Tornado and Hail in Iowa, April 25, 1994

Name: Tornado and Hail in Iowa, April 25, 1994
Start: 1994-04-25T08:35
End: 1994-04-25T22:15
Location: Iowa

April 25, 1994 · 40 events in 21 counties and zones

26 thunderstorm wind, 13 hail, 1 tornado, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 40 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $1.6 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 40

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

26 thunderstorm wind, 13 hail, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Grundy

When: April 25, 8:35 AM CST
Where: Grundy County, Conrad
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 42.402, -92.791 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Winnebago

When: April 25, 9:25 AM CST
Where: Winnebago County, Scarville
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 43.378, -93.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Chickasaw

When: April 25, 9:40 AM CST to 9:55 AM CST
Where: Chickasaw County, Nashua
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 43.060, -92.318 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorms developed in the warm and unstable air over Iowa. They developed north and northeast of Des Moines and tracked northeast across northeast Iowa. One of them dropped three-quarter-inch diameter hail at Conrad. A short time later, golf ball-size hail fell south of Scarville. Farther northeast, one-inch diameter hail was reported in Chickasaw County at Nashua. The hail fell for 10 to 15 minutes. Some damage was reported, but no serious damage.

Hail, Lee

When: April 25, 2:55 PM CST
Where: Lee County, Montrose
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 40.642, -91.479 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Delaware

When: April 25, 3:15 PM CST
Where: Delaware County, Earlville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 42.471, -91.367 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Dubuque

When: April 25, 3:15 PM CST
Where: Dubuque County
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 42.469, -90.882 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Dubuque

When: April 25, 4:00 PM CST
Where: Dubuque County, New Vienna
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 42.469, -90.882 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Lee

When: April 25, 4:00 PM CST
Where: Lee County, Fort Madison
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 40.642, -91.479 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A renegade area of thunderstorms moved across southeast and east-central Iowa. One storm passed over the Montrose area, hail of about an inch diameter fell. Hail of three-quarters of an inch in diameter was also reported in West Point. Hail also pelted Earlville and New Vienna. Reports of several cars being damaged by hail were received from Earlville. High winds caused a building to collapse in Fort Madison.

Hail, Lee

When: April 25, 4:25 PM CST
Where: Lee County, West Point
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 40.642, -91.479 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Woodbury

When: April 25, 4:42 PM CST
Where: Woodbury County, Climbing Hill
Measured: 0.87 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 42.390, -96.045 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Woodbury

When: April 25, 4:45 PM CST
Where: Woodbury County, Sioux City Airport
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 42.390, -96.045 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Woodbury

When: April 25, 4:53 PM CST
Where: Woodbury County, Sioux City Airport
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 42.390, -96.045 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Henry

When: April 25, 5:18 PM CST
Where: Henry County, Mt Pleasant
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 40.988, -91.544 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Plymouth

When: April 25, 5:45 PM CST
Where: Plymouth County, Lemars
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 42.738, -96.214 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Plymouth

When: April 25, 5:45 PM CST
Where: Plymouth County, Lemars
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph)
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 42.738, -96.214 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Sioux

When: April 25, 5:49 PM CST
Where: Sioux County, Orange City
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 43.083, -96.178 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Sioux

When: April 25, 5:52 PM CST
Where: Sioux County, Sioux Center
Measured: 68 kt (78 mph)
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 43.083, -96.178 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Sioux

When: April 25, 5:58 PM CST
Where: Sioux County, Rock Valley
Measured: 68 kt (78 mph)
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 43.083, -96.178 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Cedar

When: April 25, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Cedar County
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 41.772, -91.132 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Cedar

When: April 25, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Cedar County, Clarence
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 41.772, -91.132 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tornado, Lyon

When: April 25, 6:01 PM CST to 6:15 PM CST
Where: Lyon County, Doon to Hull
Rating: F1
Path length: 7 mi
Path width: 40 yd
Property damage: $500,000
Coordinates: 43.381, -96.210 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A classic spring synoptic situation was taking shape over Iowa. Intense low pressure moved across western Kansas into southern Nebraska. A warm front extended east from the low into Iowa. Warm and moist air was in place over the state. Surface dew point temperatures were in the lower to middle 60s with significant moisture extending above the 850 mb level. Meanwhile, drier air was working its way northeast aloft. Violent thunderstorms erupted during the late afternoon hours over northwest Iowa. There were several reports of tornadoes just to the north of the Iowa/Minnesota border. The storms moved into the northwest part of the state and produced hail, high winds, and funnel clouds. Winds gusted to 63 mph at the Sioux City Gateway Airport. A short time later three-quarter inch diameter hail pelted the area. High winds caused damage in Plymouth County around LeMars. Numerous trees and power lines were downed. Part of a building was destroyed south of LeMars. The local utility company recorded a wind gust of 75 mph. A funnel cloud was sighted a short time earlier west of town. The storms clipped the far northwest corner of the state as well. Winds gusted to 78 mph at Sioux Center, causing damage around town. A funnel cloud was sighted in Lyon County at Alvord. A tornado also touched down in the area, a short distance east of Alvord. It struck two farms, causing extensive damage to each. Several buildings were downed on a farm near Hull, a machine shed, garage, and brooder coop were downed north of Hull. The storms worked their way northeast. Hail the size of quarters was reported later in the evening in Kossuth County, southwest of Algona. During this time, an area of thunderstorms developed over east-central Iowa. One of them dropped hail the size of quarters at Clarence in Cedar County. In Henry County, one-inch diameter was recorded at Mt. Pleasant.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lyon

