433:. Additional rural homes were obliterated and swept away in this area, and a granary was destroyed. The tornado maintained EF5 strength as it reached New Hartford, impacting a housing development on the northern side of the town at 5:09 pm CDT. Multiple well-built homes with anchor bolts were again completely swept away, and vehicles were thrown long distances and mangled beyond recognition, a few of which only had their frames left. One home in this area had even its basement contents swept away, including the home-owner who was killed. Numerous headstones were toppled at the New Hartford Cemetery, and shrubs and trees were completely debarked.
383:
extremely violent, intensifying to EF5 strength, and growing into a large wedge-shaped tornado as it tore through the southern part of the community just before 5:00 pm CDT. Numerous homes and businesses, two banks, and a high school were destroyed as the south side of
Parkersburg was essentially flattened. As the tornado entered town, a large and well-constructed metal frame industrial building that was being converted into a church was obliterated at EF5 intensity, with the structure's metal beam frame mangled into a pile and pushed off of the foundation. Beams were twisted and sheared off at their bases at this location.
181:
189:
464:, it turned to the east-northeast, missing the town and growing up to 1.2 miles (1.9 km) wide. Some re-intensification occurred in this area, as consistent high-end EF2 damage was noted at multiple farms. Numerous hog containment buildings were destroyed, and a few homes that were impacted sustained some collapse of exterior walls. Mud and corn stubble was picked up from farm fields near Dunkerton and plastered thickly against fences, power poles, and houses. Shortly before reaching
340:
348:
391:
golf course and a newly built subdivision. Multiple large and well-built homes with anchor bolts were swept completely away at that location. Two of these homes had no visible debris left anywhere near the foundations, one of which was built "with above standard construction methods." At one home that was swept away in this subdivision, a concrete walk-out basement wall was partially pushed over, and the concrete basement floor sustained cracking.
422:
395:
27:
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Aplington-Parkersburg High School sustained EF4 structural damage, and reinforced concrete light poles near the school were snapped and dragged along the ground by the tornado, indicative of extremely intense low-level inflow winds. As the tornado exited at the east side of town, the tornado struck a
386:
Residential areas in
Parkersburg were devastated by the tornado, as whole neighborhoods were leveled and entire rows of homes were swept away, leaving only basements behind in some cases. Some of the homes swept away in town were bolted to their foundations. A rebar support set into the foundation of
485:
alone. While the tornado was caught on tape and photographed by spotters, a surveillance camera inside a bank in
Parkersburg also caught the tornado on tape as the storm passed over the building. Another surveillance camera showed the tornado ripping the roof off a house across a street before the
476:
Seven people were killed in
Parkersburg and two were killed in New Hartford, where the housing development was destroyed. 288 homes in Parkersburg, and 88 in and around New Hartford were damaged or destroyed. While initially rated high-end EF4, a final assessment determined that the tornado was an
382:
East of
Aplington, the tornado traveled through a series of farm fields, leaving distinct cycloidal marks in the corn stubble. The tornado rapidly grew in size right after touchdown, and wind-rowing of grass and farm debris indicated a violent vortex. It then tracked into Parkersburg, becoming
309:
that a rapidly moving and strong jet streak was approaching from
Minnesota to Iowa. Supercells began to rapidly intensify by 3:50 pm CDT, prompting upgrades in watches. A cluster of strong supercells in northern Iowa began to both interact and intensify, merging into each other and forming a
459:
mile (400 m) in width as it continued to impact rural areas. Damage along this section of the path was mostly minor, though a few farms sustained EF2 damage. Intense cycloidal marks were again noted in farm fields in this area. As the tornado approached
402:
Structural debris from the town was wind-rowed in long streaks through fields in this area, with much of the debris finely granulated into small fragments, some no larger than coins. The tornado was estimated to have been about
568:
Trey
Greenwood, a meteorologist with a Master's in Atmospheric Science, has a youtube video detailing specifics of cell mergers and gravity waves on the formation of the interest supercell.
477:
EF5 with estimated peak winds of about 205 miles per hour (330 km/h). It was determined that 17 homes and an industrial building sustained EF5 damage along the path. According to
387:
one home was found snapped in half, hardwood trees throughout southern
Parkersburg were completely debarked and denuded, and shrubs were uprooted and stripped in some areas as well.
885:
274:. Watches extended along all the corridor and storms developed in four different areas including northern Texas, northern Kansas, central Minnesota and Iowa and southern
243:
from the south. The
National Weather Service indicated that the "Combination should be sufficient for a multiple-day threat for relatively widespread severe storms."
838:
286:
began to transport ample moisture northward towards the interest area for severe storms, and as early as 12:30 pm CDT strong instability began to climb, as well as
768:
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and the Iowa
Homeland Security and Emergency Management, damage was preliminary estimated at $ 6 million in northern Iowa including more than $ 3 million in
734:
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of a mile (1.1 of a km) wide as it struck Parkersburg. Seven people died in town, several of which were taking shelter in basements.
