Ingredients were present for a big outbreak of severe weather.  A strong upper level disturbance was moving through the plains.  Meanwhile, surface low pressure raced from Southwest Minnesota into Wisconsin by late afternoon, allowing a strong cold front to sweep into Central Iowa by late in the day.  Ahead of the front, a strong southwest breeze and abundant sunshine pushed temperatures to record levels with readings generally in the mid and upper 90s.  An old outflow boundary from  earlier convection set up over Northeast Iowa and Northern Illinois.  Thunderstorms redeveloped along the boundary by mid to late afternoon over Northeast Iowa and quickly became severe.  The convection took on an east to west orientation, which resulted in training of cells leading to heavy rains in excess of 3 inches, and recurring reports of severe weather.  Meanwhile, thunderstorms exploded late in the afternoon along the approaching cold front from near Des Moines, Iowa to St. Joseph, Missouri.  Strong convective instability and strengthening vertical wind shear profiles resulted in the formation of an intense squall line.  The squall line raced eastward producing numerous reports of large hail and damaging winds.  By the time the squall line reached the Quad Cities, the old outflow boundary over Northeast Iowa and Northern Illinois had sagged south and extended from near Moline, Illinois to Lafayette, Indiana.  A combination of the boundary and increasing westerly component to the mid level winds with the approaching disturbance, enhanced a segment of the squall line over portions of the Quad Cities, evolving into a bow echo.  Winds estimated in excess of 70 mph at times battered much of the Iowa Quad Cities.  The cities of Bettendorf, Pleasant Valley, Riverdale and Davenport were hit hardest with numerous trees and power lines knocked down.  The Illinois Quad Cities avoided the brunt of the storm.  28,000 homes were without power in the Quad Cities, and many did not have power restored for days.  Many other areas in Eastern Iowa lost power as well.  The lack of power forced the cancellation of classes at Scott Community College.  The storms also did considerable damage to many of the areas corn and soybean crops.  Damage was widespread but variable, with as much as 10 percent of the corn crop damaged in some areas.  Several factors contributed to the damage.  A big factor was the direction of the rows in relation to the wind.  Other factors included the variety of corn, as some were not rooted as deeply, and stalk rot which makes corn stalks brittle and unstable.  Stalk rot was brought on by a wet July and relatively dry August.

Thunderstorm Wind in LEE, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 20:15:00 to 11-SEP-00 20:45:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Crop damage: 1M
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Many acres of corn flattened.

Thunderstorm Wind in DES MOINES, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 20:20:00 to 11-SEP-00 20:45:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Crop damage: 2M
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Many acres of corn flattened.

Thunderstorm Wind in WASHINGTON, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 17:30:00 to 11-SEP-00 19:00:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Crop damage: 1M
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Widespread damage to corn fields.

Thunderstorm Wind in DES MOINES, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 20:30:00 to 11-SEP-00 20:30:00 (CST)
Location: BURLINGTON
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Flood in SCOTT, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 21:00:00 to 11-SEP-00 21:00:00 (CST)
Location: DAVENPORT
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Duck Creek reached bankfull in the downtown area.

Thunderstorm Wind in LEE, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 20:30:00 to 11-SEP-00 20:30:00 (CST)
Location: FT MADISON
Magnitude: 52 E
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Straight line winds knocked down several trees and power lines.  Trees blocked roads and a few landed on vehicles.

Thunderstorm Wind in DUBUQUE, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 17:40:00 to 11-SEP-00 17:40:00 (CST)
Location: DUBUQUE
Magnitude: 52 E
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Numerous trees down near Eagle Point Park.

Thunderstorm Wind in SCOTT, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 19:30:00 to 11-SEP-00 19:30:00 (CST)
Location: BETTENDORF
Property damage: 35K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Large tree fell on a home and vehicle parked in the driveway on Sunset Circle.

Thunderstorm Wind in SCOTT, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 18:00:00 to 11-SEP-00 18:45:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Crop damage: 300K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Several acres of corn and soybeans were damaged throughout the county.

Lightning in SCOTT, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 21:01:00 to 11-SEP-00 21:01:00 (CST)
Location: DAVENPORT
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Lightning knocked television station KWQC off the air.

Thunderstorm Wind in SCOTT, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 19:35:00 to 11-SEP-00 19:40:00 (CST)
Location: BETTENDORF
Magnitude: 69 E
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)

Winds were sustained at 60 mph for a period of 5 minutes, with gusts estimated at near 80 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in SCOTT, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 19:30:00 to 11-SEP-00 19:30:00 (CST)
Location: DAVENPORT
Magnitude: 61 E
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Winds estimated at near 70 mph knocked over a 2000 pound statue of a bull at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds.  The bull serves as the mascot for the fair.

Thunderstorm Wind in IOWA, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 17:30:00 to 11-SEP-00 17:30:00 (CST)
Location: NORTH ENGLISH
Property damage: 20K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Large tree fell on a home.

