Moist air moved into Iowa slowly over a period of a few days.  During the previous several days the thunderstorm activity was to the northwest of Iowa.  On the evening of the 25th, thunderstorms erupted over southeast South Dakota into Minnesota.  They were set off in part by an approaching weak cold frontal system.  The storms to the northwest of Iowa became severe and slipped into the state shortly before midnight.  As they did, the storms produced gusty winds and hail.  Winds were around 60 MPH in Pocahontas and Webster Counties for example.  The winds downed trees and caused power outages.  Many of the storms produced hail as they tracked southeast across the state as well.  Numerous reports of hail from dime size to as large as golf ball size were received.  Crop damage was widespread due to the hail.  The severe thunderstorms weakened as sunrise approached.  The period of weakening was short-lived however.   After sunrise the cluster of storms intensified with the system becoming a hail producer.  The largest hail fell in the Ames area with reports of hail up to four inches in diameter.  The hail was oblong with the length around four inches and the width around 2 inches.  Extensive damage resulted with car and roof damage in the city, and crop damage outside of the city.  As the storms progressed east, reports of hail one inch in diameter to golf ball size were common.  The hail caused crop damage in many areas.  As the storms moved through the Newton area, lightning struck the Integrated Health Services building.  The building security system was damaged and some minor damage was reported to the building.  Damage estimates of damage were around $12,000.

Hail in SAC, IOWA
From 26-JUL-00 00:08:00 to 26-JUL-00 00:08:00 (CST)
Location: SAC CITY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Crop damage: 5K
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Hail in STORY, IOWA
From 26-JUL-00 07:50:00 to 26-JUL-00 07:50:00 (CST)
Location: AMES
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 2K
Crop damage: 2K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in MARSHALL, IOWA
From 26-JUL-00 08:20:00 to 26-JUL-00 08:20:00 (CST)
Location: MARSHALLTOWN
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 25K
Crop damage: 10K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in PALO ALTO, IOWA
From 26-JUL-00 02:05:00 to 26-JUL-00 02:05:00 (CST)
Location: AYRSHIRE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 2K
Crop damage: 5K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in STORY, IOWA
From 26-JUL-00 07:45:00 to 26-JUL-00 07:45:00 (CST)
Location: AMES
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Crop damage: 10K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in HUMBOLDT, IOWA
From 25-JUL-00 23:30:00 to 25-JUL-00 23:30:00 (CST)
Location: HUMBOLDT
Magnitude: 0.75 
Crop damage: 5K
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Hail in MARSHALL, IOWA
From 26-JUL-00 05:40:00 to 26-JUL-00 05:45:00 (CST)
Location: MELBOURNE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 2K
Crop damage: 10K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in POCAHONTAS, IOWA
From 25-JUL-00 22:55:00 to 25-JUL-00 22:55:00 (CST)
Location: POCAHONTAS
Magnitude: 52 E
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in POCAHONTAS, IOWA
From 25-JUL-00 22:55:00 to 25-JUL-00 22:55:00 (CST)
Location: POCAHONTAS
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 1K
Crop damage: 10K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in POCAHONTAS, IOWA
From 25-JUL-00 23:15:00 to 25-JUL-00 23:15:00 (CST)
Location: FONDA
Magnitude: 50 E
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in STORY, IOWA
From 26-JUL-00 08:30:00 to 26-JUL-00 08:30:00 (CST)
Location: AMES
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 1K
Crop damage: 2K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in STORY, IOWA
From 26-JUL-00 07:45:00 to 26-JUL-00 07:45:00 (CST)
Location: AMES
Magnitude: 0.75 
Crop damage: 1K
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)

Hail in PALO ALTO, IOWA
From 26-JUL-00 02:35:00 to 26-JUL-00 02:35:00 (CST)
Location: MALLARD
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 5K
Crop damage: 10K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in WEBSTER, IOWA
From 25-JUL-00 23:30:00 to 25-JUL-00 23:30:00 (CST)
Location: BADGER
Magnitude: 52 E
Property damage: 2K
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Hail in POWESHIEK, IOWA
From 26-JUL-00 10:15:00 to 26-JUL-00 10:15:00 (CST)
Location: GRINNELL
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 2K
Crop damage: 5K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in STORY, IOWA
From 26-JUL-00 08:18:00 to 26-JUL-00 08:18:00 (CST)
Location: HUXLEY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Crop damage: 10K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Lightning in JASPER, IOWA
From 26-JUL-00 09:50:00 to 26-JUL-00 09:50:00 (CST)
Location: NEWTON
Property damage: 12K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Hail in JASPER, IOWA
From 26-JUL-00 09:35:00 to 26-JUL-00 09:35:00 (CST)
Location: KELLOGG
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 3K
Crop damage: 10K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in STORY, IOWA
From 26-JUL-00 07:50:00 to 26-JUL-00 07:50:00 (CST)
Location: AMES
Magnitude: 0.75 
Crop damage: 1K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in WEBSTER, IOWA
From 25-JUL-00 23:30:00 to 25-JUL-00 23:30:00 (CST)
Location: BADGER
Magnitude: 0.75 
Crop damage: 5K
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Hail in JASPER, IOWA
From 26-JUL-00 09:35:00 to 26-JUL-00 09:35:00 (CST)
Location: BAXTER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Crop damage: 5K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in SAC, IOWA
From 25-JUL-00 23:45:00 to 25-JUL-00 23:45:00 (CST)
Location: EARLY
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 10K
Crop damage: 10K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in STORY, IOWA
From 26-JUL-00 07:40:00 to 26-JUL-00 07:40:00 (CST)
Location: AMES
Magnitude: 4.00 
Property damage: 250K
Crop damage: 25K
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Hail in POCAHONTAS, IOWA
From 25-JUL-00 23:05:00 to 25-JUL-00 23:05:00 (CST)
Location: PALMER
Magnitude: 0.75 
Crop damage: 5K
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Hail in STORY, IOWA
From 26-JUL-00 08:50:00 to 26-JUL-00 08:50:00 (CST)
Location: COLLINS
Magnitude: 0.75 
Crop damage: 5K
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Hail in MARSHALL, IOWA
From 26-JUL-00 08:30:00 to 26-JUL-00 08:30:00 (CST)
Location: MARSHALLTOWN
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 10K
Crop damage: 5K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in JASPER, IOWA
From 26-JUL-00 09:42:00 to 26-JUL-00 09:42:00 (CST)
Location: NEWTON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Crop damage: 10K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in MARSHALL, IOWA
From 26-JUL-00 08:30:00 to 26-JUL-00 08:30:00 (CST)
Location: GREEN MTN
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 10K
Crop damage: 10K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in STORY, IOWA
From 26-JUL-00 09:05:00 to 26-JUL-00 09:05:00 (CST)
Location: MAXWELL
Magnitude: 0.75 
Crop damage: 5K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Hail in STORY, IOWA
From 26-JUL-00 09:07:00 to 26-JUL-00 09:07:00 (CST)
Location: MAXWELL
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 25K
Crop damage: 10K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in POWESHIEK, IOWA
From 26-JUL-00 10:11:00 to 26-JUL-00 10:11:00 (CST)
Location: GRINNELL
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 2K
Crop damage: 5K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in STORY, IOWA
From 26-JUL-00 09:00:00 to 26-JUL-00 09:00:00 (CST)
Location: MAXWELL
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 10K
Crop damage: 10K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in JASPER, IOWA
From 26-JUL-00 09:30:00 to 26-JUL-00 09:30:00 (CST)
Location: BAXTER
Magnitude: 0.75 
Crop damage: 5K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER