Hail in Iowa, October 29, 1998

Name: Hail in Iowa, October 29, 1998
Start: 1998-10-29T16:55
End: 1998-10-29T17:05
Location: Iowa

October 29, 1998 · NWS DMX · 2 events in 1 county or zone

S. A strong upper level low pressure system moved north-northeast and passed to the west of Iowa.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: $6,000
Crop damage: $6,000
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.

What happened

The episode as NWS DMX wrote it up.

Very mild and moist air, for so late in the season, was in place over the central U.S. A strong upper level low pressure system moved north-northeast and passed to the west of Iowa. The associated surface low also passed to the northwest of Iowa as well. A cold front and dry line extended south from the low. This feature moved into the state during the late afternoon hours. Thunderstorms erupted over the central part of Iowa during the mid and late afternoon hours. The freezing level fell during the day, setting the stage for the storms to produce hail easily. Though most of the storms did not produce severe hail, some large hail did occur over Tama County. One inch diameter hail fell on the city of Montour, while golf ball size hail pelted areas west of Tama.

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 87 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:46 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Tama

When: October 29, 4:55 PM CST
Where: Tama County, Montour
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $1,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.970, -92.720

Hail, Tama

When: October 29, 5:05 PM CST
Where: Tama County, 4 mi W of Tama
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.970, -92.670

What these are

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 1998 Every state in 1998 This day in weather history Warnings in Iowa, October 1998

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: 5668269, 5668270.