NWS La Crosse WITO.W 0041May 17, 2026
Tornado Warning: Chickasaw and Howard, IA
The National Weather Service office in La Crosse issued a tornado warning for Chickasaw and Howard in Iowa, which was in force until 11:45 p.m. local time on May 17. It was the 41st tornado warning the NWS office in La Crosse 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 51 minutes; it has expired. The agency may have replaced it with a new notice.
The notice
- Issued by
- National Weather Service, La Crosse WI
- Area
- Chickasaw and Howard
- State
- Iowa
- Level
- Warning
- Issued
- 10:54 p.m. CDT, May 17, 2026
- Expires
- 11:45 p.m. CDT, May 17, 2026
- CAP severity, certainty, urgency
- Extreme, Observed, Immediate
- VTEC event
- KARX TO.W 0041
- 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
TORARX The National Weather Service in La Crosse has issued a * Tornado Warning for... Howard County in northeastern Iowa... Northern Chickasaw County in northeastern Iowa... * Until 1145 PM CDT. * At 1054 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms capable of producing both tornadoes and extensive straight line wind damage were located along a line extending from near Stacyville to near Floyd, moving east at 60 mph. HAZARD...Tornado. 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... Riceville around 1100 PM CDT. Elma around 1105 PM CDT. Lime Springs and Jerico around 1110 PM CDT. Cresco and Protivin around 1120 PM CDT. Other locations impacted by these tornadic storms include Lylahs Marsh County Park, Vernon Springs County Park, Saratoga, County B 17 And Bell Avenue, Maple Leaf, Vernon Springs, and Bonair.
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. Torrential rainfall is occurring with these storms, and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
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.