2023 Keota tornado
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| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Duration | 25 minutes |
| Formed | March 31, 2023, 5:12 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00) |
| Dissipated | March 31, 2023, 5:37 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00) |
| EF4 tornado | |
| on the Enhanced Fujita scale | |
| Highest winds | 170 mph (270 km/h) |
| Overall effects | |
| Casualties | 3 injuries |
| Script error: The function "split" does not exist. IBTrACS | |
Throughout the late afternoon hours of March 31, 2023, an EF4 tornado carved a 20.30 mile (32.67 km) path through the communities of Keota and Wellman, Iowa. The tornado was the strongest during the tornado outbreak of March 31 – April 1, 2023, lasting 25 minuets and injuring 3 people.
Meteorological synopsis
The high-risk area was expected to see an arcing band of quasi-discrete supercells that would initially produce large hail before becoming tornadic with the possibility of producing several long-track strong to potentially violent tornadoes. Supercells would be more scattered, but longer tracked within the southern high-risk area with multiple rounds of tornadic storms capable of producing long-lived strong to violent tornadoes expected. The large area surrounding and connecting the two high risk areas maintained a moderate risk, with an accompanying 15% hatched risk for tornadoes, as supercells that could develop in this environment could similarly sustain and rotate, although storm coverage was expected to be somewhat lower, and the environment would not be as favorable. All throughout the main risk area, an elevated risk for damaging winds and large hail was also issued, with the supercells initially capable of producing very large hail and long-tracked tornadoes expected to transition into QLCS structures capable of producing very strong straight-line winds and additional tornadoes that evening. Soon after the upgrade into a high risk, the SPC introduced their first two particularly dangerous situation tornado watches, indicating a 90-95% chance for multiple tornadoes, and a 90% chance for multiple strong to violent tornadoes.[1][2][3]
Discrete supercell development was much more widespread with several forming in northern Missouri, producing large to very large hail and gusty winds before quickly becoming tornadic as they moved northeastward into southeastern Iowa and western Illinois. One of the first tornadoes in this area was an intense high-end EF3 tornado that passed near Martinsburg, Iowa, severely damaging homes and outbuildings. As that tornado was dissipating, the same storm produced the Keota tornado, the strongest tornado of the outbreak, which passed near the cities of Keota and Wellman, severely damaging and destroying several homes, including one home that was completely swept away.[4]
Tornado summary
The tornado formed at 5:12 p.m. CDT southwest of Keota, inflicting EF2 damage to small barns. it continued moving northeast, hitting more barns at EF2 intensity. It then passed through the western part of Keota, hitting 2 homes at EF3 intensity, collapsing all walls for both of the homes. Just north of Keota, the tornado intensified, hitting multiple homes at EF3 intensity, and one home at EF4 intensity, being swept off its foundation. After crossing into Washington County, the tornado hit a home at EF3 intensity and lofting a car 100 yards (91 m). It continued to travel northeast, decreasing its intensity while damaging multiple rural homes and outbuildings in Washington County. The tornado hit western Wellman, doing mainly EF1 damage to homes, and collapsing a 325 feet (99 m) cell phone tower at EF2 intensity. After passing Wellman, the tornado started dissipating as it crossed into Johnson County, inflicting EF1 damage to outbuildings and trees. At 5:37 p.m. CDT, the tornado dissipated just north of Amish 25 minutes after forming[5]
Aftermath
At least 9 homes were destroyed in the tornado, with 3 injuries. Governor Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Washington and Keokuk Counties.[6]
References
- ↑ "Mar 31, 2023 1630 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook". March 31, 2023. Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Tornado Watch #93". National Weather Service. Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Tornado Watch #94". National Weather Service. Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Tornado Watch #97". National Weather Service. Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Damage Assessment Toolkit". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on April 23, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
- ↑ Tabick, Brian; Staff, KCRG (2023-04-01). "At least 9 homes destroyed by tornado in Keota-area". KCRG. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
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