Put Cloudbreak on your portfolio.

Leave your email and we’ll reach out within one business day.

Prefer to talk? Call 940-391-3558.

Storm reports for December 15, 2021

NOAA recorded 28 hail reports, 587 wind reports and 125 tornado reports in 9 states on December 15, 2021.

in 9 states
740
Storm reports
About 56 miles from Topeka, KS
4.0 in
Largest hail
Near 42.71, -95.43, IA
100 mph
Highest gust
Highest rating EF2, about 57 miles from Lincoln, NE
125
Tornado reports
Sources: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center reports; radar hail estimates from NOAA MRMS; gust estimates from NOAA URMA; damage surveys from the NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit

Hail, inches

  • 0.75
  • 1
  • 1.5
  • 2
  • 2.5
  • 3+

Dots: reports. Shading: radar estimate.

  • Wind report
  • Estimated gusts, 50 to 90 mph
  • Tornado and its path
  • Surveyed tornado path
  • Surveyed wind damage

Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center, final severe weather database (from NOAA's Storm Data). Report day: 12:00 UTC on December 15, 2021 to 12:00 UTC the next day. Times are Central.

Select a dot or a path for the report. NWS survey teams walked the shaded paths after the storm; each is drawn at the widest width they found, so it can look wider than the damage at any one spot. Gust lines are estimates: the highest gust of the day in NOAA's hourly 2.5 km wind analysis (URMA), which fills in between weather stations. They aren't measurements at any building.

What happened

On December 15, 2021, a line of severe thunderstorms produced 63 tornadoes in Iowa, 21 of them rated EF2, and a gust of 88 mph at Audubon, the highest in the state.1 After the line passed, winds gusted to 83 mph at Decatur City, 81 mph at Marshalltown and 74 mph at Des Moines International Airport.1 NWS Des Moines says the event did more than $1 billion in damage across the Midwest.1 In Rudd, Iowa, an EF1 tornado at about 7:06 p.m. CST ripped roofs off some homes. Stronger tornadoes in Clark County, Wisconsin, destroyed or heavily damaged a few homes.2

Farther southwest, a gust of 100 mph was measured at the Russell County Airport in Kansas. The winds damaged structures across the county and blew out west-facing windows in many homes in Russell.3 Hail up to 4 inches across fell on Interstate 35 near Plymouth in Lyon County, Kansas, at 4:47 p.m. CST, and 2.5-inch hail fell east of Emporia four minutes later.4,5 In Hastings, Nebraska, wind-driven hail up to 1 inch damaged siding and roofs. The Storm Events Database lists $500,000 in damage.6 Early that morning in Taos, New Mexico, storm winds estimated at 80 to 100 mph damaged the roofs of six or seven homes along a 2.9-mile path. The database lists an estimated $5 million in damage.7

Sources

  1. 1. NWS Des Moines: Stormy and Windy Wednesday, December 15, 2021
  2. 2. NWS La Crosse: Severe Weather of December 15, 2021: Strong Winds and Tornadoes
  3. 3. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Storm Events Database: Event 998083, high wind, Russell County, Kansas
  4. 4. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Storm Events Database: Event 996602, hail, Lyon County, Kansas
  5. 5. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Storm Events Database: Event 996605, hail, Lyon County, Kansas
  6. 6. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Storm Events Database: Event 991328, hail, Adams County, Nebraska
  7. 7. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Storm Events Database: Event 989741, thunderstorm wind, Taos County, New Mexico

Reports by hour

Hail28, most at 5 PM

Wind587, most at 7 PM

Tornado125, most at 5 PM

Reports per hour, Central time. Each row has its own scale.

Every report

Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center.

TimeRatingWherePath
1:27 PMEF0Near 40.58, -98.94, NE11.02 mi long, 150 yd wide
1:29 PMEF0Near 40.27, -98.73, NE13.45 mi long, 100 yd wide
1:33 PMEF0Near 40.66, -98.82, NE7.13 mi long, 120 yd wide
1:44 PMEF1Near 40.32, -98.50, NE14.84 mi long, 180 yd wide
1:53 PMEF1Near 40.66, -98.46, NE8.58 mi long, 150 yd wide
2:03 PMEF0Near 40.67, -98.28, NE7.17 mi long, 60 yd wide
2:11 PMEF1Near 40.72, -98.11, NE12.9 mi long, 400 yd wide
2:26 PMEF1Near 40.97, -97.92, NE12 mi long, 400 yd wide
2:35 PMEF1About 58 miles from Lincoln, NE7.54 mi long, 350 yd wide
3:03 PMEF1Near 41.53, -97.49, NE0.79 mi long, 30 yd wide
3:04 PMEF2About 57 miles from Lincoln, NE2.72 mi long, 50 yd wide
3:11 PMEF2About 25 miles from Lincoln, NE23.74 mi long, 70 yd wide
Show all 125 tornado reports
TimeRatingWherePath
3:27 PMEF1About 58 miles from Omaha, NE1.5 mi long, 30 yd wide
3:31 PMEF2About 59 miles from Omaha, NE6.25 mi long, 100 yd wide
3:37 PMEF1About 53 miles from Omaha, NE4.85 mi long, 50 yd wide
3:37 PMEF1About 56 miles from Omaha, NE1.82 mi long, 50 yd wide
3:41 PMEF1About 58 miles from Omaha, NE0.36 mi long, 50 yd wide
3:41 PMEF1About 18 miles from Lincoln, NE16.6 mi long, 100 yd wide
3:44 PMEF2About 57 miles from Omaha, NE11.22 mi long, 200 yd wide
3:46 PMEF1About 26 miles from Lincoln, NE0.72 mi long, 100 yd wide
3:51 PMEF1About 57 miles from Omaha, NE11.24 mi long, 20 yd wide
3:55 PMEF2About 30 miles from Lincoln, NE3.3 mi long, 20 yd wide
4:05 PMEF1About 36 miles from Omaha, NE0.1 mi long, 200 yd wide
4:05 PMEF1About 58 miles from Lincoln, NE0.18 mi long, 20 yd wide
4:06 PMEF0Near 40.02, -96.10, NE2.18 mi long, 20 yd wide
4:06 PMEF2About 28 miles from Omaha, NE3.59 mi long, 150 yd wide
4:07 PMEF1About 57 miles from Lincoln, NE0.8 mi long, 100 yd wide
4:09 PMEF2About 25 miles from Omaha, NE2.6 mi long, 200 yd wide
4:14 PMEF1About 28 miles from Omaha, NE9.97 mi long, 100 yd wide
4:15 PMNot ratedNear 42.29, -96.30, IA0.8 mi long, 20 yd wide
4:16 PMEF0About 10 miles from Omaha, NE0.9 mi long, 30 yd wide
4:20 PMEF1Near 42.37, -96.30, IA4.56 mi long, 75 yd wide
4:24 PMEF2About 15 miles from Omaha, NE2.3 mi long, 50 yd wide
4:25 PMEF2Near 42.43, -96.18, IA8.44 mi long, 100 yd wide
4:31 PMEF1About 34 miles from Omaha, NE0.63 mi long, 50 yd wide
4:31 PMEF2About 23 miles from Omaha, NE6.7 mi long, 75 yd wide
4:34 PMEF1About 36 miles from Omaha, NE9.57 mi long, 50 yd wide
4:35 PMEF1Near 42.51, -95.99, IA4.28 mi long, 75 yd wide
4:39 PMEF1Near 42.56, -95.96, IA3.72 mi long, 75 yd wide
4:42 PMEF1Near 42.29, -95.67, IA13 mi long, 75 yd wide
4:48 PMNot ratedAbout 54 miles from Omaha, NE4.39 mi long, 50 yd wide
4:49 PMEF2About 49 miles from Omaha, NE27.11 mi long, 100 yd wide
4:58 PMEF0Near 42.53, -95.44, IA2.92 mi long, 50 yd wide
4:59 PMEF1Near 42.63, -95.49, IA11.16 mi long, 250 yd wide
5:00 PMNot ratedNear 42.56, -95.41, IA1.81 mi long, 50 yd wide
