Quad Cities, IA/IL

Weather Forecast Office

May 23, 2020: Severe Thunderstorms Produce Several Tornadoes Across Eastern Iowa and Northwest Illinois

Overview

Severe thunderstorms tracked across much of eastern Iowa and northwest Illinois in the early afternoon hours of May 23rd, 2020. Storms quickly intensified in an extremely favorable environment, which was the result of a warm front lifting north across the Midwest.

Hazards including tornadoes, torrential rainfall, and large hail.

7 tornadoes were confirmed from this event. Please see the Tornado tab for more details and locations.

Summaries from Other Offices

- NWS Chicago

Tornado Watch #207 Graphic

Tornado
Radar
Storm Reports
Rainfall
Environment

Tornadoes

Tornado #1 - 4.3 miles SE Solon, IA
Johnson to Cedar County

Date	May 23, 2020
Time (Local)	1230 - 1249 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	110 MPH
Path Length	7.1 Miles
Max Width	50 Yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: An EF-1 tornado caused outbuilding, grain bin, and tree damage at a farmstead in northeast Johnson County. The tornado then followed an intermittent northeast path for 7 miles into Cedar County. The tornado downed power poles east of Sutliff. The maximum winds were estimated to be 110 MPH, with a maximum path width around 50 yards. Assistance from the Johnson County and Cedar County Emergency Management in completing this survey is appreciated.

Track Map

Tornado #2 - Mechanicsville, IA
Cedar to Jones County

Date	May 23, 2020
Time (Local)	1257 - 113 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	95 MPH
Path Length	7 Miles
Max Width	30 Yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: An EF-1 tornado began around 1257 PM. The tornado was on the ground for about 16 minutes. The tornado was on the ground intermittently for 7 miles. A porch was destroyed on a home just west of Mechanicsville, and caused farm outbuilding damage at a farmstead on the Cedar/Jones county line.

Track Map

Tornado #3 - 1.2 miles NE Andrew, IA
Cedar to Jones County

Date	May 23, 2020
Time (Local)	224 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-U
Est. Peak Winds	UNKNOWN
Path Length	0.1 Miles
Max Width	10 Yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: A trained spotter observed a brief tornado in a field. There was no observable damage to assign an EF-scale rating.

Track Map

Tornado #4 - Coleta, IL
Whiteside / Carroll Counties

Date	May 23, 2020
Time (Local)	229 - 253 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	100 MPH
Path Length	12 Miles
Max Width	30 Yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: A tornado developed east/northeast of Morrison, IL in Whiteside County, shortly before 2:30 pm. The tornado followed an intermittent path northeast before hitting a farmstead near the Whiteside/Carroll County border. The tornado snapped a 14 inch diameter tree, caused shingle damage, and downed power lines. The tornado was rated EF1 with maximum winds estimated around 100 mph. The tornado was on the ground for about 24 minutes along an intermittent 12 mile path.

Track Map

Tornado #5 - Warren, IL
Jo Daviess County

Date	May 23, 2020
Time (Local)	418 - 420 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-U
Est. Peak Winds	N/A
Path Length	0.5 Miles
Max Width	20 Yards
Injuries/Deaths	N/A
Summary: A trained spotter observed a brief tornado in an open field near Warren. The tornado is designated as an EF-U (unknown), as no damage was observed to assign an EF-scale rating.

Track Map

Tornado #6 - 1mile SE Lost Nation, IA
Clinton County

Date	May 23, 2020
Time (Local)	120 - 123 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	85 MPH
Path Length	1.2 Miles
Max Width	20 Yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: An EF-0 tornado damaged a metal farm outbuilding at a farmstead just southeast of Lost Nation Saturday afternoon. Maximum sustained winds were estimated around 85 mph. The tornado was on the ground for about 3 minutes along a path estimated at a little more than one mile.

Track Map

Tornado #7 - 0.5 miles S Maquoketa, IA
Jackson County

Date	May 23, 2020
Time (Local)	153 - 157 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	80 MPH
Path Length	1.5 Miles
Max Width	20 Yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: Video passed along by emergency management confirms an EF-0 tornado Saturday, which caused some shingle damage at a few homes near Prairie Creek Golf Course, just south of Maquoketa, IA. Maximum estimated winds were around 80 mph. The tornado path was an estimated 1.5 miles, and was on the ground for about 4 minutes.

Track Map

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

Radar

Interactive Radar Loop

Storm Reports

Interactive Storm Report Map	SPC Storm Reports

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
514 PM CDT SAT MAY 23 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0502 PM     HEAVY RAIN       3 SW WINNESHIEK         42.32N 89.57W
05/23/2020  M1.50 INCH       STEPHENSON         IL   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            RAINFALL TOTAL. STORMS HAVE ENDED. 

0500 PM     HEAVY RAIN       3 N STOCKTON            42.40N 90.00W
05/23/2020  M1.69 INCH       JO DAVIESS         IL   CO-OP OBSERVER   

            RAINFALL TOTAL TODAY. STORMS HAVE ENDED. 

0420 PM     TORNADO          WARREN                  42.50N 89.99W
05/23/2020                   JO DAVIESS         IL   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            REPORT OF A TORNADO JUST NORTH OF WARREN BY 
            A TRAINED SPOTTER, RELAYED FROM COUNTY 911. 

0249 PM     TORNADO          3 SE MILLEDGEVILLE      41.94N 89.73W
05/23/2020                   CARROLL            IL   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHDOWN SOUTHEAST OF 
            MILLEDGEVILLE, HAS SINCE LIFTED. HAVE HAD 
            SEVERAL REPORTS OF BRIEF TOUCHDOWNS. 

0247 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 ENE COLETA            41.92N 89.75W
05/23/2020                   WHITESIDE          IL   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE 

            DELAYED REPORT. REPORT OF WIRES DOWN AND 
            DAMAGE TO A HOME; SHINGLES OFF THE ROOF. 
            POSSIBLE TORNADO DAMAGE. TIME ESTIMATED FROM 
            RADAR. 

0246 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 ENE COLETA            41.92N 89.75W
05/23/2020                   WHITESIDE          IL   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            POWER LINES DOWN ACROSS ROADWAY. 14 INCH 
            TREE DIAMETER TREE SNAPPED. POSSIBLE TORNADO 
            DAMAGE. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. 

0225 PM     TORNADO          1 NNE ANDREW            42.17N 90.58W
05/23/2020                   JACKSON            IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            A TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED A TORNADO ON THE 
            GROUND 1 MILE NORTH NORTHEAST OF ANDREW. 

0110 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     TORONTO                 41.91N 90.86W
05/23/2020                   CLINTON            IA   PUBLIC           

            RELAYED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT, ROTATING WALL 
            CLOUD WITH FUNNEL. NOT TOUCHING THE GROUND. 

0103 PM     HAIL             HAMPTON                 41.56N 90.41W
05/23/2020  M0.50 INCH       ROCK ISLAND        IL   PUBLIC           



0103 PM     TORNADO          MECHANICSVILLE          41.90N 91.25W
05/23/2020                   CEDAR              IA   LAW ENFORCEMENT  

            RELAYED BY CEDAR RAPIDS WARNING POINT OF 
            TORNADO ON THE GROUND AND MOVING NORTH. TIME 
            ESTIMATED USING RADAR. 

1243 PM     TORNADO          SUTIFF                  41.83N 91.38W
05/23/2020                   JOHNSON            IA   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE 

            THE LISBON FIRE CHIEF REPORTED A TORNADO ON 
            THE GROUND SOUTH OF SUTLIFF. THERE ARE 
            MULTIPLE REPORTS AND PHOTOS FROM THE SAME 
            AREA. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR. 

1238 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 NE MORSE              41.76N 91.42W
05/23/2020                   JOHNSON            IA   BROADCAST MEDIA  

            REPORTED RELAYED FROM BROADCAST MEDIA. 
            DAMAGE TO TREES AND FARM OUTBUILDINGS. 
            POSSIBLE TORNADO DAMAGE. TIME ESTIMATED FROM 
            RADAR. 

1230 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     1 SW MORSE              41.75N 91.44W
05/23/2020                   JOHNSON            IA   TRAINED SPOTTER  

            TRAINED SPOTTER ON MORSE RD COULD SEE A 
            FUNNEL BUT COULD NOT TELL IF IT WAS ON THE 
            GROUND. 

1211 PM     HAIL             ERIE                    41.66N 90.08W
05/23/2020  E1.00 INCH       WHITESIDE          IL   TRAINED SPOTTER

Rain Reports

Local Rain Map

Regional Rain Map (Courtesy of MRCC)

24 hour precipitation reports (in Inches),
for eastern Iowa, northwest and west central Illinois,
and northeast Missouri. Reported between Midnight and 9 AM,
Sunday May 24, 2020.

