Episode narrative: A very strong system developed on the morning of March 31st and tracked across the state of Iowa. This system pulled unseasonably warm and moist air into the Midwest, which combined with a very favorable wind profile to create a volatile environment for severe thunderstorms.  Discrete supercell thunderstorms occurred initially, but quickly transitioned into a QLCS mode. This system produced a historic tornado outbreak for the area, with a record 29 tornadoes on the day, including 13 rated EF-2, 1 rated EF-3, and 1 rated EF-4. This was the first EF-4 tornado in the NWS Quad Cities service area since 1995. 11 injuries were reported, with no known fatalities. In addition to the numerous tornadoes, there were many large hail and damaging wind reports. Maximum straight line thunderstorm winds were estimated at 80 to 90 mph.

Tornado event in JACKSON County, IOWA
Start: 31-MAR-23 16:58:00
End: 31-MAR-23 17:01:00
Direct deaths: 0
Property damage: 0.00K
Event narrative: A trained spotter reported damage to outbuildings at two farmsteads. Residents in the path of the tornado reported hearing a roar.  There  was a rotational velocity couplet and a tornado debris signature (TDS) on radar as well.  Wind speeds and path were estimated based on reports from spotters. Peak winds estimated at 100 mph.

Tornado event in CEDAR County, IOWA
Start: 31-MAR-23 16:14:00
End: 31-MAR-23 16:38:00
Direct deaths: 0
Property damage: 0.00K
Event narrative: A tornado developed just west of Tipton, and tracked northeast through the Clarence area before lifting just south of the Cedar-Jones County line. The tornado tore the roof off a house just west of Tipton and uprooted large trees. The tornado also snapped power poles and caused significant damage to outbuildings.

Tornado event in WHITESIDE County, ILLINOIS
Start: 31-MAR-23 17:54:00
End: 31-MAR-23 17:56:00
Direct deaths: 0
Property damage: 0.00K
Event narrative: This tornado began just south of Illinois highway 92 in northwest Bureau County, then moved into far southeast Whiteside county, near the intersection of Osage Road and 1050 St E. The tornado tracked for 2 miles in Whiteside County, before moving into Lee County, about a half mile south of the Green River. This tornado would continue for 6 additional miles into southwest Lee County (see NWS Chicago StormData). The damage from this tornado included numerous heavily damaged outbuildings, several snapped power poles, and dozens of trees. The worst damage was to a large farmstead outbuilding on the Whiteside and Bureau County border area, with the roof and two of the four walls destroyed and debris slung well into a field. Peak winds with this tornado were estimated at 110 mph. The tornado was rated EF1 in Bureau and Whiteside Counties.

Tornado event in DELAWARE County, IOWA
Start: 31-MAR-23 16:32:00
End: 31-MAR-23 16:45:00
Direct deaths: 0
Event narrative: This EF1 tornado developed southwest of Oneida, IA in Delaware County and moved northeast into Clayton County, IA, around 16:45 LST. This tornado damaged farm outbuildings and trees along its path, determined through ground surveys and Sentinel satellite data, with estimated peak winds around 110 mph. Scour marks on farms were also noted from Sentinel Satellite, as it crossed into Clayton County, about 3 miles west of Colesburg (see NWS LaCrosse StormData for details of tornado in Clayton County).