* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  LYON COUNTY IN NORTHWEST IOWA...
  NORTHWESTERN O'BRIEN COUNTY IN NORTHWEST IOWA...
  OSCEOLA COUNTY IN NORTHWEST IOWA...
  EASTERN SIOUX COUNTY IN NORTHWEST IOWA...
  NOBLES COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA...
  SOUTHEASTERN ROCK COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA...

* UNTIL 830 PM CDT

* AT 754 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE
  TRACKING A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HALF
  DOLLAR SIZE HAIL...AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH. 
  THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM LESTER TO
  HOSPERS...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  ROCK RAPIDS AROUND 800 PM CDT...
  SHELDON...ARCHER...MATLOCK AND GEORGE AROUND 805 PM CDT...
  SANBORN...LITTLE ROCK...ASHTON AND ELLSWORTH AROUND 815 PM CDT...
  SIBLEY AND MELVIN AROUND 820 PM CDT...
  ADRIAN AROUND 825 PM CDT...
  OCHEYEDAN...LISMORE...WILMONT AND HARRIS AROUND 830 PM CDT...

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THESE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS INCLUDE
STEEN...MAGNOLIA AND BIGELOW.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS...PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR
LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A
SHELTER...PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

WUUS53 KFSD 280031
SVRFSD
IAC119-149-167-SDC083-280100-
/O.NEW.KFSD.SV.W.0130.120528T0031Z-120528T0100Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
731 PM CDT SUN MAY 27 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SIOUX FALLS HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  LYON COUNTY IN NORTHWEST IOWA...
  NORTH CENTRAL PLYMOUTH COUNTY IN NORTHWEST IOWA...
  SIOUX COUNTY IN NORTHWEST IOWA...
  EASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA...

* UNTIL 800 PM CDT

* AT 731 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE
  TRACKING A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WALNUT
  SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THESE STORMS
  WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM CANTON TO HAWARDEN TO LE
  MARS...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  ROCK VALLEY AND MAURICE AROUND 740 PM CDT...
  LARCHWOOD...SIOUX CENTER...ORANGE CITY AND ALVORD AROUND 745 PM
  CDT...
  HULL...ALTON...LESTER AND DOON AROUND 750 PM CDT...
  HOSPERS...GRANVILLE...BOYDEN AND ROCK RAPIDS AROUND 755 PM CDT...
  MATLOCK AND GEORGE AROUND 800 PM CDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES PER
HOUR...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. FOR
YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR
HOME OR BUSINESS. HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO DO NOT DRIVE
INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

&&

LAT...LON 4304 9652 4306 9646 4308 9646 4309 9656
      4332 9671 4350 9647 4350 9604 4335 9594
      4328 9587 4298 9586 4272 9628
TIME...MOT...LOC 0031Z 224DEG 42KT 4331 9656 4308 9639
          4283 9620
WIND...HAIL 60MPH 1.50IN

$$

BT

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SIOUX FALLS HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN CLAY COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA
  NORTHERN UNION COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA
  NORTHWESTERN PLYMOUTH COUNTY IN NORTHWEST IOWA
  SOUTHEASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA
  SOUTHWESTERN LYON COUNTY IN NORTHWEST IOWA
  WESTERN SIOUX COUNTY IN NORTHWEST IOWA

* UNTIL 130 AM CDT MONDAY

* AT 716 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED  
  THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. 
  RAIN FALL OF ONE TO ONE AND A HALF INCHES FELL EARLIER THIS 
  EVENING AND AN ADDITIONAL ONE TO TWO INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE. 
  THIS WARNING INCLUDES NEWTON HILLS STATE PARK.

* RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
  OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
  BERESFORD...CANTON...HAWARDEN...AKRON...ALCESTER...ALVORD...DOON...
  FAIRVIEW...HUDSON...INWOOD...NEWTON HILLS STATE PARK AND ROCK
  VALLEY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS
SAFELY.

FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS IMMINENT. IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHERE
YOU ARE RELATIVE TO STREAMS...RIVERS...OR CREEKS WHICH CAN BECOME
KILLERS IN HEAVY RAINS. CAMPERS AND HIKERS SHOULD AVOID STREAMS OR
CREEKS.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SIOUX FALLS HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  CENTRAL LYON COUNTY IN NORTHWEST IOWA...
  SOUTHERN ROCK COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA...

