NWS Sioux Falls SDTO.W 0013May 17, 2026
Tornado Warning: Cherokee, Plymouth and Woodbury, IA
The National Weather Service office in Sioux Falls issued a tornado warning for Cherokee, Plymouth and Woodbury in Iowa, which was in force until 8:30 p.m. local time on May 17. It was the 13th tornado warning the NWS office in Sioux Falls issued in 2026. Iowa had 40 tornado warnings in May 2026, against 20 in an average May of 2008-2025 (Iowa's tornado warnings by year).
ExpiredWarning
In force for 43 minutes; it has expired. The agency may have replaced it with a new notice.
The notice
- Issued by
- National Weather Service, Sioux Falls SD
- Area
- Cherokee, Plymouth and Woodbury
- State
- Iowa
- Level
- Warning
- Issued
- 7:47 p.m. CDT, May 17, 2026
- Expires
- 8:30 p.m. CDT, May 17, 2026
- CAP severity, certainty, urgency
- Extreme, Observed, Immediate
- VTEC event
- KFSD TO.W 0013
- Official source
- National Weather Service: the notice at its source
Tornado Warnings in Iowa since 2008Every warning type in Iowa
Source: National Weather Service: the notice at its source. AreaZine rebuilds this page from the agency's record; the agency's page is the one to act on. A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.
The notice as issued
TORFSD The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls has issued a * Tornado Warning for... Southwestern Cherokee County in northwestern Iowa... Northeastern Woodbury County in west central Iowa... Southeastern Plymouth County in northwestern Iowa... * Until 830 PM CDT. * At 747 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms capable of producing both tornadoes and extensive straight line wind damage were located over Lawton, or 12 miles east of Sioux City, moving northeast at 40 mph. HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation. IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely. * These dangerous storms will be near... Moville and Kingsley around 755 PM CDT. Pierson around 800 PM CDT. Other locations in the path of this tornadic thunderstorm include Washta.
What the agency told people to do
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris. This cluster of thunderstorms is capable of producing tornadoes and widespread significant wind damage. Do not wait to see or hear the tornado. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.
Source: National Weather Service: the notice at its source. The text is the agency's, unedited. A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.