5:00 PMEF1Near 41.49, -94.90, IA11.44 mi long, 80 yd wide
5:01 PMEF1Near 42.59, -95.39, IA6.37 mi long, 75 yd wide
5:05 PMEF1Near 42.86, -95.54, IA3.84 mi long, 75 yd wide
5:07 PMEF1Near 42.78, -95.39, IA6.94 mi long, 150 yd wide
5:08 PMEF1Near 42.91, -95.51, IA3.85 mi long, 100 yd wide
5:10 PMEF1About 56 miles from Des Moines, IA11.45 mi long, 70 yd wide
5:13 PMEF2Near 42.18, -95.07, IA17.6 mi long, 100 yd wide
5:14 PMEF2About 57 miles from Des Moines, IA19.67 mi long, 100 yd wide
5:18 PMEF2Near 42.83, -95.17, IA4.77 mi long, 100 yd wide
5:19 PMEF1Near 42.01, -94.81, IA9.65 mi long, 80 yd wide
5:21 PMEF2About 47 miles from Des Moines, IA29.99 mi long, 300 yd wide
5:27 PMEF2About 45 miles from Des Moines, IA23.4 mi long, 150 yd wide
5:29 PMEF2About 53 miles from Des Moines, IA5.49 mi long, 100 yd wide
5:32 PMEF2About 53 miles from Des Moines, IA5.83 mi long, 100 yd wide
5:34 PMNot ratedNear 42.25, -94.63, IA1.33 mi long, 40 yd wide
5:34 PMEF2About 57 miles from Des Moines, IA2.74 mi long, 70 yd wide
5:35 PMEF1Near 42.22, -94.58, IA19.01 mi long, 100 yd wide
5:39 PMEF2About 44 miles from Des Moines, IA17.69 mi long, 125 yd wide
5:39 PMEF1Near 43.27, -95.09, IA3.96 mi long, 50 yd wide
5:40 PMEF2Near 42.29, -94.48, IA17.97 mi long, 80 yd wide
5:41 PMEF1Near 43.06, -94.81, IA11.16 mi long, 90 yd wide
5:42 PMEF2About 53 miles from Des Moines, IA18.83 mi long, 150 yd wide
5:43 PMNot ratedNear 42.58, -94.58, IA1.04 mi long, 40 yd wide
5:49 PMEF2About 44 miles from Des Moines, IA16.25 mi long, 125 yd wide
5:50 PMNot ratedNear 42.69, -94.51, IA7.1 mi long, 80 yd wide
5:55 PMEF2About 49 miles from Des Moines, IA12.1 mi long, 100 yd wide
5:58 PMEF1Near 42.78, -94.31, IA4.23 mi long, 80 yd wide
6:00 PMEF2Near 42.42, -94.06, IA5.55 mi long, 80 yd wide
6:01 PMEF0About 58 miles from Des Moines, IA7.63 mi long, 80 yd wide
6:01 PMEF0About 48 miles from Des Moines, IA8.79 mi long, 70 yd wide
6:19 PMEF2Near 42.66, -93.67, IA5.91 mi long, 70 yd wide
6:25 PMEF2Near 42.76, -93.56, IA16.69 mi long, 100 yd wide
6:26 PMEF1Near 42.53, -93.37, IA12.96 mi long, 125 yd wide
6:27 PMEF1Near 42.48, -93.28, IA22.16 mi long, 140 yd wide
6:28 PMEF0Near 42.90, -93.75, IA5.23 mi long, 60 yd wide
6:38 PMEF1Near 42.82, -93.25, IA6.01 mi long, 80 yd wide
6:40 PMEF2Near 42.72, -93.11, IA7.49 mi long, 90 yd wide
6:44 PMEF0Near 42.97, -93.14, IA2.86 mi long, 40 yd wide
6:48 PMEF1Near 43.46, -93.69, IA2.85 mi long, 90 yd wide
6:53 PMEF1Near 42.89, -92.91, IA4.17 mi long, 200 yd wide
6:54 PMEF0Near 43.21, -93.07, IA3.54 mi long, 60 yd wide
6:58 PMEF1Near 43.62, -93.63, MN3.61 mi long, 75 yd wide
6:58 PMEF0Near 43.34, -93.25, IA9.11 mi long, 80 yd wide
6:59 PMEF1Near 42.98, -92.85, IA6.7 mi long, 80 yd wide
7:01 PMEF0About 29 miles from Des Moines, IA6.27 mi long, 100 yd wide
7:03 PMEF1About 58 miles from Rochester, MN1.64 mi long, 25 yd wide
