Union County Emergency Management Agency

05/19/2026

Union Co Alert:

TORDMX

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
Northwestern Decatur County in south central Iowa...
Southeastern Union County in south central Iowa...
Northeastern Ringgold County in south central Iowa...
Southwestern Clarke County in south central Iowa...

* Until 745 PM CDT.

* At 705 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located over Mount Ayr,
moving northeast at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Damaging tornado and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Emergency management confirmed tornado.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed.
Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree
damage is likely.

* The tornado will be near...
Ellston and Beaconsfield around 715 PM CDT.
Sun Valley Lake around 720 PM CDT.
Grand River around 725 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Grand
River, Mt Ayr Municipal Airport, Ellston, Tingley, Beaconsfield, and
Kellerton.

This includes Interstate 35 between mile markers 15 and 18.

05/18/2026

Union Co Alert:

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 18 at 6:22PM CDT until May 18 at 7:15PM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
SVRDMX

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Southwestern Union County in south central Iowa...
Western Ringgold County in south central Iowa...
Taylor County in southwestern Iowa...

* Until 715 PM CDT.

* At 622 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Bedford,
moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail
damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect
wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
Mount Ayr, Bedford, Lenox, Clearfield, Diagonal, Blockton, Gravity,
Sharpsburg, Redding, Conway, Benton, Maloy, Delphos, Athelstan,
Lake Of Three Fires State Park, and Bedford Municipal Airport.
Remain alert for a possible tornado! Tornadoes can develop quickly
from severe thunderstorms. If you spot a tornado go at once into the
basement or small central room in a sturdy structure.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for south central
and southwestern Iowa.

05/16/2026

Union Co Alert:

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 15 at 7:27PM CDT until May 15 at 8:30PM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
SVRDMX

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Northwestern Decatur County in south central Iowa...
Madison County in south central Iowa...
Union County in south central Iowa...
Northern Ringgold County in south central Iowa...
Eastern Adams County in southwestern Iowa...
Western Clarke County in south central Iowa...
Southern Adair County in southwestern Iowa...

* Until 830 PM CDT.

* At 726 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from near Bridgewater to 4 miles north of Prescott to
near Lenox, moving east at 50 mph.

HAZARD...70 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect considerable
tree damage. Wind damage is also likely to mobile homes,
roofs, and outbuildings.

* Locations impacted include...
Creston, Winterset, Osceola, Greenfield, Sun Valley Lake, Green
Valley Lake, Lakeside Casino, Afton, Murray, Fontanelle, Truro,
Orient, Lorimor, Diagonal, Grand River, Van Wert, Tingley,
Patterson, East Peru, and Macksburg.

This includes Interstate 35 between mile markers 19 and 37.
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

05/15/2026

Union Co Alert:

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 15 at 6:52PM CDT until May 15 at 7:45PM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
SVRDMX

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Southern Cass County in southwestern Iowa...
Western Union County in south central Iowa...
Northwestern Ringgold County in south central Iowa...
Adams County in southwestern Iowa...
Northern Taylor County in southwestern Iowa...
Southwestern Adair County in southwestern Iowa...

* Until 745 PM CDT.

* At 652 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from 4 miles southwest of Farm Creek Public Wildlife Area
to Red Oak to 6 miles north of Yorktown, moving east at 45 mph.

HAZARD...70 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect considerable
tree damage. Wind damage is also likely to mobile homes,
roofs, and outbuildings.

* Locations impacted include...
Corning, Lenox, Griswold, Lake Icaria, Fontanelle, Clearfield,
Massena, Diagonal, Cumberland, Prescott, Gravity, Bridgewater,
Nodaway, Cromwell, Sharpsburg, Kent, Carbon, Corning Municipal
Airport, Griswold Park, and Lake Icaria State Park.
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

04/24/2026

Union Co Alert:

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 23 at 7:59PM CDT until April 23 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
SVRDMX

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Western Decatur County in south central Iowa...
Southern Madison County in south central Iowa...
Union County in south central Iowa...
Ringgold County in south central Iowa...
Southeastern Taylor County in southwestern Iowa...
Clarke County in south central Iowa...
Southwestern Warren County in south central Iowa...

* Until 900 PM CDT.

* At 758 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from Truro to Arispe to near Redding, moving east at 25
mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
Osceola, Mount Ayr, Lamoni, Sun Valley Lake, Lakeside Casino,
Afton, Murray, New Virginia, Clearfield, Lorimor, Diagonal,
Kellerton, Grand River, Van Wert, Decatur, Blockton, Tingley,
Weldon, Arispe, and Redding.

