Spencer, IA (northwestiowanow.com) — Around 6:15p Monday evening on the 24th we had our first isolated thunderstorm move through northeast of Spencer growing slightly between Ruthven and Emmetsburg before eventually dying off near the West Bend area.

This system left several reports and one mystery. Reports included pea sized hail 6 miles South of Ocheyedan, very strong winds North of Spencer, pea sized hail South of Dollar General in Ruthven, and a report of rotation just East of Ruthven that is still mysterious to this day. The rotation seen in video from a listener available on our Facebook pages shows actual circulation at the ground, but nothing visible from the clouds. Without seeing the storm structure, we are unsure. Sioux Falls NWS have mixed opinions and believe it could be a gustnado (isolated surface-based circulation on the outflow of the storm) and not a tornado. It could also very well be a landspout which is a very weak tornado.

That same evening South Dakota experienced their first ever February tornado in the state’s history. Near Watertown just North of Sioux Falls. The tornado touchdown at roughly 4:11pm that afternoon. We also have a photo of that tornado posted on our Facebook pages.

If you have any reports, give us a call 712-262-1240 or send us an email weather@spencerradiogroup.com