Worth County Public Health Department

06/08/2026

Just a reminder that Northwood-Kensett Community Schools is offering a FREE lunch program and is open to EVERYONE ages 1-18. This year it is located in the basement of the First Lutheran Church. No income requirements, just a great lunch for everyone.

Information about the summer meals program

06/05/2026

Day Camp 2026!

06/01/2026

Ready to take the first step toward a smoke-free life? 🚭💙
Worth County Public Health now has FREE Quit Kits available to help support your smoking cessation journey!
Each kit includes helpful tools, resources, and encouragement to help you quit with confidence.
📍 Stop by our office or contact us to learn more.
💪 A healthier future starts today!

05/20/2026

Urgent - Grafton Area Notification. The outdoor warning siren for Grafton will be tested at 2pm or shortly after today May 20th. There is NOT severe weather or other emergency. Thank You for your understanding.:

05/18/2026

Worth County Alert:

Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued May 17 at 10:07PM CDT until May 17 at 10:45PM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
TORDMX

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
Worth County in north central Iowa...
Northeastern Hancock County in north central Iowa...
Northern Cerro Gordo County in north central Iowa...
Eastern Winnebago County in north central Iowa...

* Until 1045 PM CDT.

* At 1006 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located near Leland, or 6
miles northeast of Forest City, moving northeast at 65 mph.

HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

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...
Lake Mills, Rice Lake, Joice, Lake Mills Municipal Airport, and
Rice Lake State Park around 1010 PM CDT.
Northwood around 1020 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Joice,
Pilot K**b State Park, Lake Mills Municipal Airport, McIntosh Woods
State Park, Hogsback Wildlife Area, Plymouth, Scarville, Grafton,
Fertile, and Hanlontown.

This includes Interstate 35 between mile markers 193 and 218.
To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a
basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy
building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in
a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect
yourself from flying debris.
http://www.weather.gov

05/18/2026

Worth County Alert:

Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued May 17 at 9:35PM CDT until May 17 at 10:15PM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
TORDMX

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
Southwestern Worth County in north central Iowa...
Northeastern Kossuth County in north central Iowa...
Northern Hancock County in north central Iowa...
Northwestern Cerro Gordo County in north central Iowa...
Winnebago County in north central Iowa...

* Until 1015 PM CDT.

* At 934 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Burt, or 8 miles northeast of Algona, moving
northeast at 55 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

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.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
Union Slogh and Titonka around 940 PM CDT.
Woden around 945 PM CDT.
Thompson around 955 PM CDT.
Scarville around 1005 PM CDT.
Lake Mills and Hogsback Wildlife Area around 1010 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Hayfield, Joice, Wesley, Hutchins, Pilot K**b State Park, Lake Mills
Municipal Airport, Forest City Municipal Airport, Hogsback Wildlife
Area, Woden, and Scarville.

This includes Interstate 35 near mile marker 197.
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!
http://www.weather.gov

05/18/2026

Worth County Alert:

Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 17 at 9:28PM CDT until May 17 at 10:30PM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
SVRDMX

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Eastern Emmet County in northwestern Iowa...
Western Worth County in north central Iowa...
Northern Wright County in north central Iowa...
Northwestern Franklin County in north central Iowa...
Kossuth County in north central Iowa...
Northern Humboldt County in north central Iowa...
Hancock County in north central Iowa...
Western Cerro Gordo County in north central Iowa...
Winnebago County in north central Iowa...
Northeastern Palo Alto County in northwestern Iowa...

* Until 1030 PM CDT.

* At 927 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from 4 miles southwest of Ceylon to near Irvington to
near Callender, moving east at 60 mph.

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

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect considerable tree damage. Damage is likely to
mobile homes, roofs, and outbuildings.

* Locations impacted include...
Algona, Forest City, Garner, Belmond, Lake Mills, Britt, Emmons,
Swan Lake, Iowa Lake, Elm Lake, Union Slogh, Clear Lake, Eagle
Lake, Mason City Municipal Airport, Rice Lake, Okamanpedan Lake,
Armstrong, Buffalo Center, Bancroft, and Ventura.

This includes Interstate 35 between mile markers 167 and 218.
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

This is a DANGEROUS SITUATION. These storms are producing widespread
wind damage. SEEK SHELTER NOW inside a sturdy structure and stay
away from windows! Intense thunderstorm lines can produce brief
tornadoes and widespread significant wind damage. Although a tornado
is not immediately likely, it is best to move to an interior room on
the lowest floor of a building. These storms may cause serious
injury and significant property damage.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 100 AM CDT for north central
and northwestern Iowa.
http://www.weather.gov

05/17/2026

Worth County Alert:

Tornado Watch
Tornado Watch issued May 17 at 6:13PM CDT until May 18 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 216 IN
EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM CDT MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS

IN IOWA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 13 COUNTIES

IN NORTH CENTRAL IOWA

BUTLER CERRO GORDO FRANKLIN
HANCOCK HUMBOLDT KOSSUTH
WINNEBAGO WORTH WRIGHT

IN NORTHEAST IOWA

BREMER

IN NORTHWEST IOWA

EMMET PALO ALTO POCAHONTAS

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ALGONA, ALLISON, APLINGTON, BELMOND,
BRITT, CLARION, CLARKSVILLE, CLEAR LAKE, DUMONT, EAGLE GROVE,
EMMETSBURG, ESTHERVILLE, FONDA, FOREST CITY, GARNER,
GILMORE CITY, GREENE, HAMPTON, HUMBOLDT, KANAWHA, LAKE MILLS,
LAURENS, MANLY, MASON CITY, NORTHWOOD, PARKERSBURG, POCAHONTAS,
ROLFE, SHELL ROCK, AND WAVERLY.

