Hail in Iowa, June 17, 2001

Name: Hail in Iowa, June 17, 2001
Start: 2001-06-17T23:00
End: 2001-06-17T23:50
Location: Iowa

June 17, 2001 · NWS ARX · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

The public reported hail as large as quarters and golf balls.

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: $3,000
Crop damage: $13,000
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 ARX wrote it up.

The public reported hail as large as quarters and golf balls.

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 La Crosse, WI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 17, 2:07 PM CST, 8 hours 53 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 17, 2:07 PM CST, 8 hours 53 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
307 PM CDT SUN JUN 17 2001

MAIN FORECAST PROBLEM IS CONVECTIVE CHANCE TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY
NIGHT WITH EVOLVING WARM SECTOR AND COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE.

INSTABILITY CONTINUES TO BUILD ACROSS IOWA WITH SBCAPES APPROACHING
2500J/KG.  RUC2 ALSO PLACES MOST OF IA UNDER A STRONG 100J/KG
CIN CAP. CAP WEAKENS NORTHEAST BUT CAPES ARE 500 OR LESS OVER WI.
SURFACE ANALYSIS SHOWS TWO BOUNDARIES. FIRST ALONG KMLI-KAEL-KFSD
LINE WITH INSTABILITY SOUTH OF IT AND SOUTHERLY WIND. SECOND CAPPED
AIR MASS OVER KS/NEB/WRN MO.  BOTH ARE EVOLVING NORTHWARD. RADAR AND
SATELLITE INDICATE ELEVATED SHOWERS OVER MN MOVING EAST. LIGHTNING
STRIKES NEAR KOMA AND WRN IA WITH ELEVATED CONVECTION IN AREA OF LOW-
MID LEVEL CONVERGENCE. SURFACE-BASED STORMS NOW ERUPTING NEAR KABR
WITH SEWRD MOTION.

I AM QUITE PLEASED WITH AVN/ETA SOLUTIONS TODAY...WHICH ARE QUITE
SIMILAR AS THEY HAVE BEEN LAST FEW DAYS. HOWEVER...THE ETA
TOTALLY MISSED THE SD CONVECTION THIS MORNING...OLDER RUNS HAD IT.
MSAS SURFACE ANALYSIS CONTINUES TO SHOW 1MB/HR PRESSURE FALLS
CENTERED ON KOMA. AS PRESSURE FALL IN PLAINS...SOUTHERLY FLOW AND
LOW-LEVEL JET WILL ENHANCE OVERNIGHT AND FIRE INTO NORTHERN SURFACE
BOUNDARY AND UPSLOPE OVER FRONT.  850 MB MOISTURE TRANSPORT IS
CONVERGING RIGHT INTO SOUTHERN MN AT 00Z AND THIS THEN SHIFTS
EASTWARD INTO FORECAST AREA. WITH 2500-300J/KG CAPES RUNNING OVER
FRONTAL BOUNDARY ACROSS AREA...MCS WILL EVOLVE FROM A KFSD ORIGIN
POINT. CORFIDI VECTORS SUGGEST SOUTHEAST MOTION BUT FACTORING IN
EVOLVING LLJ TO NORTH...IT MAY BE MORE EAST. WITH PRECIPITABLE
WATER NEAR 1.5 IN SOURCE AIR MASS...WILL ISSUE A FLASH FLOOD
WATCH FOR SERN MN KRST-KAUM COUNTIES THAT HAVE HAD PROBLEMS LATELY.
SOME SUPPORT IN ETA FOR A POSSIBLE SECOND CLUSTER FURTHER NORTH OF
THIS WHICH IS NOW GROWING NEAR KABR. MUST ALSO WATCH SURFACE BOUNDARY
FOR SURFACE BASED CONVECTION NERN IA/SWRN WI/SERN MN. 0-6KM BULK
SHEAR IS 50KTS AND WEAKENS SLIGHTLY THROUGH THE NIGHT...THUS MAIN
THREAT FOR SEVERE IS WEST OF MISS RIVER WITH MCS AS IT MOVES IN.
APPEARS IT IS MAINLY HAIL/WIND BUT 0-3KM HELICITY IS AROUND 200 IN
SOUTHERLY FLOW. WILL RAIN MOST AREAS TONIGHT WITH ALL THESE FACTORS.

WARM FRONT SHOULD SURGE NORTHWARD MONDAY AFTER MORNING CONVECTION
PULLS EAST AND AHEAD OF STRONG SHORTWAVE TROUGH AND COLD FRONT.
ETA/AVN PULL IN A STRONG CAP AND WARM LOW-LEVEL TEMPERATURES TO 18C.
WILL BRING AN AFTERNOON BREAK INTO MONDAY PERIOD WITH STRONG SWRLY
FLOW...WARM SURFACE HIGHS VIA MIXING...AND LOWERING OF TSRA CHANCES
FURTHER EAST OF COLD FRONT. COLD FRONT SHOULD LIE ALONG A KMSP-KSUX
LINE AT 18Z. THEN...INSTABILITY SHOULD BE QUITE LARGE BY 00Z WHEN
FRONT MOVES THROUGH. SPEED MAX ALOFT MOVES IN WITH 60+ KTS AT 500 MB.
0-6KM BULK SHEAR SUPPORT SUPERCELLS WITH CAPES OF 2500-3500J/KG IN
PLACE OVER CWA. VGP/BRN SHEAR LOOK GOOD FOR ISOLATED TORNADOES...BUT
CURVATURE IS NOT STRONG IN UNIDIRECTIONAL HODOGRAPH. SPC HAS A MOD
RISK FOR THIS PERIOD AND MAIN THREAT IS VERY LARGE HAIL AND WIND.
STORMS WILL BE SUPERCELL SPLITERS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES COULD FORM
IF DEVIANT MOTION OCCURS OFF HODOGRAPH...ESPECIALLY IN LARGE CAPE
ENVIRONMENT. CAP IS HUGE IN ETA AND IT DOESNT CONVECT THE AIR MASS
DUE TO WEAK SURFACE CONVERGENCE AND FN VECTOR CONVERGENCE OVER THE
FORECAST AREA. I AM IGNORING THIS FOR NOW BUT THESE FACTORS ALONG
WITH LARGE SCALE UPPER JET TO THE NORTH COULD POSSIBLY LIMIT OUTCOME
MONDAY EVENING. THIS WEATHER SCENARIO TRANSLATES SOUTHEAST ACROSS
FORECAST AREA OVERNIGHT INTO TUESDAY MORNING.

TUESDAY IS A MUCH DIFFERENT AIR MASS OVER THE REGION WITH THE
SOUTHERN PORTIONS STILL NEAR FRONT FOR A CHANCE OF RAIN.  IT WILL
BE A COLD AIR/DRY ADVECTION DAY. COLD POOL AND UPPER LOW MOVES ACROSS
WI FORECAST AREA ON WEDNESDAY FOR INSTABILITY SHOWERS.

EXTENDED...MODELS AGREE ON DRY PERIOD WITH GRADUAL WARMING.

COORDINATED WITH MKX/GRB/MPX/DMX.

.LSE...FLASH FLOOD WATCH SERN MN TONIGHT...MNZ079-086-087-094-095.

DB

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 17, 9:30 PM CST, 1 hour 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1030 PM CDT SUN JUN 17 2001

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

0910 PM    MERRILAN                  WI   1.75 INCH HAIL
06/17/01   JACKSON                        REPORTED BY SHERIFF

0910 PM    2 N BLACK RIVER FALLS     WI   1.75 INCH HAIL
06/17/01   JACKSON                        REPORTED BY SHERIFF

0936 PM    2 S MONDOVI               WI   WIND DAMAGE
06/17/01   BUFFALO                        TREES DOWN ON HWY 37

GL

Local storm report, Jun 17, 9:43 PM CST, 1 hour 17 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1043 PM CDT SUN JUN 17 2001

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

0915 PM    LAKE CITY                 WI   60 MPH TSTM GUST
06/17/01   WABASHA                        REPORTED BY LOCAL SPOTTER

0919 PM    LAKE CITY                 MN   0.75 INCH HAIL
06/17/01   WABASHA                        REPORTED BY LOCAL SPOTTER

0924 PM    LAKE CITY                 MN   WIND DAMAGE
06/17/01   WABASHA                        REPORTED BY LOCAL SPOTTER

0955 PM    12 NW WINONA              MN   0.75 INCH HAIL
06/17/01   WINONA                         REPORTED BY LOCAL SPOTTER

1011 PM    2 N SPARTA                WI   70 MPH TSTM GUST
06/17/01   MONROE                         REPORTED BY DISPATCH

1013 PM    2 N SPARTA                WI   0.88 INCH HAIL
06/17/01   MONROE                         REPORTED BY DISPATCH

1016 PM    FOUNTAIN CITY             WI   1.50 INCH HAIL
06/17/01   BUFFALO                        REPORTED BY DISPATCH

1018 PM    1 W WINONA                MN   0.88 INCH HAIL
06/17/01   WINONA                         REPORTED BY DISPATCH

1037 PM    TOMAH                     WI   1.75 INCH HAIL
06/17/01   MONROE                         REPORTED BY DISPATCH
  ;

KRC

Local storm report, Jun 17, 9:48 PM CST, 1 hour 12 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1048 PM CDT SUN JUN 17 2001

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

1045 PM    HOLMEN                    WI   1.25 INCH HAIL
06/17/01   LA CROSSE                      REPORTED BY DISPATCH

KRC

Local storm report, Jun 17, 9:57 PM CST, 1 hour 3 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1057 PM CDT SUN JUN 17 2001

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

1055 PM    HOLMEN                    WI   1.75 INCH HAIL
06/17/01   LA CROSSE                      REPORTED BY DISPATCH

1057 PM    ONALASKA                  WI   0.75 INCH HAIL
06/17/01   LA CROSSE                      REPORTED BY DISPATCH

KRC

Local storm report, Jun 17, 10:06 PM CST, 54 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1106 PM CDT SUN JUN 17 2001

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

1103 PM    WEST SALEM                WI   0.75 INCH HAIL
06/17/01   LA CROSSE                      REPORTED BY DISPATCH

1104 PM    WEST SALEM                WI   1.00 {INCH HAIL
06/17/01   LA CROSSE                      REPORTED BY DISPATCH

KRC

Local storm report, Jun 17, 10:41 PM CST, 19 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1141 PM CDT SUN JUN 17 2001

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

1030 PM    ALMA                      WI   FLOOD
06/17/01   BUFFALO                        REPORTED BY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
                                          OFF SOME OF THE BLUFFS

1034 PM    LYNDON STATION            WI   1.75 INCH HAIL
06/17/01   JUNEAU                         REPORTED BY DISPATCH

1023 PM    CENTERVILLE               WI   1.50 INCH HAIL
06/17/01   TREMPEALEAU                    REPORTED BY DISPATCH

1043 PM    TOMAH                     WI   WIND DAMAGE
06/17/01   MONROE                         REPORTED BY DISPATCH
                                          AND POWER LINES DOWN

1050 PM    1 E SPARTA                WI   WIND DAMAGE
06/17/01   MONROE                         REPORTED BY DISPATCH
                                          SHED DAMAGED.        ]

1133 PM    2 N MELVINA               WI   0.75 INCH HAIL
06/17/01   MONROE                         REPORTED BY DISPATCH

KRC

The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 125 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:59 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Chickasaw

When: June 17, 11:00 PM CST
Where: Chickasaw County, New Hampton
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $2,000
Crop damage: $8,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 43.067, -92.333

Hail, Fayette

When: June 17, 11:50 PM CST
Where: Fayette County, Maynard
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $1,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 42.767, -91.867

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 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: 5247591, 5247592.