Iowa, 2002

Flash Flood and Hail in Iowa, June 19, 2002

June 19, 2002 · NWS DMX · 33 events in 8 counties and zones

southeast into southwest Iowa and northern Missouri. The airmass was quite capped with 700 mb temperatures in the 11 to 14 degree C.

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
$594,000
Crop damage
$188,000
Events
33

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 warm front remained nearly stationary from low pressure in South Dakota..southeast into southwest Iowa and northern Missouri. The airmass was quite capped with 700 mb temperatures in the 11 to 14 degree C. range. Thunderstorms fired over northern Iowa by around midnight. The storms were very elevated and were for the most part hail producers. There were numerous reports of three quarter to one inch diameter size hail across north central into northeast Iowa. A few of the storms produced much larger hail. Golf ball size hail fell in Wright County in the Eagle Grove area. in Cerro Gordo County, Mason City was hard hit by another storm. There were several reports of golf ball size hail causing damage to several homes. Numerous windows were broken and some damage was reported to the siding of several homes as the hail was accompanied by 40 to 50 MPH winds. About three hours later, another cell dropped large hail in Butler County. Considerable damage occurred in the town of Parkersburg as golf ball to baseball size hail pelted the city. Toward the end of the event, a few of the cells became wind producers as they weakened. Severe criteria wind occurred in Butler County as winds of 60 to 70 MPH were reported. Several trees were downed and power was knocked out in the Allison area. Fortunately, much of the area that received heavy rainfall was relatively dry during June. Flash flooding occurred in Butler County with several reports of roads being washed out and flooding of residences basements. Rainfall of two to four inches was common with most of it falling in under 3 hours. During the storms, a minivan was struck by lightning east of Waterloo. The lightning traveled through the van, blowing out the rear window. It also left a 2 foot diameter crater in the roadway on U.S. Highway 20.

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 18, 2:35 PM CST, 10 hours 25 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 18, 2:35 PM CST, 10 hours 25 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
335 PM CDT TUE JUN 18 2002

WRMFNT MARKING THE WELL ESTABLISHED MID LVL CAP XTENDS FM THE NR VTN
LOW TO SUX-ADU-FNB. MID LVL VORTLOBE WITH WK MID LVL SHWRS
PROGRESSING EWD. PRIMARY QUESTION IS WHEN AND WHERE TSTMS XPCD TO
GO. PARAMETERS POINT TO SERN SD N AND NEWRD INTO MN AND PROBABLY
INTO ADJ AREAS OF NWRN AND THE RMDR OF NRN IA OVRNGT. CORFIDI
VECTORS POINT S...HENCE ANY ORGANIZED CONVECTION LIKELY TO BUILD SWD
SOMEHWHAT IN DECENT WLY MIDLVL FLOW. COORD WITH EAX ABT THE PSPBLY
OF CONVECTION FIRING SWD ALG THE WRMFNT ACRS FAR WRN IA LTR TNGT.
STILL THINKING ABT THIS AND WL LIKELY PUT THOSE POPS BACK IN THE
SWRN ZONES FOR TNGT. TMR WL BE CAPPED WITH NEG PCPN AND INTO WED
NGT...WITH AN INCRG CHC OF PCPN INTO NRN IA LTR WED NGT INTO THU
MRNG AS DEFINABLE BNDRY SINKS INTO NWRN IA. BNDRY HANGS ACRS NRN IA
THU NGT WITH PCPN CHCS EVERYWHERE. WRN END OF BNDRY MOTORS N OVR
NEB/SD WITH BEST INSTABILITY AND FORCING THERE ON FRI. BNDRY MAY
REACTIVATE OVR IA FRI NGT INTO SAT ON EDGE OF INCRG MID LCL CAP AS
MIDLVL RDG BLDS NWD OUT OF MO. NEG PCPN BYD SAT AS UPR RDG HOLDS
INTO THE XTEND PD...PROBABLY LONGER THAN ANY MDLS INDICATE.

.DSM...NONE
MYERS

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 105 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:01 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

27 hail, 4 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Wright

When
June 19, 1:00 AM CST
Where
Wright County, Eagle Grove
Measured
0.88 in hail
Property damage
$3,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.667, -93.900

Hail, Wright

When
June 19, 1:00 AM CST
Where
Wright County, 1 mi W of Eagle Grove
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$50,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.667, -93.917

Hail, Webster

When
June 19, 1:00 AM CST
Where
Webster County, Badger
Measured
0.88 in hail
Property damage
$3,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
42.617, -94.150

Hail, Cerro Gordo

When
June 19, 2:15 AM CST
Where
Cerro Gordo County, Thornton
Measured
1.5 in hail
Property damage
$15,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
42.950, -93.383

Hail, Cerro Gordo

When
June 19, 2:30 AM CST
Where
Cerro Gordo County, 1 mi E of Thornton
Measured
1 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
42.950, -93.367

Hail, Cerro Gordo

When
June 19, 2:33 AM CST
Where
Cerro Gordo County, Clear Lake
Measured
0.88 in hail
Property damage
$3,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
43.133, -93.383

