May 10, 2003 Tornadoes

...Lee County Iowa...

A tornado started 1.5 miles west of Argyle, IA in Lee County... and continued to 5 miles northeast of town. A house near Argyle was blown off its foundation up against some trees. Three teens sought shelter in an interior bathroom...which very likely saved their lives.

The tornado in that area was rated F2 on the Fujita scale, while elsewhere along the path, damage was rated F0 to F1. F2 wind speeds range from 113 to 157 mph. F1 wind speeds range from 73 to 112 mph...and F0 less than 73 mph.

Pictures of damage near Argyle: 

...Southern Hancock County Illinois...

F0 to F2 damage occurred in southern and eastern Hancock County. The F2 damage occurred about 12 miles southwest of Carthage.

Pictures of damage near Lima, Illinois:

Picture of damage on Hancock/Adams County Line:

...Northern Van Buren County to Louisa County...

An intermittent tornado track was observed starting from near the town of Birmingham in northern Van Buren County...to near Rome and Mount Union in Henry County...to Wapello in Louisa county. The track appeared continuous from Mount Union into the northwest part of Wapello where the tornado dissipated.

The worst damage...rated F1 on the Fujita scale...occurred to six farms just west and north of Mount Union and two farms about 3 miles southwest of Wapello. The most significant damage occurred to barns and out buildings, many of which were completely destroyed. The farm homes suffered only minor damage. Other damage along the path was rated F0.

No fatalities or injuries were reported along this track.

We would like to express our thanks to local officials and residents of the affected counties for their assistance and hospitality during the surveys. Also, we are grateful for the timely spotter reports during the event from the entire area.

Storm Tracks from May 10, 2003
Triangles indicate tornado reports. Some reports may be from the same tornado.

Summary of All Reports Received for the event as of 5/11/2003:

