Iowa, 2019

Hail and Damaging Wind in Iowa, May 25 to 26, 2019

May 25 to 26, 2019 · NWS DMX · 5 events in 4 counties and zones

The active weather pattern continued across portions of Iowa during the evening and overnight hours of the 25th into the 26th, with heavy rain the prevailing hazard this time around. A pair of severe reports were seen during the evening of the 25th though, as storms were able to tap into a thermodynamic environment with 2000+ J/kg MUCAPE.

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
$50,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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.

The active weather pattern continued across portions of Iowa during the evening and overnight hours of the 25th into the 26th, with heavy rain the prevailing hazard this time around. A pair of severe reports were seen during the evening of the 25th though, as storms were able to tap into a thermodynamic environment with 2000+ J/kg MUCAPE. While the heaviest rainfall remained south of Iowa, into northern Missouri, MUCAPE values around 1000 J/kg, precipitable water around 1.5 to 1.7 inches, and the 850 mb jet nose reaching to the Iowa-Missouri border allowed periods of heavy rainfall to occur, mainly residing in the 2 to 3 inch range.

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 25, 4:48 AM CST, 1 hour 12 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 25, 4:48 AM CST, 1 hour 12 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, May 25, 3:16 AM CST, 2 hours 44 minutes before
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The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 111 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:00 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 heavy rain, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, Appanoose

When
May 25, 6:00 AM CST to May 26, 6:00 AM CST
Where
Appanoose County, 1.71 mi WNW of Iconium
Reported by
CoCoRaHS
Coordinates
40.890, -93.000

CoCoRaHS observer recorded heavy rainfall of 2.52 inches over the last 24 hours.

Heavy Rain, Davis

When
May 25, 6:00 AM CST to May 26, 6:00 AM CST
Where
Davis County, 2.07 mi S of Steuben
Reported by
CoCoRaHS
Coordinates
40.690, -92.380

CoCoRaHS observer recorded heavy rainfall of 2.04 inches over the last 24 hours.

Heavy Rain, Appanoose

When
May 25, 7:00 AM CST to May 26, 7:00 AM CST
Where
Appanoose County, 0.87 mi NW of Darbyville
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
40.830, -92.890

Coop observer recorded heavy rainfall of 2.20 inches over the last 24 hours.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lucas

When
May 25, 6:25 PM CST
Where
Lucas County, 3.08 mi ENE of Derby to 3.37 mi ENE of Derby
Measured
65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
40.955, -93.401

Public reported to law enforcement that thunderstorm winds damaged some outbuildings, and damage to a wall and siding of a house. A few large trees were uprooted as well, with some large limbs down as well.

Hail, Marion

When
May 25, 6:35 PM CST
Where
Marion County, Knoxville
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
41.320, -93.100

Trained spotter reported quarter sized hail.

What these are

Heavy Rain
Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
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.
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

More

Every storm in Iowa in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, May 2019

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: 822586, 822587, 822588, 822608, 822609.