Hail and Damaging Winds in Iowa, June 12, 2001

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Iowa, June 12, 2001
Start: 2001-06-12T20:56
End: 2001-06-12T23:20
Location: Iowa

June 12, 2001 · NWS DMX · 8 events in 1 county or zone

A very unstable airmass remained in place over Iowa. The outflow boundary from the previous nights convection continued to lift north during the evening hours.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $87,000
Crop damage: $18,000
Events: 8

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.

A very unstable airmass remained in place over Iowa. The outflow boundary from the previous nights convection continued to lift north during the evening hours. A very large MCC developed over South Dakota into Minnesota during the evening. Iowa was on the far south edge of this MCC. Strong low level winds of 50 kts fed into the south edge of the MCC. A series of beta bow elements translated east along the south edge of the complex. Initially, the storms moving along the south edge were tornadic just to the west of the DSM CWA. The storms became more bow oriented as the evening progressed with very strong winds reported in Emmet County. Gusts of 80 MPH or higher were reported. A barn was damaged near the town of Dolliver, with trees and power lines toppled in both the towns of Estherville and Dolliver. As the storms moved east, away from the instability axis, they weakened rapidly. Only Emmet County was affected by the wind and hail. In addition to the severe weather, very heavy rainfall accompanied the storms. At one point, .94 inches of rain fell in a 9 minute period at the ASOS at Estherville. Nearly one and one quarter inch fell in a 16 minute period. Rainfall over the northwest and north central part of the county was in the two to three and one half inch range. Some local flooding resulted from the heavy rainfall.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Des Moines, IA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 12, 8:32 PM CST, 24 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 12, 8:32 PM CST, 24 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
932 PM CDT TUE JUN 12 2001

CAP LMTG SWD PROG OF CNVCTN AND WL CHNG ZNS TO DROP PCPN S OF HWY
30.  UPDT OUT IN LESS THAN 10.  NO OTR SIG CHNGS.

.DSM...NONE
MS JUN 01

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 12, 3:00 PM CST, 5 hours 56 minutes before

CENTRAL IOWA THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
400 PM CDT TUE JUN 12 2001

A SLOW MOVING WARM FRONT OVER SOUTHERN IOWA WILL PROPAGATE NORTH
TONIGHT. THE COMBINATION OF LOW PRESSURE OVER CENTRAL NEBRASKA
AND THE WARM FRONT WILL PROVIDE ENOUGH INSTABILITY TO PRODUCE
ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT. THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP
OVER EASTERN PORTIONS OF NEBRASKA AND MOVE EAST NORTHEAST INTO IOWA
LOCATIONS OVERNIGHT. LOCATIONS ACROSS WESTERN AND NORTHERN PORTIONS
OF IOWA HAVE THE BEST CHANCE OF SEEING THESE STORMS. WITH AMPLE
MOISTURE AVAILABLE AND DECENT SHEAR ALOFT...FLASH FLOODING AND LARGE
HAIL WILL BE THE MAIN WEATHER CONCERNS THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY
MORNING FOR THESE LOCATIONS.

SEE SITE SPECIFIC DETAILS BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION.

IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>050-057>062-070>073-081-082-
092-130817-
ADAIR-ADAMS-AUDUBON-BLACK
HAWK-BOONE-BREMER-BUTLER-CALHOUN-CARROLL-CASS-CERRO
GORDO-CRAWFORD-DALLAS-EMMET-FRANKLIN-GREENE-GRUNDY-GUTHRIE-HAMILTON-
HANCOCK-HARDIN-HUMBOLDT-JASPER-KOSSUTH-MADISON-MARSHALL-PALO
ALTO-POCAHONTAS-POLK-POWESHIEK-SAC-STORY-TAMA-TAYLOR-UNION-WARREN-
WEBSTER-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-WRIGHT-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALGONA...AMES...ATLANTIC...BOONE...
CARROLL...CRESTON...DENISON...DES MOINES...ESTHERVILLE...FORT
DODGE...GRINNELL...INDIANOLA...IOWA FALLS...MARSHALLTOWN...MASON
CITY...NEWTON...PERRY...WATERLOO...WAVERLY AND WEBSTER CITY
324 PM CDT TUE JUN 12 2001

* EVENT TIMING...AFTER 9 PM

* THREAT CATEGORIES...
     TORNADO..........NONE
     DAMAGING WINDS...NONE
     LARGE HAIL.......LOW
     FLASH FLOODING...MODERATE

* SPOTTER ACTIVATION OUTLOOK...LOW

IAZ074-075-083>086-093>097-130817-
APPANOOSE-CLARKE-DAVIS-DECATUR-LUCAS-MAHASKA-MARION-MONROE-RINGGOLD-
WAPELLO-WAYNE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CENTERVILLE...CHARITON...KNOXVILLE...
LAMONI...OSKALOOSA...OTTUMWA AND PELLA
324 PM CDT TUE JUN 12 2001

* EVENT TIMING...ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS AFTER 9 PM

* THREAT CATEGORIES...
     TORNADO..........NONE
     DAMAGING WINDS...NONE
     LARGE HAIL.......NONE
     FLASH FLOODING...NONE

* SPOTTER| ACTIVATION OUTLOOK...NONE

* MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION - ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT MOVE ACROSS
SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA SHOULD REMAIN ISOLATED IN NATURE THUS CAUSING NO
MAJOR SEVERE WEATHER CONCERNS.

KNOLLHOFF

Local storm report, Jun 12, 3:01 PM CST, 5 hours 55 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
401 PM CDT TUE JUN 12 2001

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0347 PM    1 E MAXWELL               IA   FLOOD
06/12/01   STORY                          HIGHWAY 210 CLOSED.
                                          REPORTED BY STORY
                                          COUNTY EMERGENCY
                                          MANAGEMENT.

0347 PM    MAXWELL                   IA   FLOOD
06/12/01   STORY                          ROCK, CALMUS AND INDIAN
                                          CREEKS OUT  OF BANKS.
                                          REPORTED BY STORY
                                          COUNTY  EMERGENCY
                                          MANAGEMENT.

Special weather statement, Jun 12, 5:30 PM CST, 3 hours 26 minutes before

CENTRAL IOWA THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
630 PM CDT TUE JUN 12 2001

A SLOW MOVING WARM FRONT...EXTENDING EAST FROM A LOW PRESSURE CENTER
IN EASTERN WYOMING INTO NORTHERN IOWA. THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE
TO DEVELOP ALONG THE FRONT IN EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA AND EASTERN
NEBRASKA AND PROPAGATE EAST INTO NORTHWEST IOWA TONIGHT. AMPLE
MOISTURE AND DECENT SHEAR ALOFT COULD LEAD TO TORNADIC DEVELOPMENT
AND LARGE HAIL. IN ADDITION TO THESE THUNDERSTORMS...A DRY LINE OVER
CENTRAL NEBRASKA WILL ALSO PRODUCE THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT. THESE
STORMS WILL EVENTUALLY MOVE EAST INTO WESTERN IOWA AND POSSIBLY INTO
CENTRAL IOWA LOCATIONS AFTER MIDNIGHT.

SEE SITE SPECIFIC DETAILS BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION.

IAZ004-015-023-033-034-044-045-131100-
CALHOUN-CARROLL-CRAWFORD-EMMET-PALO ALTO-POCAHONTAS-SAC-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CARROLL...DENISON AND ESTHERVILLE
607 PM CDT TUE JUN 12 2001

* EVENT TIMING...THROUGH 6 AM CDT.

* THREAT CATEGORIES...
     TORNADO..........LOW
     DAMAGING WINDS...LOW
     LARGE HAIL.......MODERATE
     FLASH FLOODING...LOW

* SPOTTER ACTIVATION OUTLOOK...LOW

IAZ005>007-016-017-024>028-035>039-046>050-131100-
BLACK HAWK-BOONE-BREMER-BUTLER-CERRO
GORDO-FRANKLIN-GREENE-GRUNDY-HAMILTON-HANCOCK-HARDIN-HUMBOLDT-
KOSSUTH-MARSHALL-STORY-TAMA-WEBSTER-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-WRIGHT-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALGONA...AMES...BOONE...FORT DODGE...IOWA
FALLS...MARSHALLTOWN...MASON CITY...WATERLOO...WAVERLY AND WEBSTER
CITY
607 PM CDT TUE JUN 12 2001

* EVENT TIMING...AFTER MIDNIGHT THROUGH 6 AM CDT.

* THREAT CATEGORIES...
     TORNADO..........NONE
     DAMAGING WINDS...NONE
     LARGE HAIL.......LOW
     FLASH FLOODING...LOW

* SPOTTER ACTIVATION OUTLOOK...NONE

IAZ057>062-070>075-081>086-092>097-131100-
ADAIR-ADAMS-APPANOOSE-AUDUBON-CASS-CLARKE-DALLAS-DAVIS-DECATUR-
GUTHRIE-JASPER-LUCAS-MADISON-MAHASKA-MARION-MONROE-POLK-POWESHIEK-
RINGGOLD-TAYLOR-UNION-WAPELLO-WARREN-WAYNE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ATLANTIC...CENTERVILLE...CHARITON...
CRESTON...DES MOINES...GRINNELL...INDIANOLA...KNOXVILLE...LAMONI...
NEWTON...OSKALOOSA...OTTUMWA...PELLA AND PERRY
607 PM CDT TUE JUN 12 2001

* EVENT TIMING...NONE

* THREAT CATEGORIES...
     TORNADO..........NONE
     DAMAGING WINDS...NONE
     LARGE HAIL.......NONE
     FLASH FLOODING...NONE

* SPOTTER ACTIVATION OUTLOOK...NONE

-------------------------------------------------------------------

THREAT KEY:
    TORNADO.......... ANY TORNADO OCCURRENCE
    DAMAGING WINDS... WINDS >= 58 MPH
    LARGE HAIL....... HAIL >= 3/4 INCH DIAMETER
    FLASH FLOODING... FLOODING CAUSED BY HEAVY RAINS WITHIN 6 HOURS
                      OF RAIN EVENT. POSES THREAT TO LIFE OR
                      PROPERTY.

THREAT CATEGORY KEY:  PROBABILITY OF THREAT OCCURRING WITHIN 25
                      MILES OF POINT WITHIN FORECAST AREA
    NONE....... NOT EXPECTED.  LESS THAN 5% ( 2% FOR TORNADOES)
    LOW........ 5-15% (2-15% FOR TORNADOES)
    MODERATE... 25-35%
    HIGH....... 45% OR GREATER

SPOTTER ACTIVATION OUTLOOK KEY:
    NOT EXPECTED
    LOW........ ACTIVATION POSSIBLE BUT NOT LIKELY
    MODERATE... POSSIBILITIES ABOUT 50-50
    HIGH....... ACTIVATION LIKELY

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PROBABILISTIC SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOKS...GO
TO THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER WEBSITE AT
WWW.SPC.NOAA.GOV/PRODUCTS/OUTLOOK/PROBINFO.HTML .

KNOLLHOFF

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Emmet

When: June 12, 8:56 PM CST
Where: Emmet County, 1 mi N of Estherville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Crop damage: $5,000
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 43.433, -94.850

Hail, Emmet

When: June 12, 9:04 PM CST
Where: Emmet County, Estherville
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $2,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 43.417, -94.850

Thunderstorm Wind, Emmet

When: June 12, 9:04 PM CST
Where: Emmet County, Estherville Arpt
Measured: 71 kt (82 mph)
Property damage: $15,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 43.400, -94.750

Hail, Emmet

When: June 12, 9:06 PM CST
Where: Emmet County, 5 mi NNE of Estherville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Crop damage: $5,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 43.483, -94.817

Thunderstorm Wind, Emmet

When: June 12, 9:10 PM CST
Where: Emmet County, Estherville
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph)
Property damage: $20,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 43.417, -94.850

Thunderstorm Wind, Emmet

When: June 12, 10:48 PM CST
Where: Emmet County, Estherville Arpt
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 43.400, -94.750

Thunderstorm Wind, Emmet

When: June 12, 10:55 PM CST
Where: Emmet County, Dolliver
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 43.467, -94.633

Thunderstorm Wind, Emmet

When: June 12, 11:20 PM CST
Where: Emmet County, Dolliver
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 43.467, -94.633

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Iowa in 2001 Every state in 2001 This day in weather history Warnings in Iowa, June 2001

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: 5246407, 5246408, 5246409, 5246410, 5246411, 5246412, 5246413, 5246414.