Hail and Damaging Wind in Iowa, May 8, 1993

Name: Hail and Damaging Wind in Iowa, May 8, 1993
Start: 1993-05-08T15:45
End: 1993-05-08T19:35
Location: Iowa

May 8, 1993 · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

2 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $51,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

Event by event

2 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When: May 8, 3:45 PM CST
Where: Polk County, Polk City
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 41.686, -93.573 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Franklin

When: May 8, 4:58 PM CST
Where: Franklin County, Hampton
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $500
Coordinates: 42.733, -93.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Humboldt

When: May 8, 7:35 PM CST
Where: Humboldt County, Bode
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $500
Coordinates: 42.777, -94.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorms developed in a north to south line across central Iowa, with scattered thunderstorms on either side of this line. They moved north during the afternoon and evening hours. The development took place along the edge of an upper level dry slot. Most of the storms produced gusty winds, heavy rainfall, and some small hail. One report of dime-size hail was received from the City of Hampton, in Franklin County. Another brief period of dime-size hail occurred over western Humboldt County. Considerable damage was done to one property in Polk City. Winds blew a pole building out of the ground and caused damage to a few other buildings on the property. The winds appeared to be the result of a microburst as the top of the thunderstorm collapsed. For the most part however, damage was minor around the state.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Iowa in 1993 Every state in 1993 This day in weather history Warnings in Iowa, May 1993

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 10323693, 10321618, 10324536.