NWS Des Moines IATO.W 0052May 18, 2026
Tornado Warning: Poweshiek and Tama, IA
The National Weather Service office in Des Moines issued a tornado warning for Poweshiek and Tama in Iowa, which was in force until 9:45 p.m. local time on May 18. It was the 52nd tornado warning the NWS office in Des Moines 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 39 minutes; it has expired. The agency may have replaced it with a new notice.
The notice
- Issued by
- National Weather Service, Des Moines IA
- Area
- Poweshiek and Tama
- State
- Iowa
- Level
- Warning
- Issued
- 9:06 p.m. CDT, May 18, 2026
- Expires
- 9:45 p.m. CDT, May 18, 2026
- CAP severity, certainty, urgency
- Extreme, Observed, Immediate
- VTEC event
- KDMX TO.W 0052
- 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
TORDMX The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a * Tornado Warning for... Northern Poweshiek County in central Iowa... Southern Tama County in central Iowa... * Until 945 PM CDT. * At 906 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Gilman, or 7 miles north of Grinnell, moving northeast at 45 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. * This dangerous storm will be near... Tama around 915 PM CDT. Chelsea and Vining around 925 PM CDT. Elberon around 930 PM CDT. Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Chelsea, Elberon, Vining, Toledo Municipal Airport, and Holiday Lake.
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.
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.