webster County, where a home was heavily damaged and a large outbuilding was destroyed. A machine shed was also destroyed, along with most of its contents. In Hamilton County, the tornado reached F3 intensity as it struck Stratford, where many homes were heavily damaged or destroyed and one person was killed. Vehicles were flipped and trees were snapped as well. A gas leak forced an evacuation of the town. Three farms were damaged outside of town before the tornado dissipated. Three people were injured.
F2W of Minburn to E of Woodward Dallas, Boone IA 222812 miles (19 km)Dozens of homes in Woodward were damaged or destroyed, including several homes shifted off their foundations. A double wide mobile home was flipped upside down into the middle of a street. One farm was also destroyed outside of town. Two people were injured.
F1 Hospers Sioux IA 22301 mile (1.6 km)Tornado destroyed the wall and part of the roof of a business in Hospers, and caused minor damage to contents in the building.
F1NW of Madrid Boone IA 22486 miles (9.7 km)Heavy damage to one farm site and moderate damage to one home.
F0 Ames Story IA 22560.2 miles (0.32 km)Anticyclonic tornado lifted lawn chairs and caused shingle damage to homes in Ames.
F2W of Ames to NE of Gilbert Boone, Story IA 225812 miles (19 km)Tornado caused considerable damage to homes on the northwestern fringes of Ames. Tornado was visible from Iowa State University and forced the evacuation of the stadium during a football game. A farm was also heavily damaged near Gilbert. One person was injured.
F0SW of Story City Story IA 23151.6 miles (2.6 km)Aerial surveys showed minor damage.
F1W of Roland to N of Radcliffe Story, Hamilton, Hardin IA 23208 miles (13 km)Several farm sites were damaged along the path.
F0S of Williams Hamilton IA 23271.5 miles (2.4 km)Brief touchdown. No damage was reported.
F0N of Steamboat Rock Hardin IA 23500.7 miles (1.1 km)Brief tornado with little damage.
F1 Blakesburg area Monroe IA 00401.5 miles (2.4 km)Destroyed a barn along its short track.
F1NE of Hoburg Lawrence MO 01405 miles (8.0 km)Several homes suffered moderate to significant damage. Most damage was predominantly to roofs while several trees were uprooted. One woman was injured in her home.
F0W of Mena Polk AR 04273.5 miles (5.6 km)A couple of older chicken houses sustained structural damage. A number of trees were also snapped off along the path of the tornado.
Sources: NCDC database Des Moines office

See also

References

  1. "Tornado Summaries". National Weather Service. National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved September 7, 2020.