Hail in Iowa, April 25, 1998

Strong low pressure developed over the Plains and moved across Kansas during the morning of the 25th. A warm front extending east from the low lifted north into southern Iowa during the afternoon hours as the low moved northeast. By evening, the low moved into western Iowa with the triple point lifting into southern and western Iowa. Temperatures warmed into the mid 80s over southwest Iowa, with 70s over much of the rest of the state during the afternoon. Moisture was somewhat limited with surface dew point temperatures in the mid 50s to around 60. Thunderstorms were slow to fire, but did erupt rapidly during the late afternoon hours. A narrow line formed and arced from west central, into central, and south central Iowa. The storms became severe quickly and produced hail up to golf ball in size. One report from Carroll County indicated near tennis ball size hail in the town of Breda. There were numerous reports three quarter to one inch diameter hail during the hour and one half that the storms were severe.