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area. As a tornado-cyclone materialized, a funnel cloud developed, and a tornado touched down two miles south of
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224:
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795:"Post-disaster recovery in small towns: learning from the experience of tornado recovery in two communities"
498:
302:
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213:
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After passing through Parkersburg, the EF5 tornado continued eastward towards the neighboring town of
298:, the supercells would be able to take full advantage of the environment and become extremely strong.
505:
due to the extensive storm damage. The tornado was the first F5 or EF5 tornado in Iowa since one hit
220:
197:
509:
on June 13, 1976, and the second deadliest in Iowa since official record-keeping began in 1950. The
339:
188:
570:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWt11TXiu5c&t=1145s&pp=ygUTcGFya2Vyc2J1cmcgdG9ybmFkbw%3D%3D
494:
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376:
372:
228:
939:
606:
514:
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363:. The first tornado warning of the cell was issued at 4:22 pm CDT (21:22 UTC), encompassing the
235:
to move across the area as well. Moderate instability was already forming due to a deep forming
812:
544:
446:
364:
355:
The southern supercell in a cluster of rapidly intensifying cells began rotating in northeast
347:
172:, during the afternoon of May 25, 2008, resulting in catastrophic damage and nine fatalities.
169:
143:
68:
56:
903:
196:
On May 18, meteorologists identified a pattern indicative of severe weather. A large scale
461:
368:
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Remains of a house that was swept away at EF5 strength at the north edge of New Hartford.
322:. Simultaneously, low-level rotation on the southern supercell rapidly increased. Strong
465:
442:
421:
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A large and well-built house that sustained EF5 damage at the east edge of Parkersburg.
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360:
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209:
978:
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26:
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On May 25, notices for a moderate risk of severe weather were issued for northern
815:: Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional & Community Planning at
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306:
925:
524:
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Past New Hartford, the tornado weakened dramatically and passed just north of
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580:
Note the concrete walk-out basement wall partially pushed over on the left.
223:
rapidly moving across the United States before slowly stalling through the
965:"Debris found in Wis. more than 100 miles (160 km) from Iowa tornado"
517:
area on May 15, 1968, and killed 13 while producing F5 damage. On May 29,
527:, check stubs, and "greeting cards and business records" from a Waterloo
275:
251:
205:
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may have also assisted in tornadogenesis amongst the supercell cluster.
294:
moving east to northeast, and with very little interference and a broad
907:
271:
192:
Dew points and highlighted low pressure system contours on May 25, 2008
161:
278:. As forecast, the strong trough would dig into northern areas of the
799:
290:
in the upper 70s. Models began to showcase a broken line of discrete
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794:
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reported that lightweight debris from the Waterloo area, including
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886:"Surveillance video from a bank showing tornado in Parkersburg"
219:
By May 21, models showcased an increasingly strong and robust
351:
EF5 damage to an industrial building in western Parkersburg.
793:
Walls, Natalie Kate (1 April 2024). Kashem, Shakil (ed.).
756:
754:
752:
607:"SPC Severe Weather Event Review for Sunday May 25, 2008"
904:"Surveillance camera showing tornado ripping off a roof"
721:
719:
717:
841:. National Weather Service. 2006-06-01. Archived from
343:
The touchdown point and initial track of the tornado.
692:"Parkersburg – New Hartford – Dunkerton EF5 Tornado"
314:over the southern cell's developing mesocyclone, a
127:
119:
111:
106:
98:
83:
75:
63:
51:
43:
36:
839:"Parkersburg Tornado Rated EF5 (Updated June 1st)"
762:"Details of the Parkersburg Storm Damage Survey"
231:present was set to breakdown, allowing a strong
216:forming a classic plains severe weather setup.
31:The EF5 wedge tornado seen east of Parkersburg.
767:. Des Moines, Iowa: National Weather Service.
686:
684:
682:
680:
678:
8:
19:
647:"The Parkersburg, IA Tornado: 25 May 2008"
25:
18:
486:video feed was lost. After the tornado,
420:
346:
184:NWS Tornado probability for May 25, 2008
593:
561:
922:"Black Hawk and Butler Disaster Areas"
857:"Iowa Tornado Damage Tops $ 6 Million"
164:that devastated portions of northeast
924:. KCGR-TV. 2008-05-26. Archived from
774:from the original on October 18, 2012
535:, over 100 miles (160 km) away.
154:2008 Parkersburg–New Hartford tornado
20:2008 Parkersburg–New Hartford tornado
7:
698:. NOAA. May 26, 2009. Archived from
601:
599:
597:
318:interaction indicative of aiding in
737:from the original on March 22, 2015
656:. American Meteorological Society.
468:, the tornado abruptly dissipated.
140:Tornado outbreak of May 22–27, 2008
940:"Tornado History Project Database"
550:List of F5, EF5, and IF5 tornadoes
67:May 25, 2008, 5:58 p.m.