7:06 PMEF1Near 43.11, -92.92, IA1.79 mi long, 65 yd wide
7:09 PMEF0About 47 miles from Rochester, MN2.63 mi long, 50 yd wide
7:10 PMEF0About 53 miles from Rochester, MN2.62 mi long, 100 yd wide
7:10 PMEF1About 49 miles from Rochester, MN6.34 mi long, 100 yd wide
7:11 PMEF2About 53 miles from Rochester, MN2.17 mi long, 55 yd wide
7:11 PMEF1About 46 miles from Rochester, MN4.26 mi long, 75 yd wide
7:15 PMEF1Near 43.10, -92.48, IA3.99 mi long, 180 yd wide
7:15 PMEF0About 48 miles from Rochester, MN6.71 mi long, 100 yd wide
7:17 PMEF0About 58 miles from Rochester, MN4.96 mi long, 50 yd wide
7:23 PMEF0About 52 miles from Rochester, MN5.91 mi long, 45 yd wide
7:29 PMEF0About 50 miles from Rochester, MN4.44 mi long, 45 yd wide
7:31 PMEF0About 50 miles from Rochester, MN4.6 mi long, 90 yd wide
7:33 PMEF0About 30 miles from Rochester, MN6.42 mi long, 75 yd wide
7:37 PMEF1About 19 miles from Rochester, MN3.32 mi long, 85 yd wide
7:42 PMEF0About 17 miles from Rochester, MN4.6 mi long, 80 yd wide
7:48 PMEF0About 31 miles from Rochester, MN0.51 mi long, 40 yd wide
7:50 PMEF1About 24 miles from Rochester, MN4.33 mi long, 75 yd wide
7:51 PMEF1About 30 miles from Rochester, MN1.77 mi long, 75 yd wide
7:51 PMEF1About 26 miles from Rochester, MN4.39 mi long, 75 yd wide
8:01 PMEF1About 32 miles from Rochester, MN1.19 mi long, 250 yd wide
8:02 PMEF1About 40 miles from Rochester, MN2.35 mi long, 75 yd wide
8:03 PMEF1About 19 miles from Rochester, MN4.03 mi long, 40 yd wide
8:06 PMEF1About 45 miles from Rochester, MN7.31 mi long, 250 yd wide
8:10 PMEF0About 34 miles from Rochester, MN0.63 mi long, 40 yd wide
8:17 PMEF1About 45 miles from Rochester, MN4.85 mi long, 40 yd wide
8:23 PMEF0About 51 miles from Rochester, MN0.74 mi long, 25 yd wide
8:53 PMEF1Near 44.50, -91.18, WI2.68 mi long, 70 yd wide
9:00 PMEF0Near 44.60, -91.08, WI6.71 mi long, 75 yd wide
9:02 PMEF0Near 44.90, -91.30, WI5.35 mi long, 75 yd wide
9:05 PMEF2Near 44.50, -90.80, WI3.13 mi long, 250 yd wide
9:07 PMEF2Near 44.51, -90.75, WI2.8 mi long, 250 yd wide
9:16 PMEF2Near 44.60, -90.58, WI1.13 mi long, 50 yd wide
9:16 PMEF2Near 44.90, -90.98, WI7.41 mi long, 75 yd wide
9:22 PMEF1Near 44.77, -90.66, WI0.9 mi long, 50 yd wide

By state

StateReportsHailWindTornado
Iowa257318668
Nebraska157712228
Kansas128131150
Minnesota10418320
Wisconsin561469
Missouri313280
Illinois3030
New Mexico3030
Colorado1010

Cities with reports nearby

Reports within 15 miles of the center of each city we track.

CityLargest hailHighest gustTornado reports
Kansas City, MO1.0 in77 mph0
Cedar Rapids, IANone81 mph0
Davenport, IANone60 mph0
Des Moines, IANone75 mph0
Lincoln, NENone93 mph0
Omaha, NENone92 mph1
Rochester, MNNone77 mph0
Topeka, KSNone99 mph0

Reports are what observers recorded near a location, not a complete record of every storm. They don’t describe conditions at any building.