Hail, Cerro Gordo

When
June 19, 2:38 AM CST
Where
Cerro Gordo County, Clear Lake
Measured
0.88 in hail
Property damage
$3,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
43.133, -93.383

Hail, Cerro Gordo

When
June 19, 2:51 AM CST
Where
Cerro Gordo County, Mason City
Measured
0.75 in hail
Crop damage
$3,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
43.150, -93.200

Hail, Cerro Gordo

When
June 19, 2:58 AM CST
Where
Cerro Gordo County, 1 mi W of Mason City
Measured
1.25 in hail
Property damage
$10,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
43.150, -93.217

Hail, Cerro Gordo

When
June 19, 2:59 AM CST
Where
Cerro Gordo County, 5 mi S of Mason City
Measured
0.88 in hail
Property damage
$3,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
43.083, -93.200

Hail, Cerro Gordo

When
June 19, 3:00 AM CST
Where
Cerro Gordo County, Mason City
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$75,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
43.150, -93.200

Accompanied by 40 to 50 MPH winds.

Hail, Cerro Gordo

When
June 19, 3:01 AM CST
Where
Cerro Gordo County, 1 mi E of Mason City
Measured
1 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
43.150, -93.183

Hail, Cerro Gordo

When
June 19, 3:06 AM CST
Where
Cerro Gordo County, 1 mi E of Mason City
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$15,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
43.150, -93.183

Hail, Cerro Gordo

When
June 19, 3:10 AM CST
Where
Cerro Gordo County, Mason City
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$100,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
43.150, -93.200

Hail, Cerro Gordo

When
June 19, 3:12 AM CST
Where
Cerro Gordo County, Mason City
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$100,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
43.150, -93.200

Hail, Cerro Gordo

When
June 19, 3:15 AM CST
Where
Cerro Gordo County, Mason City
Measured
1 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
43.150, -93.200

Hail, Butler

When
June 19, 3:58 AM CST
Where
Butler County, 2 mi S of Bristow
Measured
1 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.733, -92.917

Hail, Butler

When
June 19, 4:05 AM CST
Where
Butler County, 4 mi S of Dumont
Measured
0.88 in hail
Property damage
$3,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.700, -92.967

Lightning, Black Hawk

When
June 19, 4:30 AM CST
Where
Black Hawk County, 2 mi E of Waterloo
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
42.470, -92.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Butler

When
June 19, 6:08 AM CST
Where
Butler County, Parkersburg
Measured
0.75 in hail
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.567, -92.783

Hail, Butler

When
June 19, 6:10 AM CST
Where
Butler County, Parkersburg
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$10,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
UNKNOWN
Coordinates
42.567, -92.783

Hail, Butler

When
June 19, 6:12 AM CST
Where
Butler County, Parkersburg
Measured
2.75 in hail
Property damage
$75,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.567, -92.783

Hail, Grundy

When
June 19, 6:30 AM CST
Where
Grundy County, Stout
Measured
0.75 in hail
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.533, -92.717

Hail, Franklin

When
June 19, 7:06 AM CST
Where
Franklin County, Ackley
Measured
0.75 in hail
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.550, -93.050

Hail, Hardin

When
June 19, 7:15 AM CST
Where
Hardin County, Ackley
Measured
0.75 in hail
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.550, -93.050

Thunderstorm Wind, Grundy

When
June 19, 7:32 AM CST
Where
Grundy County, 15 mi N of Grundy Center
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage
$3,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.583, -92.767

Thunderstorm Wind, Butler

When
June 19, 7:38 AM CST
Where
Butler County, 1 mi N of Parkersburg
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage
$3,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.583, -92.783

Hail, Butler

When
June 19, 7:53 AM CST
Where
Butler County, 1 mi E of Aredale
Measured
0.88 in hail
Property damage
$3,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.833, -92.983

Hail, Franklin

When
June 19, 8:12 AM CST
Where
Franklin County, Sheffield
Measured
1 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.900, -93.200

Thunderstorm Wind, Butler

When
June 19, 8:20 AM CST
Where
Butler County, Bristow
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
42.767, -92.917

Hail, Franklin

When
June 19, 8:31 AM CST
Where
Franklin County, 3 mi E of Hansell
Measured
0.75 in hail
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.767, -93.033

Thunderstorm Wind, Butler

When
June 19, 8:40 AM CST
Where
Butler County, Allison
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Property damage
$10,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
42.750, -92.783

Flash Flood, Butler

When
June 19, 9:20 AM CST to 3:00 PM CST
Where
Butler County, Countywide
Property damage
$75,000
Crop damage
$50,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
42.732, -92.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

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.
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.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Iowa in 2002Every state in 2002This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, June 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: 5294422, 5294423, 5294424, 5294454, 5294425, 5294426, 5294427, 5294428, 5294429, 5294430, 5294431, 5294432, 5294433, 5294434, 5294435, 5294436, 5294437, 5294438, 5294453, 5294439, 5294440, 5294441, 5294442, 5294443, 5294444, 5294445, 5294446, 5294447, 5294448, 5294449, 5294450, 5294451, 5294452.