Iowa Tornado Watch | Effective 05/18/2026 13:49

Headline: 
Tornado Watch issued May 18 at 3:49PM CDT until May 18 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
Event: 
Tornado Watch
Urgency: 
Future
Effective: 
May 18, 2026 - 1:49pm
Expires: 
May 18, 2026 - 8:00pm
Description: 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 225 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN IOWA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 8 COUNTIES IN SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA CLARKE DECATUR RINGGOLD UNION IN SOUTHWEST IOWA ADAIR ADAMS CASS TAYLOR THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ADAIR, ATLANTIC, BEDFORD, CORNING, CRESTON, FONTANELLE, GREENFIELD, LAMONI, LENOX, LEON, MOUNT AYR, NEW MARKET, OSCEOLA, AND STUART. * PRIMARY THREATS INCLUDE... A FEW TORNADOES AND A COUPLE INTENSE TORNADOES LIKELY. WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED SIGNIFICANT GUSTS TO 80 MPH LIKELY. SCATTERED LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED VERY LARGE HAIL EVENTS TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER LIKELY. PROBABILITY TABLE: PROB OF 2 OR MORE TORNADOES : 70% PROB OF 1 OR MORE STRONG /EF2-EF5/ TORNADOES : 60% PROB OF 10 OR MORE SEVERE WIND EVENTS : 80% PROB OF 1 OR MORE WIND EVENTS >= 75 MPH : 70% PROB OF 10 OR MORE SEVERE HAIL EVENTS : 60% PROB OF 1 OR MORE HAIL EVENTS >= 2 INCHES : 60% PROB OF 6 OR MORE COMBINED SEVERE HAIL/WIND EVENTS : >95% MEAN STORM MOTION /MPH/ : E 40
Area Description: 
Adair, IA; Adams, IA; Cass, IA; Clarke, IA; Decatur, IA; Ringgold, IA; Taylor, IA; Union, IA
Forcast Office: 
NWS Des Moines IA
Sender: 
w-nws.webmaster@noaa.gov