A strong southerly flow was well established over the central U.S.  Temperatures pushed well into the 80s during the afternoon.  Surface dew point temperatures rose into the mid 60s to low 70s across the state.  Initially, the atmosphere was capped.  By the late afternoon hours the cap broke as the cold front pushed into the state from the northwest.  Thunderstorms developed rapidly into a scattered to broken line.  Hail was widespread with the storms with sizes ranging up to 2 inches in diameter.  Two inch hail was reported at Brooklyn in Poweshiek County as well as southwest of Bedford in Taylor County.  There were numerous reports of golf ball size hail with the storms.  Windows were shattered with some of the larger hail with a few reports of damage to vinyl siding on houses.  A few of the storms produced high winds.  Winds of 65 MPH were reported in Hardin County south of Hubbard. Winds were around 80 MPH in Madison County, toppling power poles.  There were several tornadoes with the squall line.  The first tornadoes touched down in the northeast part of the state.  They did not cause much damage as one touched down briefly in Hardin County, another in Grundy County.  A short time later a tornado made a brief touch down north of Altoona in Polk County.  Another tornado touched down between Bondurant and Elkhart.  This tornado was the strongest of the afternoon and tracked southeast toward the Mitchellville area.  Damage was reported to power lines and out buildings along the path.  Fortunately the track did not move through a populated area.  The last tornado touched down near the Waterloo area southwest of Eagle Center.  This was also a brief touch down.

Hail in TAYLOR, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 17:10:00 to 18-APR-02 17:10:00 (CST)
Location: BEDFORD
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 50K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in ADAMS, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 16:25:00 to 18-APR-02 16:25:00 (CST)
Location: NODAWAY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in GREENE, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 16:45:00 to 18-APR-02 16:45:00 (CST)
Location: RIPPEY
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 15K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Tornado in POLK, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 17:50:00 to 18-APR-02 18:02:00 (CST)
Location: BONDURANT
Tornado F-scale: F1
Property damage: 15K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Tornado tracked over open country for the most part.  Some outbuildings were damaged, along with power lines.

Hail in POWESHIEK, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 19:21:00 to 18-APR-02 19:21:00 (CST)
Location: BROOKLYN
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 40K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Hail in DALLAS, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 16:46:00 to 18-APR-02 16:46:00 (CST)
Location: MINBURN
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in HARDIN, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 17:15:00 to 18-APR-02 17:15:00 (CST)
Location: ELDORA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 7K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in MADISON, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 17:24:00 to 18-APR-02 17:24:00 (CST)
Location: EARLHAM
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 15K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in JASPER, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 19:06:00 to 18-APR-02 19:06:00 (CST)
Location: NEWTON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in HARDIN, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 17:53:00 to 18-APR-02 17:53:00 (CST)
Location: HUBBARD
Magnitude: 56 E
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Tornado in HARDIN, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 17:00:00 to 18-APR-02 17:00:00 (CST)
Location: NEW PROVIDENCE
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Brief touchdown with little damage.

Hail in STORY, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 16:55:00 to 18-APR-02 16:55:00 (CST)
Location: STORY CITY
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 20K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in DALLAS, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 17:16:00 to 18-APR-02 17:16:00 (CST)
Location: REDFIELD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Hail in STORY, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 16:48:00 to 18-APR-02 16:48:00 (CST)
Location: GILBERT
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in STORY, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 17:08:00 to 18-APR-02 17:08:00 (CST)
Location: ROLAND
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Tornado in GRUNDY, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 17:30:00 to 18-APR-02 17:30:00 (CST)
Location: DIKE
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Touched down briefly in open area north of town, causing little damage.

Tornado in POLK, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 17:49:00 to 18-APR-02 17:49:00 (CST)
Location: ALTOONA
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Tornado touched down briefly in onepn area north of town.

