Lightning, Warren
- When
- August 12, 12:10 AM CST
- Where
- Warren County, Indianola
- Property damage
- $16,000
- Reported by
- NEWSPAPER
- Coordinates
- 41.334, -93.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Damaging Wind and Lightning Strike in Iowa, August 12, 1999
Thunderstorms rolled across Warren County. As they passed through the Indianola area, three lightning bolts descended upon Hillman Hall on the Simpson College campus.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $21,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- 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.
Thunderstorms rolled across Warren County. As they passed through the Indianola area, three lightning bolts descended upon Hillman Hall on the Simpson College campus. The lightning struck the northwest central tower, punching an 18 inch hole through nearly 10 inches of brick. In addition to the structural damage, part of the buildings's phone and fire alarm systems were damaged. Total damage was placed at $16,000. As the storms moved east, once cell became severe around 0100 CST in Davis County. Damage occurred on a farm near Pulaski with several sheds flattened and some damage reported to the farm house.
The radar
The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 46 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:04 UTC.
Event by event
1 lightning, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm Wind, Davis
- When
- August 12, 1:02 AM CST
- Where
- Davis County, Pulaski
- Measured
- 61 kt (70 mph)
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Reported by
- NEWSPAPER
- Coordinates
- 40.700, -92.270
What these are
- Lightning
- A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
- 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.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Illinois, August 12, 1999
- Lightning Strike in Florida, August 12, 1999
- Tornado and Flash Flood in Tennessee, August 12, 1999
- Damaging Wind in Missouri, August 12, 1999
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Georgia, August 12, 1999
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Oklahoma, August 12, 1999
- Tornado in Illinois, August 12, 1999
- Damaging Winds in Illinois, August 12, 1999
- Lightning Strike in South Dakota, August 12, 1999
- Damaging Wind in Florida, August 12, 1999
- Damaging Winds in Oklahoma, August 12, 1999
- Damaging Wind in Alabama, August 12, 1999
More
Every storm in Iowa in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, August 1999
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: 5712059, 5712060.