Iowa Tornado Outbreak of November 2005

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Iowa Tornado Outbreak of November 2005

Photograph from NWS damage survey in Woodward, Iowa

Date of tornado outbreak:

November 12—13, 2005

Duration¹:

6 hours, 22 minutes

Maximum rated tornado²:

F3 tornado

Tornadoes caused:

27 + 1 unconfirmed [1]

Damages:

$18.6 million [2]

Fatalities:

Areas affected:

Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas

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

The Iowa Tornado Outbreak of November 2005 was a large and exceptionally rare late autumn season tornado outbreak on the afternoon and evening of November 12, 2005 all throughout the state but concentrated in central Iowa, United States. At least one person was killed and there was extensive damage in several communities. Another tornado and severe thunderstorm outbreak generated from the same storm system that produced the Iowa outbreak produced damaging tornadoes with injuries concentrated across southwest Missouri.

There are preliminary reports of as many as twenty tornadoes in Iowa, and as of November 13th at least ten tornadoes have been confirmed. 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 1950-2004. There were also many reports of very large hail and strong straight-line winds, starting in southeast South Dakota.

A tornado caused some damage including deroofing a business in Hospers in Sioux County.

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 ironically named Iowa State Cyclones, named partly for a violent tornado in the early 20th century returned to the field and were victorious. Another tornado struck the actual ISU campus a couple months prior on September 8 with extensive minor damage.

[edit] Confirmed tornadoes

F#	Location	County	Time (UTC)	Path length	Damage
Iowa
F3	Stratford area	Boone, Webster, Hamilton	2227	15.1 miles (24 km)	1 death - There was extensive tornado damage across the southern half of the town. At least two dozen homes completely destroyed and many others damaged along its 150 yard (165 m) wide path. One person was killed and another was injured. A gas leak forced the evacuation of most of the town impeding rescue efforts.
F2	Woodward area	Dallas, Boone	2228	11 miles (17 km)	Dozens of homes damaged or destroyed, including several homes shifted off their foundations. One farm was also destroyed.
F1	N of Madrid	Boone	2233	6 miles (10 km)	Heavy damage to one farm site and moderate damage to one home.
F2	N of Ames	Boone, Story	2245	10 miles (16 km)	Heavy damage to several homes along its path. Tornado was visible from Iowa State University and forced the evacuation of the stadium during a football game.
F0	Story City	Story	2315	1.6 miles (2.6 km)	Aerial surveys showed minor damage.
F1	N of Roland	Story, Hamilton, Hardin	2323	9 miles (15 km)	Several farm sites were damaged along its track.
F0	S of Williams	Hamilton	2327	unknown	No damage was reported.
F0	Blakesburg	Monroe	0040	unknown	Destroyed a barn along its short track.
Sources: Des Moines office