When: April 25, 6:02 PM CST
Where: Lyon County, Doon
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 43.381, -96.210 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Lyon

When: April 25, 6:24 PM CST
Where: Lyon County, George
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 43.381, -96.210 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Page

When: April 25, 6:35 PM CST
Where: Page County, Northboro
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 40.739, -95.150 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Taylor

When: April 25, 6:36 PM CST
Where: Taylor County, Bedford
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 40.737, -94.696 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Taylor

When: April 25, 6:48 PM CST
Where: Taylor County, Bedford
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 40.737, -94.696 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Pottawattamie

When: April 25, 6:59 PM CST
Where: Pottawattamie County, Council Bluffs
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph)
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 41.337, -95.542 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Pottawattamie

When: April 25, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Pottawattamie County, Oakland
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 41.337, -95.542 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Taylor

When: April 25, 7:04 PM CST
Where: Taylor County, Bedford
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 40.737, -94.696 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Cass

When: April 25, 7:12 PM CST
Where: Cass County, Griswold
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 41.332, -94.928 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Adair

When: April 25, 7:20 PM CST
Where: Adair County, Adair
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 41.331, -94.471 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Cass

When: April 25, 7:30 PM CST
Where: Cass County, Anita
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 41.332, -94.928 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Union

When: April 25, 7:35 PM CST
Where: Union County, Arispe
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 41.028, -94.242 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Union

When: April 25, 7:35 PM CST
Where: Union County, Shannon City
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 41.028, -94.242 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Adair

When: April 25, 7:40 PM CST
Where: Adair County, Fontanelle
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 41.331, -94.471 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Madison

When: April 25, 7:40 PM CST
Where: Madison County, Winterset
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph)
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 41.331, -94.016 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Kossuth

When: April 25, 7:40 PM CST
Where: Kossuth County, Algona
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 43.204, -94.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Adair

When: April 25, 7:58 PM CST
Where: Adair County, Greenfield
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 41.331, -94.471 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Dallas

When: April 25, 8:30 PM CST
Where: Dallas County, Dallas Center
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 41.685, -94.040 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Winnebago

When: April 25, 10:15 PM CST
Where: Winnebago County, Scarville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 43.378, -93.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

As the evening progressed, the low mentioned above progressed northeast. The dry slot raced northeast into the central United States resulting in another round of thunderstorm development. Intense thunderstorms developed over eastern portions of Kansas and Nebraska, then moved north-northeast into southwest and central Iowa. The storms produced high winds and hail up to an inch in diameter. Winds estimated in excess of 65 mph blew through Council Bluffs. Power lines were downed in the city, causing minor fires. Winds caused damage as they moved into southwest Iowa. Winds gusted to 60 to 75 mph with the stronger storms. High winds overturned a tractor-semitrailer in Interstate 80 south of Adair. Outbuildings were blown down over Union, Cass, Taylor, and Page Counties. A grain bin was blown over east of Dallas Center. Damage was reported in Madison County in the town of Winterset. At least one garage roof was removed by the winds and a utility pole was blown over. During the late evening, the dry punch overtook the storms and they weakened rapidly. High winds from the decaying storms caused damage in north-central Iowa east of Scarville. Two grain bins, a barn, and several trees were downed on a farmstead there. In Cerro Gordo County, lightning struck a barn near Meservey. The barn was set on fire and was totally lost.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Iowa in 1994 Every state in 1994 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Iowa, 1994 Warnings in Iowa, April 1994

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: 10321684, 10323906, 10321505, 10324371, 10321701, 10321722, 10321723, 10324372, 10324373, 10324054, 10324055, 10324056, 10324518, 10323034, 10323035, 10324172, 10324173, 10324174, 10321438, 10321439, 10324375, 10324401, 10324363, 10324243, 10323061, 10323062, 10323809, 10323810, 10323063, 10321428, 10321996, 10321429, 10323071, 10323072, 10321997, 10323675, 10324353, 10321998, 10321655, 10323907.