Flash Flood and Hail in Iowa, May 13, 2001

Name: Flash Flood and Hail in Iowa, May 13, 2001
Start: 2001-05-13T05:25
End: 2001-05-13T18:38
Location: Iowa

May 13, 2001 · NWS DMX · 60 events in 15 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $671,000
Crop damage: $155,000
Events: 60

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 strong upper level ridge of high pressure developed over the Rockies during the previous several days. The weather pattern became a pattern more typical of July and early August rather than May as convection became established in the classic "ring of fire" configuration. Thunderstorms erupted during the night of the 12th and early morning of the 13th. The convection was all elevated in nature. The severe weather took the form of hail with this event. A deep layer of cool air at the surface was in place, limiting the threat of the storms becoming tornadic or producing high winds. Thunderstorms moved southeast across the state for about 12 hours. Many of the storms produced large hail. During the late morning into the early afternoon of the 13th, thunderstorms back developed over central Iowa, then trained southeast into south central Iowa. Heavy rainfall occurred just to the south of the Des Moines area in Warren County. Two and one half inches of rain fell in under two hours time in the town of Norwalk. Rainfall from the event was in excess of four inches in places, especially the southwest half of the county. Roads were reported under water, including some state highways. Hail was widespread with this event. with numerous places from northwest into south central Iowa reporting hail anywhere from three quarters of an inch in diameter, up to golf ball size. There were numerous reports of damage to vehicles as well as the roofs of houses. The largest hail occurred in the Atlantic area of Cass County. One of the stronger storms on the southwest edge of the convection dropped hail up to three inches in diameter on the city. The hail caused considerable damage around town to both roof tops as well as many cars.

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 May 13, 2:07 AM CST, 3 hours 18 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 13, 2:07 AM CST, 3 hours 18 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
307 AM CDT SUN MAY 13 2001

MAIN FCST PROBLEM WL AGN BE CONVECTIVE TRENDS FOR NEXT SVRL DAYS.
MDLS IN DECENT AGREEMENT BUT DO DVRG SOMEWHAT BY MON NGT...SPCLLY
WITH LOW LVL FEATURES.  CURRENT ZNS SEEM TO HAVE GOOD HANDLE ON
THESE TRENDS AND ONLY MINOR CHGS XPCD.

STLT AND RADAR DATA INDC TWO DISTINCT PCPN AREAS ATTM.  ONE ALG AND
E OF KAXA-KDSM-KCNC LN...AND ANOTHER INVOF MO RVR.  ETA 305K ISENT
SFC SHOWS THIS WELL.  TRAJECTORIES FM ERN PCPN ARE MORE ELEVATED AND
ORIGINATE FM DAKOTAS AND MINNESOTA...SO PCPN WILL LIKELY RMN WEAK.
WRN BAND MORE DIURNALLY DRIVEN FM LOW LVL JET ENHANCEMENT AND MAY BE
MORE SGFNT.  THESE TRAJECTORIES TRACK FM DEEPER MSTR 00Z UPR AIR
ANLYS INDCS OVR HIGH PLAINS AOB H85 FM KLBF-KDDC-KAMA.  MSTR CNVG
AND ADVCTN MAXES ALG 305K SFC STAY IN THIS LOCATION THRU 12Z SO WL
HAVE TO BE WATCHED.  KOMA LAPS SOUNDING INDCS PLENTY OF POSITIVE
AREA ABV 750MB IF MSTR INCRS ADEQUATELY TO DMSH CIN.  NET ISENT
OMEGA DMSHS TWRD 18Z SO XPC THIS WDLY SCT CONVECTION TO LINGER INTO
THE MRNG AND END DRNG AFTN.

BY TNGT FOCUS TURNS TO THE N.  RIGHT ENTRANCE RGN OF UPR LVL JET
SHIFTS INTO GTLKS BY 12Z MON AND SHOULD AID UVM THRU UPR MS VLY.
H85/H7 QG FORCING WEAKENS AND LINGERS OVR IA TDA THEN INTENSIFIES
LATE TNGT ALG MS RVR INVOF KLSE...MAINLY DUE TO QG FRONTOGENESIS AND
QN RESPONSE.  XPC MCS TO DVLP OVR MN TNGT AND THEN GRDLLY BUILD SWD
DROPPING INTO NERN IA AFT 06Z PER H85 THETA-E ADVCTN.  SHOWALTER
INDICES DMSH OVNGT SO TNGTS CONVECTION SHOULD BE MORE SGFNT...BUT
MAINLY N OF FA.

WRMR TEMPS WL BE MAIN WX FEATURE MON.  AVN MOS MORE AGRESSIVE WITH
WRM UP AND MAY BE TOO HIGH LOOKING AT MDL TEMPS EVEN WITH DECENT
MIXING.  WL TAKE THE MIDDLE ROAD AND PLAY COMPROMISE BTWN NGM AND
AVN MOS FOR NOW.  PCPN WISE...BACLIN ZN SHOULD PUSH E WITH LTL LOW
LVL CNVGNC.  AMS APPRS CAPPED PER CAPE/CIN FIELDS.  BNDRY DOES
SLIDE INTO NRN PTNS MON NGT BUT CAP STILL LOOKS TO BE IN PLACE.
STILL WORTH LOW POPS NRN SXNS WHICH IS ALREADY INCLUDED IN ZNS.  BY
12Z TUE...ETA PUSHES LOW AND ASSOCD FNT FARTHER S THAN AVN RESULTING
IN COOLER TEMPS AND DMSHD CONFIDENCE.  CERTAINLY SVRL CHCS FOR MORE
SFC BASED DVLPMT WITH BNDRYS DANCING BACK AND FORTH ACRS FA AND AMS
UNSTABLE.  HWVR CAP WL STILL BE PLAYING A ROLE WITH NERN SXNS MORE
LIKELY LOCATIONS FOR PCPN.  CURRENT FCST HAS TUE DRY BUT FEEL CHCS
GOOD ENOUGH TO MENTION IN N AND ERN ZNS MUCH LIKE IS GOING FOR WED.
NO CHGS TO EXTEND BY TUE.  WL SHADE BACK AVN MOS TEMPS FOR TUE AS
WELL.

.DSM...NONE

SMALL

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 13, 4:45 AM CST, 40 minutes before

CENTRAL IOWA THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
545 AM CDT SUN MAY 13 2001

A WARM FRONT FROM THE NEBRASKA AND SOUTH DAKOTA BORDER INTO EXTREME
WESTERN IOWA WILL SURGE NORTHEAST TODAY REACHING THE UPPER
MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY BY TONIGHT.  SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG AND NORTHEAST OF THE
FRONT...ESPECIALLY DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS.  SOME OF THE STORMS
MAY PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND BRIEF STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS...BUT
WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAINS ARE NOT ANTICIPATED.

SEE SITE SPECIFIC DETAILS BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION.

IAZ004>007-016-017-024>028-035>039-047>050-060>062-073>075-084>086-
095>097-141100-
APPANOOSE-BLACK HAWK-BOONE-BREMER-BUTLER-CERRO
GORDO-DAVIS-EMMET-FRANKLIN-GRUNDY-HAMILTON-HANCOCK-HARDIN-HUMBOLDT-
JASPER-KOSSUTH-LUCAS-MAHASKA-MARION-MARSHALL-MONROE-POLK-POWESHIEK-
STORY-TAMA-WAPELLO-WARREN-WAYNE-WEBSTER-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-WRIGHT-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALGONA...AMES...BOONE...CENTERVILLE...
CHARITON...DES MOINES...ESTHERVILLE...FORT DODGE...GRINNELL...
INDIANOLA...IOWA FALLS...KNOXVILLE...MARSHALLTOWN...MASON CITY...
NEWTON...OSKALOOSA...OTTUMWA...PELLA...WATERLOO...WAVERLY AND WEBSTER
CITY
545 AM CDT SUN MAY 13 2001

* EVENT TIMING... THIS MORNING...AND AGAIN OVERNIGHT.

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

* SPOTTER ACTIVATION OUTLOOK... LOW

* THE STORMS THIS MORNING SHOULD BE MINIMAL...ISOLATED...AND
  EMBEDDED WITHIN AREAS OF SHOWERS.  THERE ARE BETTER CHANCES FOR
  STRONGER STORMS OVERNIGHT.

IAZ015-023-033-034-044>046-057>059-070>072-081>083-092>094-141100-
ADAIR-ADAMS-AUDUBON-CALHOUN-CARROLL-CASS-CLARKE-CRAWFORD-DALLAS-
DECATUR-GREENE-GUTHRIE-MADISON-PALO
ALTO-POCAHONTAS-RINGGOLD-SAC-TAYLOR-UNION-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ATLANTIC...CARROLL...CRESTON...DENISON...
LAMONI AND PERRY
545 AM CDT SUN MAY 13 2001

* EVENT TIMING... THIS MORNING

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

* SPOTTER ACTIVATION OUTLOOK... LOW

* THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE SOUTHEAST AT 25 TO 30 MPH ACROSS
  WESTERN IOWA THIS MORNING.  A FEW OF THE STORMS MAY BE SEVERE...
  WITH LARGE HAIL THE GREATEST THREAT.  A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
  WARNINGS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ISSUED OVER EASTERN NEBRASKA AND WESTERN
  IOWA.

SMALL

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

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 .

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 132 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:26 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

58 hail, 1 flash flood, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Pocahontas

When: May 13, 5:25 AM CST
Where: Pocahontas County, Fonda
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $3,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.583, -94.833

Hail, Calhoun

When: May 13, 5:35 AM CST
Where: Calhoun County, Jolley
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Crop damage: $1,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.483, -94.717

Hail, Calhoun

When: May 13, 5:58 AM CST
Where: Calhoun County, Rockwell City
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $3,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 42.400, -94.633

Hail, Calhoun

When: May 13, 6:10 AM CST
Where: Calhoun County, 5 mi N of Rockwell City
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $3,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.467, -94.633

Hail, Adair

When: May 13, 6:15 AM CST
Where: Adair County, Orient
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $3,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.200, -94.417

Hail, Webster

When: May 13, 6:15 AM CST
Where: Webster County, Gowrie
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $3,000
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 42.283, -94.300

Hail, Cass

When: May 13, 6:20 AM CST
Where: Cass County, Griswold
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $15,000
Crop damage: $3,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.233, -95.150

Hail, Calhoun

When: May 13, 6:20 AM CST
Where: Calhoun County, 2 mi E of Rockwell City
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $2,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.400, -94.600

Hail, Cass

When: May 13, 6:20 AM CST
Where: Cass County, 2 mi SW of Lewis
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $2,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.283, -95.117

Hail, Cass

When: May 13, 6:32 AM CST
Where: Cass County, 2 mi E of Griswold
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Crop damage: $1,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.233, -95.117

Hail, Calhoun

When: May 13, 6:35 AM CST
Where: Calhoun County, 2 mi SE of Rockwell City
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Crop damage: $1,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.383, -94.600

Hail, Cass

When: May 13, 6:45 AM CST
Where: Cass County, Griswold
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.233, -95.150

Hail, Greene

When: May 13, 7:12 AM CST
Where: Greene County, Paton
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Crop damage: $1,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.167, -94.267

Hail, Adams

When: May 13, 7:13 AM CST
Where: Adams County, Williamson
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $2,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.150, -94.567

Hail, Webster

When: May 13, 7:15 AM CST
Where: Webster County, Gowrie
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $15,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.283, -94.300

Hail, Adams

When: May 13, 7:20 AM CST
Where: Adams County, 9 mi NE of Corning
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.083, -94.617

Hail, Cass

When: May 13, 7:31 AM CST
Where: Cass County, Marne
Measured: 2 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.450, -95.117

Hail, Greene

When: May 13, 7:35 AM CST
Where: Greene County, Paton
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $3,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.167, -94.267

Hail, Cass

When: May 13, 7:50 AM CST
Where: Cass County, 3 mi N of Atlantic
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $2,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 41.450, -95.017

Hail, Cass

When: May 13, 7:52 AM CST to 8:02 AM CST
Where: Cass County, Atlantic
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $10,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.400, -95.017

Hail, Cass

When: May 13, 8:01 AM CST
Where: Cass County, 2 mi E of Atlantic
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $3,000
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 41.400, -94.983

Hail, Cass

When: May 13, 8:02 AM CST
Where: Cass County, Atlantic
Measured: 3 in hail
Property damage: $75,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.400, -95.017

Hail, Cass

When: May 13, 8:20 AM CST
Where: Cass County, Norway Center
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $3,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.350, -94.883

Hail, Taylor

When: May 13, 8:27 AM CST
Where: Taylor County, 4 mi SE of New Market
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $3,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 40.700, -94.850

Hail, Taylor

When: May 13, 8:30 AM CST
Where: Taylor County, 1 mi S of Gravity
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 40.750, -94.733

Hail, Adair

When: May 13, 8:30 AM CST
Where: Adair County, 5 mi SW of Greenfield
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $20,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.250, -94.533

Hail, Adair

When: May 13, 8:50 AM CST
Where: Adair County, 6 mi N of Bridgewater
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.333, -94.683

Hail, Adair

When: May 13, 8:50 AM CST
Where: Adair County, Fontanelle
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $3,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.300, -94.567

Hail, Adair

When: May 13, 8:55 AM CST
Where: Adair County, 2 mi S of Fontanelle
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $15,000
Crop damage: $3,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.267, -94.567

Hail, Adair

When: May 13, 9:03 AM CST
Where: Adair County, Greenfield
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 41.300, -94.467

Hail, Adair

When: May 13, 9:05 AM CST
Where: Adair County, 2 mi W of Greenfield
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.300, -94.500

Hail, Adair

When: May 13, 9:08 AM CST
Where: Adair County, Orient
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $20,000
Crop damage: $3,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 41.200, -94.417

Hail, Adair

When: May 13, 9:11 AM CST
Where: Adair County, 4 mi NW of Orient
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 41.233, -94.467

Hail, Adair

When: May 13, 9:19 AM CST
Where: Adair County, Orient
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $3,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 41.200, -94.417

Hail, Adair

When: May 13, 9:20 AM CST
Where: Adair County, 1 mi W of Orient
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $3,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 41.200, -94.433

Hail, Adair

When: May 13, 9:20 AM CST
Where: Adair County, Orient
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.200, -94.417

Hail, Union

When: May 13, 9:27 AM CST
Where: Union County, 6 mi N of Creston
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $3,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.150, -94.367

Hail, Warren

When: May 13, 10:45 AM CST
Where: Warren County, Martensdale
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.383, -93.750

Hail, Warren

When: May 13, 10:50 AM CST
Where: Warren County, Martensdale
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $20,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.383, -93.750

Hail, Warren

When: May 13, 10:50 AM CST
Where: Warren County, 2 mi N of Martensdale
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.417, -93.750

Flash Flood, Warren

When: May 13, 11:00 AM CST to 2:45 PM CST
Where: Warren County, Countywide
Property damage: $100,000
Crop damage: $10,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.334, -93.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Warren

When: May 13, 11:05 AM CST
Where: Warren County, St Marys
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: $3,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.317, -93.733

Hail, Decatur

When: May 13, 11:11 AM CST
Where: Decatur County, Grand River
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $20,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 40.817, -93.950

Hail, Decatur

When: May 13, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Decatur County, Decatur City
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 40.733, -93.817

Hail, Warren

When: May 13, 12:10 PM CST
Where: Warren County, 1 mi W of Norwalk
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
Coordinates: 41.483, -93.700

Hail, Story

When: May 13, 12:12 PM CST
Where: Story County, Cambridge
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $3,000
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 41.900, -93.533

Hail, Warren

When: May 13, 12:12 PM CST
Where: Warren County, Norwalk
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.483, -93.683

Heavy Rain, Warren

When: May 13, 12:13 PM CST
Where: Warren County, Norwalk
Measured: 2.5
Property damage: $2,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.334, -93.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two and one half inches of rain in under two hours time.

Hail, Warren

When: May 13, 12:13 PM CST
Where: Warren County, Norwalk
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.483, -93.683

Hail, Warren

When: May 13, 12:20 PM CST
Where: Warren County, Norwalk
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $3,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.483, -93.683

Hail, Warren

When: May 13, 12:24 PM CST
Where: Warren County, Indianola
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $3,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.367, -93.567

Hail, Warren

When: May 13, 12:30 PM CST
Where: Warren County, Indianola
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.367, -93.567

Hail, Warren

When: May 13, 1:01 PM CST
Where: Warren County, Hartford
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $3,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.467, -93.417

Hail, Marion

When: May 13, 1:15 PM CST
Where: Marion County, 4 mi S of Pleasantville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.333, -93.267

Hail, Wapello

When: May 13, 5:58 PM CST
Where: Wapello County, Ottumwa
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.017, -92.400

Hail, Davis

When: May 13, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Davis County, Floris
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $2,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 40.867, -92.317

Hail, Davis

When: May 13, 6:19 PM CST
Where: Davis County, 3 mi N of Bloomfield
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Property damage: $7,000
Crop damage: $3,000
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 40.800, -92.417

Hail, Davis

When: May 13, 6:21 PM CST
Where: Davis County, 5 mi N of Bloomfield
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $3,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 40.817, -92.417

Hail, Davis

When: May 13, 6:24 PM CST
Where: Davis County, 7 mi N of Bloomfield
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $3,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 40.850, -92.417

Hail, Davis

When: May 13, 6:38 PM CST
Where: Davis County, 6 mi E of Bloomfield
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $3,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 40.750, -92.300

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Heavy Rain: Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.

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, May 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: 5242297, 5242298, 5242299, 5242300, 5242301, 5242302, 5242303, 5242304, 5242305, 5242306, 5242307, 5242308, 5242309, 5242310, 5242311, 5242312, 5242313, 5242314, 5242315, 5242316, 5242317, 5242318, 5242319, 5242402, 5242403, 5242404, 5242405, 5242406, 5242407, 5242408, 5242409, 5242410, 5242411, 5242412, 5242413, 5242414, 5242415, 5242416, 5242417, 5242418, and more.