Hail and Damaging Winds in Iowa, April 2, 2006

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Iowa, April 2, 2006
Start: 2006-04-02T15:06
End: 2006-04-02T20:45
Location: Iowa

April 2, 2006 · NWS DVN · 29 events in 14 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: $70,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 29

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.

A strong spring storm system moved from the central Plains into the Great Lakes region on 2 April 2006. A strong low level jet of 40-50 knots (46-58 mph) allowed thunderstorms to develop in the semi-moist atmosphere of the warm sector. These storms rapidly developed into a squall line that raced northeast across far northeast Missouri, southeast Iowa, and west central Illinois. The storms were prolific non-severe hail producers while at the same time producing severe hail. Eight tornadoes were produced across southeast Iowa and west central Illinois by this squall line. A second squall line developed along the occluded front in eastern Iowa and moved northeast into northwest Illinois producing some wind and hail damage.

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 2, 1:54 PM CST, 1 hour 12 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 2, 1:54 PM CST, 1 hour 12 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
254 PM CDT SUN APR 2 2006

.SYNOPSIS...
ALL EYES ON SEVERE POTENTIAL LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING WITH
TORNADO WATCH ALREADY IN PLACE FOR AREA OF IMMEDIATE CONCERN OVER
SOUTHERN 2-3 COUNTIES TIL 01Z. SURFACE LOW WAS OVER FAR SW IA AT 19Z
WITH OCCLUDING FRONT EXTENDING SE INTO N CENTRAL MO WITH DRYLINE
SOUTH INTO EASTERN OK. MAIN WARM FRONT WAS E-SE JUST NORTH OF IRK TO
NEAR UIN. EXTENSIVE CLOUD COVER NORTH OF THE WARM FRONT IS HOLDING
TEMPS IN 40S WITH BRISK SE WINDS OVER MUCH OF CWFA. CLOUD COVER HAS
BEEN THINNING OVER W CENTRAL IL...NE MO AND SE IA OVER PAST SEVERAL
HOURS AND CONTINUES TO DESTABILIZE. ALOFT...STRONG SHORTWAVE
ANALYZED OVER S CENTRAL NE WAS CHURNING EAST OVER FAR SE NEB. WATER
VAPOR INDICATED SIGNIFICANT DRY SLOT AHEAD OF THIS VORT MAX FROM
WESTERN MO INTO SW IA. SITUATION BECOMING MORE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE
TORMS AND A FEW SUPERCELLS AS DEVELOPING SEVERE LINEAR CONVECTION IN
N CENTRAL MO EVOLVES NE INTO SE IA AND NE MO OVER NEXT FEW HOURS.

&&

.SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY
STRONG LOW TO TRACK E-NE ACROSS CENTRAL PORTION OF FORECAST AREA
THIS EVENING WITH POTENTIAL SEVERE OUTBREAK FOLLOWED BY STRONG
GRADIENT WINDS OVERNIGHT INTO MONDAY. SECONDARY UPPER LEVEL
SHORTWAVE MOVING OUT OF EASTERN WY PROGGED TO GET ABSORBED INTO
CURRENT TROUGH OVER NEB AND SWEEP ACROSS AREA STRENGTHEN AS
DEEPENING UPPER LOW TONIGHT INTO EARLY MON. THIS WILL STRENGTHEN THE
SURFACE LOW AS IT SWEEPS E-NE ACROSS THE CWFA THIS EVENING. CURRENT
PRESSURE FALLS AXIS SUGGESTS THIS PATH WILL BE FROM ABOUT
WILLIAMSBURG TO FREEPORT FROM LATE AFTERNOON THROUGH MIDNIGHT. WILL
KEEP CATEGORICAL THUNDERSTORMS GOING THROUGH THIS PERIOD WITH SEVERE
MENTION OVER ENTIRE AREA...ALTHOUGH GREATEST CONCERN WILL BE SOUTH
OF I-80.

THE DEEPENING SURFACE LOW...AND ASSOCIATED STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT
WILL RESULT IN WINDY CONDITIONS. CURRENT TIMING SUGGESTS GRADIENT
WINDS WILL NOT CRANK UP TO ADVISORY CRITERIA UNTIL MIDNIGHT. AXIS OF
STRONGEST 850 MB WINDS AND PRESSURE RISES POINT TOWARD STRONGEST
WINDS FROM JUST BEFORE SUNRISE TO MID MORNING MONDAY. ISSUED WIND
ADVISORY FOR ENTIRE AREA FOR MIDNIGHT TONIGHT THROUGH MIDDAY
MONDAY...WHEN WINDS SHOULD DROP BELOW ADVISORY CRITERIA. WIND GUSTS
COULD POTENTIALLY PUSH INTO WARNING CRITERIA...WHICH WILL HAVE TO BE
WATCHED.

.LONG TERM...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY
ACTIVE PATTERN CONTINUES WITH ANOTHER VIGOROUS UPPER LEVEL LOW
APPROACHING LATE IN THE WEEK. ELEVATED CONVECTION TO DEVELOP WITH
NOCTURNAL RETURN FLOW WED NIGHT. WITH ANOTHER STRONG LOW MOVING
THROUGH REGION...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY THU WITH RAIN
CHANCES LINGERING AS NEARLY STACKED SYSTEM SLOWLY DEPARTS TO EAST
FRI. WEEKEND LOOKS DRY WITH TEMPERATURES NEAR EARLY APRIL NORMS.

&&

.DVN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IA...WIND ADVISORY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT UNTIL NOON MONDAY.
IL...WIND ADVISORY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT UNTIL NOON MONDAY.
MO...WIND ADVISORY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT UNTIL NOON MONDAY.

&&

SHEETS

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 2, 3:42 AM CST, 11 hours 24 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
442 AM CDT SUN APR 2 2006

IAZ040>042-051>054-063>068-076>078-087>089-098-099-ILZ001-002-007-
009-015>018-024>026-034-035-MOZ009-010-030945-
BUCHANAN-DELAWARE-DUBUQUE-BENTON-LINN-JONES-JACKSON-IOWA-JOHNSON-
CEDAR-CLINTON-MUSCATINE-SCOTT-KEOKUK-WASHINGTON-LOUISA-JEFFERSON-
HENRY IA-DES MOINES-VAN BUREN-LEE-JO DAVIESS-STEPHENSON-CARROLL-
WHITESIDE-ROCK ISLAND-HENRY IL-BUREAU-PUTNAM-MERCER-HENDERSON-
WARREN-HANCOCK-MCDONOUGH-SCOTLAND-CLARK-
442 AM CDT SUN APR 2 2006

...POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER TODAY FOLLOWED BY STRONG
WINDS TONIGHT...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL
ILLINOIS...NORTHWEST ILLINOIS...WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS...EAST
CENTRAL IOWA...NORTHEAST IOWA...SOUTHEAST IOWA AND NORTHEAST
MISSOURI.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT
A POTENT LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE THROUGH THE MIDWEST TODAY
BRINGING TWO ROUNDS OF THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE DAY FOLLOWED BY VERY
STRONG WINDS LATER IN THE EVENING.

THE FIRST ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA THIS
MORNING. OTHER THAN ISOLATED HAIL...SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED
WITH THESE STORMS.

A SECOND AND MORE SIGNIFICANT ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP
THIS AFTERNOON IN SOUTHERN IOWA AND MISSOURI AND MOVE EAST INTO
ILLINOIS...BRINGING A THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER TO THE ENTIRE AREA.
A FACTOR LIMITING THE SEVERE THREAT TODAY WILL BE THE AMOUNT OF
LINGERING CLOUDS FROM THIS MORNINGS STORMS. IF WE GET SUNSHINE
AND RESULTANT INSTABILITY...SHEAR WILL BE SUFFICIENT FOR SUPERCELL
THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES...ESPECIALLY AT LOCATIONS ROUGHLY
ALONG AND SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 34 LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY
EVENING.

ONCE THE SEVERE THREAT DIMINISHES EARLY THIS EVENING...STRONG
WINDS WILL DEVELOP AS THE INTENSIFYING SURFACE LOW MOVES EAST.
WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE LATE TONIGHT INTO
EARLY MONDAY MORNING.

STAY TUNED FOR LATER INFORMATION.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY
HIGH WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO MONDAY. ANOTHER ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS
IS FORECAST FOR THURSDAY...BUT IT IS TOO EARLY TO SPECIFY A SEVERE
OR HEAVY RAIN THREAT AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION SHOULD BE ANTICIPATED LATER TODAY.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 2, 2:44 PM CST, 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
344 PM CDT SUN APR 02 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0340 PM     HAIL             1 W MEMPHIS             40.46N 92.19W
04/02/2006  E1.00 INCH       SCOTLAND           MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            NICKLE TO QUARTER SIZE HAIL

&&

TS

Local storm report, Apr 2, 2:55 PM CST, 11 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
355 PM CDT SUN APR 02 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0354 PM     HAIL             MEMPHIS                 40.46N 92.17W
04/02/2006  E0.25 INCH       SCOTLAND           MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

TS

Local storm report, Apr 2, 3:03 PM CST, 3 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
403 PM CDT SUN APR 02 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0358 PM     HAIL             7 NE MEMPHIS            40.53N 92.08W
04/02/2006  E1.00 INCH       SCOTLAND           MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH

&&

TS

Local storm report, Apr 2, 3:05 PM CST, 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
405 PM CDT SUN APR 02 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0403 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 E MOUNT STERLING      40.62N 91.84W
04/02/2006  E50 MPH          VAN BUREN          IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ALSO PEA SIZED HAIL

&&

DD

The radar

The Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 45 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:07 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

17 hail, 10 thunderstorm wind, 1 funnel cloud, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Van Buren

When: April 2, 3:06 PM CST to 3:08 PM CST
Where: Van Buren County, Cantril
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.983, -90.800

dime size hail

Thunderstorm Wind, Jefferson

When: April 2, 3:15 PM CST
Where: Jefferson County, Fairfield
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.850, -90.950

Tree and mailboxes down in Fairfield.

Hail, Jefferson

When: April 2, 3:20 PM CST to 3:28 PM CST
Where: Jefferson County, Fairfield
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.233, -90.683

Pea to dime size hail, accumulated up to one inch deep in places. Also estimated 35 to 43 knot (40 to 50 mph) winds.

Hail, Lee

When: April 2, 3:35 PM CST
Where: Lee County, 2 mi SW of Donnellson
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 40.642, -91.479 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

dime size hail. Time estimated based on radar.

Hail, Henry

When: April 2, 3:37 PM CST to 3:41 PM CST
Where: Henry County, Mt Pleasant
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.650, -92.067

ham report; dime size hail

Hail, Henry

When: April 2, 3:40 PM CST
Where: Henry County, 3 mi S of Mt Pleasant
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.000, -91.983

dime size hail. Time estimated based on radar.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When: April 2, 3:46 PM CST to 3:56 PM CST
Where: Washington County, Washington Arpt
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $500
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 41.417, -91.050

KAWG AWOS

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When: April 2, 3:49 PM CST to 3:54 PM CST
Where: Washington County, 2 mi NNE of Washington
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $4,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.900, -91.150

Power lines were downed on 220th Street just west of County W61 by a downburst from the mesocyclone of the Washington tornado or a rear flank downdraft. Winds estimated at 61 knots (70 mph).

Funnel Cloud, Des Moines

When: April 2, 3:50 PM CST to 3:53 PM CST
Where: Des Moines County, 2 mi N of Danville
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 42.117, -91.283

Funnel and wall cloud north of Danville.

Hail, Des Moines

When: April 2, 3:50 PM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Des Moines County, 2 mi NW of Danville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.000, -91.983

Jct U.S. 34 & X27; dime size hail with a lot of pea hail

Hail, Lee

When: April 2, 3:51 PM CST
Where: Lee County, 1 mi N of Keokuk
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.350, -91.583

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When: April 2, 3:51 PM CST to 3:56 PM CST
Where: Washington County, 3 mi N of Washington
Measured: 74 kt (85 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 40.417, -91.383

Damage was first noted by law enforcement on a farmstead on 220th Street. The owners report the loss of the porch roof with windows blown out of the house. A machine shed had a wall caved in with power lines down.

Hail, Des Moines

When: April 2, 3:53 PM CST to 3:55 PM CST
Where: Des Moines County, 3 mi SSW of Danville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.267, -91.683

At Harmony Bible Church

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When: April 2, 3:54 PM CST to 4:04 PM CST
Where: Washington County, 2 mi NW of Haskins
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 40.633, -91.583

Straight line winds destroyed a barn on the Rick Gerot farm.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When: April 2, 3:57 PM CST to 4:02 PM CST
Where: Washington County, 10 mi NE of Washington
Measured: 74 kt (85 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 41.317, -91.683

First discovered by law enforcement. Owners report a utility shed was flattened and scattered across the property.

Thunderstorm Wind, Louisa

When: April 2, 3:58 PM CST to 4:04 PM CST
Where: Louisa County, Cotter
Measured: 74 kt (85 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 41.333, -91.700

Pine trees snapped off at the base.

Hail, Des Moines

When: April 2, 3:59 PM CST
Where: Des Moines County, Middletown
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $500
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.923, -91.181 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Johnson

When: April 2, 4:10 PM CST
Where: Johnson County, Lone Tree
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.400, -91.567

Hail, Johnson

When: April 2, 4:12 PM CST
Where: Johnson County, Tiffin
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $500
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 40.833, -91.267

also reported by hams; dime to nickel size hail

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When: April 2, 4:14 PM CST
Where: Washington County, 2 mi E of Riverside
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.833, -91.317

Power lines down

Hail, Muscatine

When: April 2, 4:22 PM CST to 4:25 PM CST
Where: Muscatine County, Muscatine
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 40.917, -91.550

dime size hail

Thunderstorm Wind, Cedar

When: April 2, 4:45 PM CST
Where: Cedar County, 1 mi WSW of Lowden
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 41.483, -91.433

From co-op observer; power poles snapped off with damage noted to evergreen trees. Shingles were noted missing from a barn. Time estimated based on radar.

Hail, Linn

When: April 2, 4:48 PM CST
Where: Linn County, Lisbon
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.300, -91.467

Also reported by amateur radio; dime to quarter size hail from Lisbon to the Linn/Cedar county line.

Hail, Cedar

When: April 2, 4:53 PM CST to 4:58 PM CST
Where: Cedar County, Stanwood
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 40.967, -91.550

dime size hail

Hail, Cedar

When: April 2, 4:55 PM CST
Where: Cedar County, 6 mi WNW of Mechanicsville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 41.483, -91.567

On the Linn/Cedar county line.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clinton

When: April 2, 5:02 PM CST to 5:09 PM CST
Where: Clinton County, 2 mi NE of Lost Nation
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.700, -91.667

An outbuilding was blown 5 feet off its foundation, breaking the frame and tilting it at a 30 degree angle. The one thing preventing total collapse was a tractor inside the building.

Hail, Jones

When: April 2, 5:15 PM CST
Where: Jones County, Anamosa
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 40.883, -91.333

Media relayed public report of dime size hail

Hail, Jackson

When: April 2, 5:43 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, Otter Creek
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.917, -91.383

Heavy Rain, Des Moines

When: April 2, 8:45 PM CST
Where: Des Moines County, 2 mi NW of Danville
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.933, -91.383

Deputy reported zero visibility at the intersection of U.S. 34 and X27.

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.
Funnel Cloud: A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
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 2006 Every state in 2006 This day in weather history Warnings in Iowa, April 2006

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: 5502454, 5502453, 5502533, 5502534, 5502536, 5502535, 5502436, 5502437, 5502438, 5502537, 5502372, 5502439, 5502440, 5503144, 5502441, 5502443, 5502442, 5502445, 5502446, 5502444, 5503145, 5502449, 5502447, 5503146, 5502448, 5502450, 5503147, 5502451, 5502452.