2021 Waterloo, Iowa Tornado (Hulkerine)

Damage in Waterloo, IA (photo above)

Location: Waterloo, Iowa

Date: June, 4 2021

Time: 8:33 PM CDT

Max rating: EF5

On June 3, 2021 the storm prediction center severe weather Outlook placed a Moderate risk for significant severe weather including large hail and violent tornadoes for Northeastern Iowa and Southwestern Minnesota for June 4. An enhanced risk was placed for Western and Central Iowa, Northern Mizzouri, Western Wisconsin and Western Illinois for June 4. This was due to a large frontal system moving through the area that had a high chance of developing powerful supercells. Severe thunderstorms began to fire up in the region around 12:23 PM CDT. A few EF0 and EF1 tornadoes were reported in Central Iowa and Southern Minnesota. a low end EF4 tornado would impact southern Minneapolis in the late afternoon (article coming soon). The most powerful tornado of the day was the Waterloo, Iowa Tornado that struck Waterloo, Iowa shortly after sundown. At around 8:20 PM CDT the national weather service in Des Moines issued a tornado warning for Black hawk and western Grundy county. This was due to a supercell located West of Dike, moving east at 55 MPH. National Weather Service Doppler radar detected rotation in this supercell. At 8:27 PM CDT a tornado touched down Just east of Dike moving east at 55 MPH. This Tornado was reported to be uprooted trees and ripping roofs off of houses in rural Black hawk county. 126 MPH winds along with EF2 damage was reported at the time. At 8:31 PM CDT the tornado was located just outside of Western Waterloo. The tornado was reported to be extremely violent, and causing EF4 Damage.The National Weather Service declared a Tornado Emergency for Waterloo. The tornado would strike Waterloo 2 minutes later at 8:33 PM CDT. The tornado carved a path of chaotic destruction right across downtown Waterloo killing 27 people and injuring 45 others. The tornado then countinued Eastward for another 27 miles tearing through Independence, before dissipitating 1 mile east of Independence at 8:47 PM CDT. An additional 5 deaths and 16 injuries were reported in Independence. A total 32 tornado related deaths were reported along with 3 non-tornado related deaths. The national weather service would initially give this tornado a high end EF4 rating, but after extensive damage review the tornado would officially receive an EF5 rating. At it's peak the tornado was 1.4 miles wide with sustained wind speeds of 212 MPH.