* PRIMARY THREATS INCLUDE...

A FEW TORNADOES AND A COUPLE INTENSE TORNADOES POSSIBLE.
WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED SIGNIFICANT GUSTS TO 75
MPH LIKELY.
SCATTERED LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED VERY LARGE HAIL EVENTS TO 2
INCHES IN DIAMETER POSSIBLE.

PROBABILITY TABLE:
PROB OF 2 OR MORE TORNADOES : 50%
PROB OF 1 OR MORE STRONG /EF2-EF5/ TORNADOES : 30%
PROB OF 10 OR MORE SEVERE WIND EVENTS : 80%
PROB OF 1 OR MORE WIND EVENTS >= 75 MPH : 70%
PROB OF 10 OR MORE SEVERE HAIL EVENTS : 40%
PROB OF 1 OR MORE HAIL EVENTS >= 2 INCHES : 30%
PROB OF 6 OR MORE COMBINED SEVERE HAIL/WIND EVENTS : >95%
MEAN STORM MOTION /MPH/ : E 35
null
http://www.weather.gov

05/16/2026

Worth County Alert:

Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 15 at 7:23PM 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...
Southern Worth County in north central Iowa...
Northeastern Hancock County in north central Iowa...
Cerro Gordo County in north central Iowa...

* Until 830 PM CDT.

* At 723 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Miller, or 5
miles northeast of Garner, moving east at 35 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...
Mason City, Nora Springs, Rockwell, Mason City Municipal Airport,
Clear Lake, Ventura, Plymouth, Fertile, Rock Falls, Burchinal,
Portland, Pilot K**b State Park, McIntosh Woods State Park, and
Clear Lake State Park.

This includes Interstate 35 between mile markers 186 and 202.
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
http://www.weather.gov

05/15/2026

Worth County Alert:

Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued May 15 at 5:18PM CDT until May 16 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
205 IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM CDT SATURDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS

IN IOWA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 39 COUNTIES

IN CENTRAL IOWA

BOONE DALLAS GRUNDY
HAMILTON HARDIN JASPER
MARSHALL POLK STORY
TAMA WEBSTER

IN NORTH CENTRAL IOWA

BUTLER CERRO GORDO FRANKLIN
HANCOCK HUMBOLDT KOSSUTH
WINNEBAGO WORTH WRIGHT

IN NORTHEAST IOWA

BLACK HAWK BREMER

IN NORTHWEST IOWA

EMMET PALO ALTO POCAHONTAS

IN SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA

MADISON UNION WARREN

IN SOUTHWEST IOWA

ADAIR ADAMS CASS
TAYLOR

IN WEST CENTRAL IOWA

AUDUBON CALHOUN CARROLL
CRAWFORD GREENE GUTHRIE
SAC

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ACKLEY, ADAIR, ADEL, ALGONA, ALLISON,
AMES, APLINGTON, ATLANTIC, AUDUBON, BAYARD, BEDFORD, BELMOND,
BOONE, BRITT, CARLISLE, CARROLL, CASEY, CEDAR FALLS, CLARION,
CLARKSVILLE, CLEAR LAKE, CONRAD, CORNING, CRESTON, DENISON,
DES MOINES, D**E, DUMONT, DYSART, EAGLE GROVE, EARLHAM, EARLY,
ELDORA, EMMETSBURG, ESTHERVILLE, EXIRA, FONDA, FONTANELLE,
FOREST CITY, FORT DODGE, GARNER, GILMORE CITY, GLADBROOK, GREENE,
GREENFIELD, GRUNDY CENTER, GUTHRIE CENTER, HAMPTON, HUMBOLDT,
INDIANOLA, IOWA FALLS, JEFFERSON, KANAWHA, LAKE CITY, LAKE MILLS,
LAKE VIEW, LAURENS, LENOX, MANLY, MANSON, MARSHALLTOWN,
MASON CITY, NEW MARKET, NEWTON, NORTHWOOD, NORWALK, ODEBOLT,
PANORA, PARKERSBURG, PERRY, POCAHONTAS, POMEROY, REINBECK,
ROCKWELL CITY, ROLFE, SAC CITY, SCHALLER, SHELL ROCK, STUART,
TAMA, TOLEDO, TRAER, WALL LAKE, WATERLOO, WAUKEE, WAVERLY,
WEBSTER CITY, WELLSBURG, AND WINTERSET.

* PRIMARY THREATS INCLUDE...

SCATTERED DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED SIGNIFICANT GUSTS TO 80
MPH LIKELY.
SCATTERED LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED VERY LARGE HAIL EVENTS TO 3.5
INCHES IN DIAMETER LIKELY.
A TORNADO OR TWO POSSIBLE.

PROBABILITY TABLE:
PROB OF 2 OR MORE TORNADOES : 20%
PROB OF 1 OR MORE STRONG /EF2-EF5/ TORNADOES : 05%
PROB OF 10 OR MORE SEVERE WIND EVENTS : 60%
PROB OF 1 OR MORE WIND EVENTS >= 75 MPH : 60%
PROB OF 10 OR MORE SEVERE HAIL EVENTS : 60%
PROB OF 1 OR MORE HAIL EVENTS >= 2 INCHES : 60%
PROB OF 6 OR MORE COMBINED SEVERE HAIL/WIND EVENTS : >95%
MEAN STORM MOTION /MPH/ : E 35
null
http://www.weather.gov