* UNTIL 645 PM CDT

* AT 611 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE
  TRACKING A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GOLF BALL SIZE
  HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS
  LOCATED NEAR ALVORD...OR 9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ROCK RAPIDS...AND
  MOVING NORTH AT 30 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  LESTER AND ROCK RAPIDS AROUND 620 PM CDT...
  HILLS AROUND 630 PM CDT...
  BEAVER CREEK AROUND 640 PM CDT...
  LUVERNE AND BLUE MOUNDS STATE PARK AROUND 645 PM CDT...

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE STEEN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES PER
HOUR...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. FOR
YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR
HOME OR BUSINESS. HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO DO NOT DRIVE
INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SIOUX FALLS HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  WESTERN LYON COUNTY IN NORTHWEST IOWA...
  NORTHWESTERN SIOUX COUNTY IN NORTHWEST IOWA...
  EASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA...

* UNTIL 630 PM CDT

* AT 559 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE
  TRACKING A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE
  HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS
  LOCATED NEAR HUDSON...OR 8 MILES NORTH OF HAWARDEN...AND MOVING
  NORTH AT 30 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  NEWTON HILLS STATE PARK AROUND 605 PM CDT...
  FAIRVIEW AROUND 610 PM CDT...
  INWOOD AND CANTON AROUND 620 PM CDT...
  LARCHWOOD AND LESTER AROUND 630 PM CDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES PER
HOUR...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. FOR
YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR
HOME OR BUSINESS. HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO DO NOT DRIVE
INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SIOUX FALLS HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  NORTHWESTERN PLYMOUTH COUNTY IN NORTHWEST IOWA...
  SOUTHWESTERN SIOUX COUNTY IN NORTHWEST IOWA...
  CENTRAL UNION COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA...

* UNTIL 600 PM CDT

* AT 527 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE
  TRACKING A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HALF DOLLAR
  SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS
  LOCATED NEAR AKRON...OR 15 MILES SOUTH OF HAWARDEN...AND MOVING
  NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  HAWARDEN AROUND 550 PM CDT...
  IRETON AROUND 555 PM CDT...

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE
CHATSWORTH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES PER
HOUR...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. FOR
YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR
HOME OR BUSINESS. HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO DO NOT DRIVE
INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

The Storm Prediction Center has issued a SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH for the following Iowa counties: Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Ida, Lyon, O'Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, Sioux, Woodberry, Harrison, Mona, Shelby, Crawford, Emmet, Palo Alto, and Sac. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means that conditions are favorable for the development of severe weather, in and close to the watch area. People should remain alert for rapidly changing weather conditions.

No one is exempt from the force of Mother Nature, not even the National Weather Service, who learned that the hard way Friday night.

A powerful bolt of lightning struck the radar that patrols Iowa's skies, rendering it useless...that is until technicians can repair the damage.

Repairing the damage was the plan Saturday morning, as parts were available, and technicians on scene. But upon further troubleshooting, more damage that previously expected was found. According to a statement from the forecast office, additional parts were ordered, and another attempt to repair the radar dish is planned for today.

The NWS says the radar most likely wont return to service until late Sunday afternoon at the earliest, but may not return to full operation until Tuesday.

Update: Radar has returned as of 3:30PM, Sunday!
Editors note: It should be mentioned that adjacent radars are being used to view any threatening weather in the state until Iowa's radar returns to normal.

The title of this post says it all, keep your weather radios handy. 

Iowa will experience the warmest weather yet this year today, with high temperatures soaring into the 90s, with breezy conditions and elevated humidity levels. Although some welcome the heat, the heat will welcome explosive storm development. 

A cold front will sweep through later today triggering storms.

For the reasons mentioned above, forecasters with NOAA's Storm Prediction Center have posted a MODERATE risk of severe weather for portions of northwestern Iowa.

The main threats will be large hail, although all modes of severe weather are possible.

It's time to be prepared, especially for those who are enjoying the holiday weekend camping. Have an action plan in place, even if your not in the moderate risk area. 

Stay with WolkenWeather.com for the very latest on this developing severe weather situation.