Hail and Damaging Wind in Iowa, September 20, 1994

Name: Hail and Damaging Wind in Iowa, September 20, 1994
Start: 1994-09-20T17:00
End: 1994-09-20T18:55
Location: Iowa

September 20, 1994 · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

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

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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: $55,000
Crop damage: $10,000
Events: 2

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

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

Thunderstorm Wind, Hamilton

When: September 20, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Hamilton County, Jewell
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph)
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 42.384, -93.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Sioux

When: September 20, 6:55 PM CST
Where: Sioux County, Hull
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 43.083, -96.178 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A cold front approached northwest Iowa in a limited moisture environment. At the same time, an upper level system traversed the state from west to east. Thunderstorms erupted over the northwest part of the state during the late afternoon and evening hours. One storm dropped dime-size hail over Sioux County northeast of Hull. The hail covered the ground for a brief time. Another storm moved through the north-central counties of the state. High winds destroyed farm buildings and sheds around the Jewell area. Two by fours were driven through the walls of the barn.

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 1994 Every state in 1994 This day in weather history Warnings in Iowa, September 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: 10321743, 10324178.