This includes Interstate 35 between mile markers 1 and 5, and between
mile markers 11 and 44.
Remain alert for a possible tornado! Tornadoes can develop quickly
from severe thunderstorms. If you spot a tornado go at once into the
basement or small central room in a sturdy structure.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

04/24/2026

Union Co Alert:

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 23 at 7:09PM CDT until April 23 at 8:15PM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
SVRDMX

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Southwestern Madison County in south central Iowa...
Union County in south central Iowa...
Western Ringgold County in south central Iowa...
Adams County in southwestern Iowa...
Taylor County in southwestern Iowa...
Southern Adair County in southwestern Iowa...

* Until 815 PM CDT.

* At 708 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from 4 miles southeast of Orient to 4 miles north of
Lenox to near Hopkins, moving east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage
to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
Creston, Corning, Bedford, Lenox, Green Valley Lake, Lake Icaria,
Afton, New Market, Clearfield, Lorimor, Diagonal, Prescott,
Blockton, Gravity, Tingley, Cromwell, Arispe, Sharpsburg, Redding,
and Shannon City.
Remain alert for a possible tornado! Tornadoes can develop quickly
from severe thunderstorms. If you spot a tornado go at once into the
basement or small central room in a sturdy structure.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

04/15/2026

Union Co Alert:

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 15 at 4:31PM CDT until April 15 at 5:15PM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
SVRDMX

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Northern Decatur County in south central Iowa...
Southeastern Union County in south central Iowa...
Northeastern Ringgold County in south central Iowa...
Clarke County in south central Iowa...

* Until 515 PM CDT.

* At 431 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Sun Valley
Lake, or 13 miles northeast of Mount Ayr, moving northeast at 40
mph.

HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail
damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect
wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
Osceola, Sun Valley Lake, Lakeside Casino, Grand River, Van Wert,
Garden Grove, Woodburn, Weldon, Ellston, Beaconsfield, and Le Roy.

This includes Interstate 35 between mile markers 18 and 37.
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for south central
Iowa.

04/15/2026

Union Co Alert:

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 15 at 3:59PM CDT until April 15 at 4:45PM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
SVRDMX

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Southwestern Madison County in south central Iowa...
Union County in south central Iowa...
Northwestern Clarke County in south central Iowa...
Southeastern Adair County in southwestern Iowa...

* Until 445 PM CDT.

* At 359 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Arispe, or 6
miles southeast of Creston, moving northeast at 45 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage
to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
Creston, Afton, Murray, Lorimor, Macksburg, Arispe, Shannon City,
Thayer, Creston Municipal Airport, and Murray Roadside Rest Area.

This includes Interstate 35 between mile markers 39 and 41.
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for south central
and southwestern Iowa.

04/15/2026

Union Co Alert:

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 15 at 12:45AM CDT until April 15 at 1:30AM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
SVRDMX

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Northwestern Decatur County in south central Iowa...
Southern Madison County in south central Iowa...
Union County in south central Iowa...
Northern Ringgold County in south central Iowa...
Western Clarke County in south central Iowa...
Southeastern Adair County in southwestern Iowa...

* Until 130 AM CDT.

* At 1244 AM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from 5 miles southwest of Macksburg to Afton to 4 miles
east of Diagonal, moving east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Creston AWOS reported a peak gust of 60 mph.

IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
Creston, Osceola, Sun Valley Lake, Lakeside Casino, Green Valley
Lake, Afton, Murray, Truro, Lorimor, Diagonal, Grand River, Van
Wert, Tingley, Weldon, East Peru, Arispe, Shannon City, Thayer,
Ellston, and Beaconsfield.

This includes Interstate 35 between mile markers 17 and 43.
Remain alert for a possible tornado! Tornadoes can develop quickly
from severe thunderstorms. If you spot a tornado go at once into the
basement or small central room in a sturdy structure.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

04/15/2026

Union Co Alert:

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 15 at 12:10AM CDT until April 15 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
SVRDMX

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Western Union County in south central Iowa...
Southeastern Adams County in southwestern Iowa...
Northwestern Ringgold County in south central Iowa...
Northeastern Taylor County in southwestern Iowa...

* Until 100 AM CDT.

* At 1209 AM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from 5 miles east of Nodaway to 6 miles northwest of
Sharpsburg to 4 miles southwest of Gravity, moving east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage
to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
Creston, Lenox, Clearfield, Diagonal, Prescott, Gravity, Cromwell,
Arispe, Sharpsburg, Shannon City, Kent, Conway, Creston Municipal
Airport, and Lake Of Three Fires State Park.
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

12/16/2025

Effective December 23rd Union County Emergency Management will be available on a new page. The link is https://www.facebook.com/share/1AMYbWDgMp/

Establish, coordinate, provide services, and maintain local emergency management activities in Union County Iowa.