55:May 25, 2008, 4:48 p.m.
14:
663:from the original on 3 March 2016
200:was predicted to move across the
733:. NWs Des Moines. May 26, 2008.
520:The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
946:from the original on 2018-06-25
867:from the original on 2008-06-17
1:
967:. WCFcourier.com. 2008-05-30.
312:descending-reflectivity core
102:205 mph (330 km/h)
942:. Tornado History Project.
533:Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
282:. A stronger than forecast
168:, most notably the town of
1006:
731:mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/
156:was an extremely powerful
135:
88:
24:
727:"Parkersburg EF5 Damage"
266:with a slight risk from
221:negatively-titled trough
16:2008 EF5 tornado in Iowa
817:Kansas State University
809:College of Architecture
807:Kansas State University
303:Storm Prediction Center
176:Meteorological synopsis
131:$ 75 million (2008 USD)
426:
399:
352:
344:
202:northern United States
193:
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38:Meteorological history
888:. CNN. Archived from
449:, shrinking to about
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397:
379:line at 4:48 pm CDT.
350:
342:
335:Formation–Parkersburg
301:At 12:43 pm CDT, the
191:
183:
92:Enhanced Fujita scale
702:on February 12, 2015
531:, had been found in
437:Waterloo–Dissipation
645:Marshall, Timothy.
307:water vapor imagery
305:identified through
21:
427:
400:
353:
345:
241:warm air advection
204:, with associated
194:
186:
99:Highest winds
990:Tornadoes in Iowa
985:Tornadoes of 2008
813:Manhattan, Kansas
545:Tornadoes of 2008
511:deadliest tornado
150:
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144:Tornadoes of 2008
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611:www.spc.noaa.gov
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270:to northwestern
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330:Tornado summary
258:, northeastern
206:moisture return
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107:Overall effects
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12:
11:
5:
1003:
1001:
993:
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928:on 2008-05-27.
913:
895:
892:on 2011-04-05.
877:
863:. 2008-05-30.
848:
845:on 2014-09-11.
830:
800:Masters thesis
785:
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696:NWS Des Moines
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654:ams.confex.com
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503:disaster areas
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320:tornadogenesis
262:, and western
225:central plains
210:Gulf of Mexico
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513:affected the
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483:Butler County
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377:Grundy County
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324:gravity waves
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959:
948:. Retrieved
934:
926:the original
916:
898:
890:the original
880:
869:. Retrieved
851:
843:the original
833:
821:. Retrieved
805:
788:
778:September 8,
776:. Retrieved
739:. Retrieved
730:
706:February 11,
704:. Retrieved
700:the original
695:
667:February 11,
665:. Retrieved
653:
614:. Retrieved
610:
576:
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518:
515:Charles City
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440:
431:New Hartford
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417:New Hartford
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153:
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138:
137:Part of the
89:
47:May 25, 2008
741:January 12,
525:photographs
491:Chet Culver
447:Cedar Falls
365:Parkersburg
316:micro-scale
296:warm sector
250:, southern
237:moist-layer
214:instability
170:Parkersburg
84:EF5 tornado
71:(UTC–05:00)
59:(UTC–05:00)
979:Categories
950:2018-06-25
871:2008-05-30
616:2024-01-19
588:References
499:Black Hawk
359:, west of
292:supercells
288:dew-points
254:, eastern
227:. A large
212:and ample
112:Fatalities
79:70 minutes
64:Dissipated
529:Walgreens
501:counties
493:declared
472:Aftermath
462:Dunkerton
371:near the
369:Aplington
264:Wisconsin
256:Minnesota
208:from the
944:Archived
865:Archived
769:Archived
735:Archived
658:Archived
539:See also
488:Governor
466:Fairbank
443:Waterloo
361:Waterloo
276:Manitoba
252:Nebraska
120:Injuries
76:Duration
908:KMBC-TV
823:5 April
454:⁄
408:⁄
272:Ontario
162:tornado
90:on the
819:: 1–89
507:Jordan
495:Butler
373:Butler
248:Kansas
198:trough
160:wedge
128:Damage
52:Formed
772:(PDF)
765:(PDF)
661:(PDF)
650:(PDF)
556:Notes
280:CONUS
268:Texas
229:ridge
861:WOWT
825:2024
780:2013
743:2015
708:2015
669:2015
497:and
479:FEMA
445:and
375:and
357:Iowa
260:Iowa
239:and
166:Iowa
152:The
142:and
44:Date
158:EF5
69:CDT
57:CDT
981::
906:.
859:.
811:.
804:.
751:^
729:.
716:^
694:.
677:^
652:.
625:^
609:.
596:^
410:10
123:70
953:.
910:.
874:.
827:.
802:)
798:(
782:.
745:.
710:.
671:.
619:.
456:4
452:1
406:7
115:9
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