Thunderstorm Wind in JONES, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 17:55:00 to 11-SEP-00 17:55:00 (CST)
Location: WYOMING
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Tree landed on a garage.

Thunderstorm Wind in JONES, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 17:00:00 to 11-SEP-00 18:00:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Crop damage: 300K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Widespread damage to corn fields.

Thunderstorm Wind in CLINTON, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 18:00:00 to 11-SEP-00 18:45:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Crop damage: 5M
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Corn fields toppled by winds estimated at 60 mph.  20 to 25 percent of all county farms sustained damage.

Thunderstorm Wind in JACKSON, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 18:25:00 to 11-SEP-00 18:25:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 55 E
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Scattered trees and power lines down throughout the county.

Thunderstorm Wind in JACKSON, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 18:30:00 to 11-SEP-00 18:30:00 (CST)
Location: SABULA
Crop damage: 200K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Corn fields damaged.

Thunderstorm Wind in SCOTT, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 19:30:00 to 11-SEP-00 19:30:00 (CST)
Location: DAVENPORT
Magnitude: 52 E
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Trees and power lines down at 13th Street and Brown Street.

Thunderstorm Wind in DUBUQUE, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 18:30:00 to 11-SEP-00 18:30:00 (CST)
Location: EPWORTH
Property damage: 2K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in CEDAR, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 18:49:00 to 11-SEP-00 18:49:00 (CST)
Location: DURANT
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in WASHINGTON, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 18:50:00 to 11-SEP-00 18:50:00 (CST)
Location: WELLMAN
Magnitude: 0.88 
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in DUBUQUE, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 15:25:00 to 11-SEP-00 15:25:00 (CST)
Location: DUBUQUE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in DUBUQUE, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 15:50:00 to 11-SEP-00 15:50:00 (CST)
Location: RICKARDSVILLE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in IOWA, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 16:05:00 to 11-SEP-00 16:05:00 (CST)
Location: LADORA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in BENTON, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 16:21:00 to 11-SEP-00 16:21:00 (CST)
Location: NEWHALL
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in DUBUQUE, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 16:30:00 to 11-SEP-00 16:30:00 (CST)
Location: SHERRILL
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Hail in BENTON, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 16:35:00 to 11-SEP-00 16:35:00 (CST)
Location: ATKINS
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in BENTON, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 16:43:00 to 11-SEP-00 16:43:00 (CST)
Location: BLAIRSTOWN
Magnitude: 1.50 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in LINN, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 16:48:00 to 11-SEP-00 16:48:00 (CST)
Location: PRAIRIEBURG
Magnitude: 1.50 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in IOWA, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 17:05:00 to 11-SEP-00 17:05:00 (CST)
Location: MILLERSBURG
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in LINN, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 17:15:00 to 11-SEP-00 17:15:00 (CST)
Location: CEDAR RAPIDS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in DUBUQUE, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 17:40:00 to 11-SEP-00 17:40:00 (CST)
Location: DURANGO
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in DUBUQUE, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 17:40:00 to 11-SEP-00 17:40:00 (CST)
Location: DUBUQUE
Property damage: 6K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in DUBUQUE, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 17:40:00 to 11-SEP-00 17:40:00 (CST)
Location: PEOSTA
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in DUBUQUE, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 17:45:00 to 11-SEP-00 17:45:00 (CST)
Location: DUBUQUE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in JONES, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 17:55:00 to 11-SEP-00 17:55:00 (CST)
Location: OXFORD MILLS
Property damage: 2K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in JONES, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 17:55:00 to 11-SEP-00 17:55:00 (CST)
Location: HALE
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in JONES, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 17:55:00 to 11-SEP-00 17:55:00 (CST)
Location: OXFORD JCT
Magnitude: 58 E
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in JONES, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 17:55:00 to 11-SEP-00 17:55:00 (CST)
Location: WYOMING
Property damage: 2K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in SCOTT, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 19:28:00 to 11-SEP-00 19:28:00 (CST)
Location: DAVENPORT ARPT
Magnitude: 53 M
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Thunderstorm Wind in SCOTT, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 19:30:00 to 11-SEP-00 19:30:00 (CST)
Location: DAVENPORT
Magnitude: 63 M
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Thunderstorm Wind in SCOTT, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 19:50:00 to 11-SEP-00 19:50:00 (CST)
Location: BETTENDORF
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)

Hail in WASHINGTON, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 18:05:00 to 11-SEP-00 18:05:00 (CST)
Location: WELLMAN
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in IOWA, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 18:15:00 to 11-SEP-00 18:15:00 (CST)
Location: WILLIAMSBURG
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in CLINTON, IOWA
From 11-SEP-00 18:15:00 to 11-SEP-00 18:15:00 (CST)
Location: DELMAR
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT