Hail and Damaging Winds in Iowa, April 18, 2002

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Iowa, April 18, 2002
Start: 2002-04-18T18:52
End: 2002-04-18T20:50
Location: Iowa

April 18, 2002 · NWS DVN · 17 events in 8 counties and zones

A second round of severe weather plagued portions of Eastern Iowa. Scattered severe thunderstorms developed over North Central Iowa during the late afternoon, and moved back across some of the same areas along and north of Interstate 80.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 17

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 DVN wrote it up.

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 Quad Cities, IA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 18, 2:31 AM CST, 16 hours 21 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 18, 2:31 AM CST, 16 hours 21 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
331 AM CDT THU APR 18 2002

LOTS GOING ON THIS FORECAST ISSUANCE.  UA ANALYSIS FROM 00Z SHOWED A
DEEP H5 TROF OVER WRN U.S. WITH SWLY FLOW OVER MID WEST.  STRONG 850
FLOW ALSO NOTED AT 00Z WITH 40KT JET OVER OK/KS AHEAD OF CLOSED LOW
OVER WYOMING.  BY 06Z PROFILERS SHOWING 850 JET HAD INCREASED TO 60 TO
70 KTS.  AT 06Z SURFACE LOW NOW OVER NORTH CENTRAL NE WITH WARM FRONT
EXTENDING SOUTHEAST ACROSS IA INTO CENTRAL IL. ISOLATED SUPERCELL THAT
DEVELOPED OVER WRN IA NR WARM FRONT HAS WEAKENED CONSIDERABLY WITH MOST
OF THE CONVECTION NOW ONGOING ACROSS NRN IA INTO SRN AND CENTRAL MN.
ANOTHER AREAS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WAS LIFTING NORTHEAST OUT OF
KS.  CELLS ON W EDGE OF THIS CLUSTER ARE MAINTAINING THEIR STRENGTH...
AND ARE MOSTLY LIKELY BENEFITTING FROM VEERING LOW LEVEL JET.

MAIN CONCERN FOR TODAY WILL BE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING AND WITH TEMPS ALSO A CONCERN TODAY.  FOR LATER PERIODS CRASHING
TEMPS AND THREAT OF RAIN INTO FRIDAY.  MODELS IN BASIC AGREEMENT IN
CONTINUING TO DIG WRN U.S. TROF AS UNSEASONABLY COLD AIR MASS SAGS SOUTH
INTO THE PLAINS AND MID MISSISSIPPI VALLEY BY EARLY THURSDAY.  MODELS
SIMILAR IN MOVING LOW PRESSURE INTO THE NORTHERN GREAT LAKES BY LATE
THIS EVENING AND MOVING COLD FRONT SOUTHEAST INTO NRN IL AND NRN MO.
AVN A LITTLE SLOWER WITH FRONTAL MOVEMENT TODAY...WHICH IS PREFERRED.
WILL GO BROAD BRUSH CHANCE POPS TODAY TO ACCOUNT FOR AREA OF SHRA/TSRA
LIFTING OUT OF KS INTO IA THIS MORNING.  SCATTERED TSRA ALSO A
POSSIBILITY THIS AFTERNOON AS CAPES INCREASE TO 2000 TO 3000 J/KG BY
MID AFTERNOON AND CAP WEAKENS.  ONLY QUESTION IS IF THERE WILL BE A
TRIGGER. MODELS SHOWING SOME RIPPLES MOVING THROUGH DURING THE
AFTERNOON SO SCATTERED TSRA ARE POSSIBLE.  WILL INCLUDE THE SEVERE
WORDING WITH THE UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE.  MAIN SEVERE THREAT WILL BE WITH
THUNDERSTORMS AHEAD OF COLD FRONT THIS EVENING. STORMS SHOULD MOVE
THROUGH CWA FROM MID EVENING INTO EARLY FRIDAY MORNING.

COLD FRONT STALLS JUST TO OUR SOUTH IN RESPONSE A WAVE MOVING
ALONG THE FRONT. MODELS ALSO SHOWING AN IMPRESSIVE BAROCLINIC ZONE
DEVELOPING AS AIR MASS SOUTH OF THE FRONT HEATS UP.  WILL HAVE TO ADD
RN ALONG WITH  SOME TSRA S FOR FRIDAY AS A RESULT.

MAV TEMPS IN AGREEMENT WITH ETA 2M TEMPS AND SEE NO REASON TO DIFFER.
FEEL DEBRIS CLOUDS FROM MORNING CONVECTION SHOULD DISSIPATE ALLOWING
TEMPS TO WARM INTO THE 80S.  RECORD TEMPS WILL BE ATTAINABLE IN THE
SOUTH.  WILL BACK OFF ON COOLER TEMPS FOR FRIDAY MORNING WITH FRONT
STALLING OUT.  TIGHT GRADIENT WILL MAKE FOR A TRICKY TEMP FORECAST.
FOR NOW WILL TREND TEMPS TOWARD WARMER MOS NUMBERS.  SMALL DIURNAL
CHANGE EXPECTED FRIDAY WITH CLOUDS/RAIN/CAA. MAV TEMPS LOOK GOOD FRIDAY
NIGHT AND SATURDAY.

.DVN...
IA...NONE.
IL...NONE.
MO...NONE.

DLF

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 18, 3:12 PM CST, 3 hours 40 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
412 PM CDT THU APR 18 2002

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

0356 PM    4 S STOCKTON              IL   .5 INCH HAIL
04/18/02   JODAVIESS                      REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

Local storm report, Apr 18, 3:19 PM CST, 3 hours 33 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
419 PM CDT THU APR 18 2002

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

0414 PM    PEARL CITY                IL   NON TSTM WINDS
04/18/02   STEPHENSON                     50 MPH GUST REPORTED BY
                                          LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

0416 PM    PEARL CITY                IL   .25 INCH HAIL
04/18/02   STEPHENSON

Local storm report, Apr 18, 3:20 PM CST, 3 hours 32 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
420 PM CDT THU APR 18 2002

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

0420 PM    PEARL CITY                IL   .75 INCH HAIL
04/18/02   STEPHENSON                     REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
                                          MANAGEMENT.

Local storm report, Apr 18, 3:41 PM CST, 3 hours 11 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
441 PM CDT THU APR 18 2002

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

0436 PM    2 S CEDARVILLE            IL   .5 INCH HAIL
04/18/02   STEPHENSON                     REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
                                          MANAGEMENT.

Local storm report, Apr 18, 3:47 PM CST, 3 hours 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
447 PM CDT THU APR 18 2002

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

0445 PM    WARREN                    IL   .5 INCH HAIL
04/18/02   JODAVIESS                      REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

Local storm report, Apr 18, 5:15 PM CST, 1 hour 37 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
615 PM CDT THU APR 18 2002

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

0553 PM    SAVANNA                   IL   .75 INCH HAIL
04/18/02   CARROLL                        REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

0605 PM    5 NW SHANNON              IL   .75 INCH HAIL
04/18/02   CARROLL                        REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
                                          MANAGEMENT.

0611 PM    6 SW PEARL CITY           IL   1 INCH HAIL
04/18/02   STEPHENSON                     REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
                                          MANAGEMENT.

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 138 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:50 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 thunderstorm wind, 3 funnel cloud, 3 hail, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Benton

When: April 18, 6:52 PM CST
Where: Benton County, Garrison
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 42.150, -92.150

Thunderstorm Wind, Buchanan

When: April 18, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Buchanan County, 1 mi E of Jesup
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 42.483, -92.033

High winds toppled a building, which was under construction.

Thunderstorm Wind, Linn

When: April 18, 7:08 PM CST
Where: Linn County, 2 mi S of Walker
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 42.250, -91.833

Farm building blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Buchanan

When: April 18, 7:08 PM CST
Where: Buchanan County, 2 mi S of Aurora
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 42.583, -91.733

Farm buildings damaged.

Thunderstorm Wind, Buchanan

When: April 18, 7:08 PM CST
Where: Buchanan County, 2 mi NE of Independence
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 42.483, -91.850

Several barns blown down.

Funnel Cloud, Buchanan

When: April 18, 7:20 PM CST
Where: Buchanan County, 3 mi SE of Quasqueton
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 42.471, -91.838 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Funnel Cloud, Iowa

When: April 18, 7:42 PM CST
Where: Iowa County, 2 mi N of Millersburg
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.686, -92.065 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Jones

When: April 18, 7:55 PM CST
Where: Jones County, Monticello
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.233, -91.200

Thunderstorm Wind, Jones

When: April 18, 7:55 PM CST
Where: Jones County, 1 mi W of Monticello
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 42.233, -91.217

Trees and power lines blown down along County Road D62.

Hail, Johnson

When: April 18, 8:05 PM CST
Where: Johnson County, 1 mi S of Tiffin
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 41.683, -91.667

Hail, Jones

When: April 18, 8:20 PM CST
Where: Jones County, Wyoming
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.067, -91.000

Thunderstorm Wind, Johnson

When: April 18, 8:20 PM CST
Where: Johnson County, 3 mi N of Coralville
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 41.733, -91.583

Semi tractor trailer blown over.

Funnel Cloud, Jones

When: April 18, 8:26 PM CST
Where: Jones County, Wyoming
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 42.121, -91.131 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning, Muscatine

When: April 18, 8:30 PM CST
Where: Muscatine County, 1 mi SW of Atalissa
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 41.484, -91.113 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning struck a 100 year old Cottonwood tree. Witnesses said it sounded like a bomb going off. Pieces of the tree were found as far as 200 feet away, and several were speared into the ground with tremendous force. The lightning traveled down the tree and dug a deep trench in the ground, heading toward a metal storage shed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jones

When: April 18, 8:45 PM CST
Where: Jones County, Oxford Jct
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.983, -90.967

Tree limbs up to 1 foot in diameter blown down.

Hail, Jones

When: April 18, 8:45 PM CST
Where: Jones County, Oxford Jct
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.983, -90.967

Thunderstorm Wind, Scott

When: April 18, 8:50 PM CST
Where: Scott County, Eldridge
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates: 41.667, -90.600

Ten inch diameter tree limb blown down on LeClaire Road.

What these are

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.
Funnel Cloud: A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Iowa in 2002 Every state in 2002 This day in weather history Warnings in Iowa, April 2002

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: 5292186, 5292190, 5292187, 5292188, 5292189, 5292191, 5292192, 5292268, 5292269, 5292267, 5292270, 5292274, 5292271, 5292276, 5292272, 5292273, 5292275.