....IOWA....
Maquoketa 4 W                    1.30
Dubuque LD11                     1.27
Wellman 4.0 E                    1.16
Mason City 1 NNE                 1.04
Riverdale 0.5 N                  0.90
Toledo 3 N                       0.82
Rickardsville 0.2 W              0.82
Davenport 0.9 WNW                0.80
Iowa City Arpt                   0.77
Fayette 1 NW                     0.73
West Liberty 0.7 NNW             0.67
Cedar Rapids 2.7 NE              0.59
Marion 1.7 NNW                   0.56
Camanche 1.2 W                   0.55
Dubuque Arpt                     0.55
Monticello 1 E                   0.55
Iowa City                        0.53
Dubuque #3 7 SW                  0.48
Bellevue LD12                    0.44
Newton 1 NE                      0.42
Fairfax 4.0 NW                   0.40
Mason City ASOS 6 W              0.39
Kalona 7.3 NNW                   0.39
Manchester                       0.39
Anamosa 3 SSW                    0.33
North Liberty 0.7 SSW            0.30
Waterloo ASOS 5 NW               0.30
Guttenberg Dam 10                0.30
Williamsburg                     0.30
Davenport Arpt                   0.29
Center Point 0.6 NNW             0.28
Asbury 0.4 SW                    0.27
Charlotte 1.9 WNW                0.27
Park View 0.2 WSW                0.26
Elkader 6SSW                     0.25
Marengo 3.6 N                    0.25
Strawberry Point                 0.22
Amana 4.7 W                      0.22
Cedar Rapids Arpt 5 SW           0.21
Ainsworth 7.4 N                  0.18
Eldridge 0.7 SSW                 0.17
Marshalltown ASOS 4 N            0.16
Tripoli 0 N                      0.15
Sigourney                        0.10
Hampton 1 N                      0.10
Oelwein AWOS                     0.09
Calamus 2.0 NE                   0.09
Washington                       0.05
Washington 5.8 SW                0.05
NWS Johnston* 5 NNW              0.05
Centerville 0 NE                 0.04
Brighton                         0.04
Wapello 5.4 SE                   0.03
Parnell 0.1 SSW                  0.02
Muscatine 2.1 NNW                0.01
Ottumwa ASOS 6 NNW               0.01
Burlington Arpt 2 SW             0.01
Pella AWOS 2 WSW                 0.01
Perry 0 W                        0.01
Muscatine 2N                     0.00
Allerton 2 S                     0.00
Rathbun Reservoir 2 N            0.00
Oskaloosa AWOS 9 ESE             0.00
Wapello 0.2 S                    0.00
New London 1.5 SW                0.00
Burlington 6.5 SSW               0.00
Burlington 2.1 S                 0.00
Keokuk LD19                      0.00
Fairfield                        0.00
Cantril 0.9 SSE                  0.00
....ILLINOIS....
Orangeville 2.8 NW               2.25
Davis 0.5 N                      1.92
Elizabeth                        1.65
Freeport                         1.44
Winslow 4.3 ESE                  1.43
Ridott 0.1 NE                    1.16
Morrison 3.2 E                   1.15
Mundelein                        1.06
Romeoville                       0.97
Moline 0.7 NNE                   0.71
Woodhull 0.3 ESE                 0.58
Freeport 2.0 NW                  0.52
Freeport 1.7 NW                  0.50
Quad City Arpt                   0.49
Coal Valley 1.9 SE               0.38
Kewanee 1 E                      0.37
Dakota 4.8 NW                    0.34
Coal Valley 2.6 E                0.31
Minonk                           0.30
New Boston LD17                  0.26
Paw Paw 1 E                      0.20
Walnut 5.3 ENE                   0.20
Tuscola                          0.16
Princeton 1.1 SE                 0.15
Princeton                        0.15
Peoria ASOS                      0.14
Windsor                          0.10
Rockford ASOS                    0.10
Ogden                            0.10
Rochelle AWOS                    0.09
Aledo                            0.07
Streator 3 SE                    0.06
Geneseo 2.0 NW                   0.05
Jacksonville AWOS                0.03
New Windsor 2.0 N                0.03
Decatur Airport                  0.02
Steward                          0.01
Roscoe 2SE                       0.01
Ill. City LD16 3 WNW             0.01
Mendota 2 SE                     0.00
Bentley                          0.00
Galesburg                        0.00
Gladstone LD18                   0.00
Colchester 3.5 NE                0.00
Joliet                           0.00
Nauvoo 0.7 SSE                   0.00
Quincy ASOS                      0.00
Macomb                           0.00
Bloomington Airport              0.00
Galesburg Arpt 3 SW              0.00
Lincoln NWS                      0.00
....MISSOURI....
Columbia                         0.00
Memphis                          0.00
Chillicothe 2 NW                 0.00
Kirksville ASOS                  0.00
....WISCONSIN....
Monroe 1 W                       1.61
Beloit-College                   1.13
Madison-ASOS                     0.80
Prairie du Chien AWOS            0.76
Brodhead 1 SW                    0.45
Darlington                       0.42
La Crosse WFO                    0.40
Whitewater                       0.40
Steuben 4SE 3 NE                 0.35
Viroqua                          0.26
Watertown-AWOS                   0.17
Allenton-WWTP .6 NW              0.17

Environment

SPC EVENT REVIEW PAGE: 05/20/2020



SPC Categorical Outlook	Tornado Outlook	Wind Outlook	Hail Outlook



MCD 680 (text)	MCD 685 (text)


7 AM DAVENPORT, IA SOUNDING	1 PM DAVENPORT, IA

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