Thunderstorm Wind in POLK, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 17:59:00 to 18-APR-02 17:59:00 (CST)
Location: BONDURANT
Magnitude: 75 E
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in STORY, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 17:20:00 to 18-APR-02 17:20:00 (CST)
Location: HUXLEY
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in BLACK HAWK, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 18:16:00 to 18-APR-02 18:16:00 (CST)
Location: HUDSON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Hail in DECATUR, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 19:00:00 to 18-APR-02 19:00:00 (CST)
Location: DECATUR CITY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in GUTHRIE, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 17:10:00 to 18-APR-02 17:10:00 (CST)
Location: PANORA
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 20K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in BOONE, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 16:45:00 to 18-APR-02 17:00:00 (CST)
Location: BOONE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in BOONE, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 16:45:00 to 18-APR-02 16:45:00 (CST)
Location: BOONE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in DALLAS, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 16:56:00 to 18-APR-02 16:56:00 (CST)
Location: MINBURN
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in MARION, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 18:46:00 to 18-APR-02 18:46:00 (CST)
Location: SWAN
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in POLK, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 17:30:00 to 18-APR-02 17:30:00 (CST)
Location: GRIMES
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in DALLAS, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 17:15:00 to 18-APR-02 17:15:00 (CST)
Location: REDFIELD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Hail in HARDIN, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 16:43:00 to 18-APR-02 16:43:00 (CST)
Location: HUBBARD
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in TAYLOR, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 17:07:00 to 18-APR-02 17:07:00 (CST)
Location: BEDFORD
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 30K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Thunderstorm Wind in MADISON, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 17:52:00 to 18-APR-02 17:52:00 (CST)
Location: EARLHAM
Magnitude: 69 E
Property damage: 30K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in DECATUR, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 18:50:00 to 18-APR-02 18:50:00 (CST)
Location: LAMONI
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in DALLAS, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 17:27:00 to 18-APR-02 17:27:00 (CST)
Location: ADEL
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Hail in MADISON, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 18:00:00 to 18-APR-02 18:00:00 (CST)
Location: EARLHAM
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in MARSHALL, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 18:10:00 to 18-APR-02 18:10:00 (CST)
Location: LISCOMB
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Tornado in BLACK HAWK, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 18:08:00 to 18-APR-02 18:08:00 (CST)
Location: EAGLE CENTER
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Tornado touched down briefly in open country.

Hail in RINGGOLD, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 17:37:00 to 18-APR-02 17:37:00 (CST)
Location: MT AYR
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in POLK, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 17:35:00 to 18-APR-02 17:35:00 (CST)
Location: ALLEMAN
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in JASPER, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 18:42:00 to 18-APR-02 18:42:00 (CST)
Location: REASNOR
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in DALLAS, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 17:05:00 to 18-APR-02 17:05:00 (CST)
Location: DALLAS CENTER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in GUTHRIE, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 16:35:00 to 18-APR-02 16:35:00 (CST)
Location: PANORA
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in BOONE, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 16:39:00 to 18-APR-02 16:39:00 (CST)
Location: BOONE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in BOONE, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 17:15:00 to 18-APR-02 17:15:00 (CST)
Location: BOONE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in STORY, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 17:08:00 to 18-APR-02 17:08:00 (CST)
Location: AMES
Magnitude: 52 E
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in HARDIN, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 16:51:00 to 18-APR-02 16:51:00 (CST)
Location: NEW PROVIDENCE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in DALLAS, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 17:26:00 to 18-APR-02 17:26:00 (CST)
Location: GRANGER
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in DALLAS, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 16:31:00 to 18-APR-02 16:31:00 (CST)
Location: LINDEN
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Hail in ADAMS, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 16:37:00 to 18-APR-02 16:37:00 (CST)
Location: NODAWAY
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in HAMILTON, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 16:13:00 to 18-APR-02 16:13:00 (CST)
Location: RANDALL
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in DALLAS, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 17:12:00 to 18-APR-02 17:12:00 (CST)
Location: DALLAS CENTER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Thunderstorm Wind in POLK, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 17:40:00 to 18-APR-02 17:40:00 (CST)
Location: ANKENY
Magnitude: 61 E
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in POLK, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 17:45:00 to 18-APR-02 17:45:00 (CST)
Location: JOHNSTON
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 50K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in GUTHRIE, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 16:30:00 to 18-APR-02 16:30:00 (CST)
Location: YALE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in BOONE, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 16:23:00 to 18-APR-02 16:23:00 (CST)
Location: BOONE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Hail in GUTHRIE, IOWA
From 18-APR-02 16:25:00 to 18-APR-02 16:25:00 (CST)
Location: PANORA
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER