A significant early spring tornado outbreak occurred during the afternoon and evening hours of March 5, 2022 in the Midwest, primarily in the state of Iowa, before transitioning to a damaging wind event across northern parts of Illinois and Indiana.

[4][5] Multiple other supercells spawned along an area of moderate destabilization in northern Missouri, prompting further tornado warnings in southern Iowa, as they entered a highly favorable environment for maturing.

[7] On March 4, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued a slight risk outlook for severe weather for a negatively tilted shortwave trough positioned over the High Plains.

The next day, the SPC upped their alert level to an enhanced risk, centered in Iowa, as a stronger certainty arose for severe weather.

The outlook referenced an increase in destabilization, coupled with a modest low level jet at around 40–50 kn (46–58 mph; 74–93 km/h), in an area with moderate dew points, at around 50–55 °F (10–13 °C).

As the supercells gradually weakened over eastern Iowa, they congealed into a long squall line, as the storm system moved into western Illinois and southern Wisconsin with weak tornadoes touching down in both states.

As the overnight hours progressed, the squall line produced damaging wind gusts all throughout the north and central regions of Illinois and Indiana, including in the Chicago metropolitan area.

A 90–100 kn (100–120 mph; 170–190 km/h), 500 millibar low level jet ejected into the Ark-La-Tex region, interacting with dew points of around 60 °F (16 °C), indicating moderate instability.

[18] One non-tornadic fatality occurred early that morning when a semi truck carrying logs was blown over on U.S. 641 near Hazel, Kentucky, ejecting and killing the passenger.

Cars were flipped and thrown, outbuildings were obliterated, debris was strewn long distances, and many large trees were snapped and denuded in this area as well.

The tornado then weakened some but remained strong as it tracked through the southeastern fringes of the Des Moines metropolitan area, moving through the outskirts of Norwalk, Avon, and Pleasant Hill.

Continuing to the northeast, the tornado became increasingly rain-wrapped, downing more power poles and causing additional damage to homes as it passed south of Colfax, and then weakened further as it moved through Lambs Grove and the north side of Newton before dissipating.

[60] Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Madison County due to the tornadoes that passed through, while also saying “our hearts go out to all those affected by the deadly storms that tore through our state today.”[61] Iowa representatives Cindy Axne and Ashley Hinson wrote a letter to the National Weather Service looking for answers on why the tornado warnings were delayed by up to nine minutes.