• 0345 PM INDEPENDENCE IA .5 INCH HAIL REPORTED BY STORM SPOTTER.
• 0451 PM SOUTH ENGLISH IA 1 INCH HAIL REPORTED BY STORM SPOTTER.
• 0506 PM 4 W KEYSTONE IA .5 INCH HAIL REPORTED BY STORM SPOTTER.
• 0512 PM 4 W KEYSTONE IA 1.75 INCH HAIL REPORTED BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
• 0525 PM 1 N GARRISON IA 1.75 INCH HAIL REPORTED BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
• 0530 PM 3 N KEYSTONE IA FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
• 0535 PM SIGOURNEY IA .5 INCH HAIL REPORTED BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
• 0540 PM 3 N WILLIAMSBURG IA 2.75 INCH HAIL REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.
• 0541 PM 2 SW VINTON IA TORNADO REPORTED BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
• 0545 PM BRANDON IA 1.75 INCH HAIL REPORTED BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
• 0553 PM URBANA IA 1.75 INCH HAIL REPORTED BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
• 0555 PM FAIRMONT MO TORNADO REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.
• 0559 PM HAZLETON IA 1.75 INCH HAIL REPORTED BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
• 0559 PM OTTERVILLE IA 1.75 INCH HAIL REPORTED BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
• 0559 PM 1 W ROWLEY IA FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
• 0600 PM NORTH ENGLISH IA 1 INCH HAIL REPORTED BY COOPERATIVE OBSERVER.
• 0600 PM NORTH ENGLISH IA 1 INCH HAIL REPORTED BY COOPERATIVE OBSERVER.
• 0602 PM HAZLETON IA 1.75 INCH HAIL REPORTED BY STORM SPOTTER.
• 0615 PM SWISHER IA .75 INCH HAIL REPORTED BY STORM SPOTTER.
• 0615 PM INDEPENDENCE IA .88 INCH HAIL REPORTED BY COOPERATIVE OBSERVER.
• 0617 PM FAIRFAX IA 1.75 INCH HAIL REPORTED BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
• 0624 PM CEDAR RAPIDS IA .75 INCH HAIL REPORTED BY STORM SPOTTER.
• 0624 PM CEDAR RAPIDS IA 1.75 INCH HAIL REPORTED BY STORM SPOTTER.
• 0630 PM PACKWOOD IA 1.75 INCH HAIL REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.
• 0630 PM 2 S MANCHESTER IA .88 INCH HAIL REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.
• 0631 PM 1 NE ARGYLE IA TORNADO REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.
• 0640 PM ARGYLE IA TORNADO REPORTED BY HAM RADIO OPERATOR. HOMES DESTROYED.
• 0643 PM 5 W LADORA IA .88 INCH HAIL REPORTED BY STORM SPOTTER.
• 0645 PM FT MADISON IA TORNADO REPORTED BY STORM SPOTTER.
• 0654 PM CHARLESTON IA TORNADO REPORTED BY STORM SPOTTER. DAMAGE WAS SEEN.
• 0700 PM WEST PT IL TORNADO REPORTED BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
• 0700 PM 1 SW SUTTER IL FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.
• 0712 PM BASCO IL TORNADO REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.
• 0724 PM 5 ESE CARTHAGE IL TORNADO REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL. MOVING EAST NORTHEAST.
• 0750 PM 1 N MT PLEASANT IA TORNADO REPORTED BY STORM SPOTTER.
• 0756 PM 1 N WINFIELD IA TORNADO REPORTED BY STORM SPOTTER.
• 0757 PM GOOD HOPE IL TORNADO REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.
• 0805 PM 4 S WINFIELD IA 65 MPH TSTM GUST BLEW POWER LINES DOWN AND DAMAGED A HOUSE. REPORTED BY STORM SPOTTER.
• 0810 PM 1 E MORNING SUN IA TORNADO REPORTED BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
• 0817 PM 5 SW SWAN CREEK IL 65 MPH TSTM GUST DAMAGED GRAIN BINS. REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.
• 0820 PM MT UNION IA TORNADO DAMAGED HOUSE AND POWER LINES. DAMAGE MAY HAVE OCCURED EARLIER.
• REPORTED BY HAM RADIO OPERATOR.
• 0825 PM 1 N OAKVILLE IA TORNADO REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.
• 0845 PM NEW BOSTON IL FUNNEL CLOUD REPORT WAS DELAYED AND MAY HAVE OCCURRED EARLIER. REPORTED BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
• 0850 PM WAPELLO IA 65 MPH TSTM GUST DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN. DAMAGE MAY
• HAVE OCCURRED EARLIER. REPORTED BY HAM RADIO OPERATOR.
• 0859 PM 2 E GALVA IL TORNADO REPORTED BY HAM RADIO OPERATOR.
• 0904 PM 1 N GALVA IL TORNADO REPORTED BY HAM RADIO OPERATOR.
• 0907 PM DAVENPORT IA .5 INCH HAIL REPORTED BY HAM RADIO OPERATOR.
• 0914 PM SHERRARD IL FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.
• 0918 PM 3 S WALNUT IL .75 INCH HAIL REPORTED BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
• 0918 PM 5 W WALNUT IL FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED BY PUBLIC.
• 0920 PM WALNUT IL .75 INCH HAIL WIND GUSTS 40 TO 50 MPH. REPORTED BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
• 0921 PM PRINCETON IA .5 INCH HAIL REPORTED BY HAM RADIO OPERATOR.
• 0930 PM AUGUSTA IL 55 MPH TSTM GUST REPORTED BY PUBLIC.
• 0930 PM 3 S MANCHESTER IA WIND DAMAGE. SEVERAL LARGE TREES UPROOTED. ROOF OFF HOUSE. STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO GARAGE.
• REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.
• 0935 PM 1 S WYANET IL FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
• 0940 PM VAN ORIN IL TORNADO REPORTED BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
• 1012 PM LA MOILLE IL FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED BY PUBLIC.