Low pressure over north central Kansas at sunrise on the 8th lifted northeast during the day.  The low tracked northeast across west central, into northeast Iowa by the evening of the 8th.  A warm front extending east from the low lifted north across the state rapidly during the morning hours.  Dew points warmed into the mid 60s ahead of the low in the warm sector as surface temperatures warmed into the low 80s.  The airmass became unstable by the afternoon hours as the heating of the day eliminated the cap.  Thunderstorms erupted along the cold front by the late afternoon.  The event was mainly of wind and hail.  Several reports of winds of 60 to as much as 75 MPH were received over central, south central, and southeast Iowa.  The hail was generally around an inch in diameter, though golf ball size hail was reported with one of the storms as it moved over Searsboro, in Poweshiek County.  One tornado was reported in central Iowa in Marion County.  The tornado was a brief spin-up gustnado developed near the town of Pleasantville.  It touched down in an open area and caused very little damage.

Thunderstorm Wind in DECATUR, IOWA
From 08-MAY-02 18:37:00 to 08-MAY-02 18:37:00 (CST)
Location: LAMONI ARPT
Magnitude: 51 M
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Thunderstorm Wind in MARION, IOWA
From 08-MAY-02 19:05:00 to 08-MAY-02 19:05:00 (CST)
Location: KNOXVILLE
Magnitude: 52 E
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in MAHASKA, IOWA
From 08-MAY-02 19:45:00 to 08-MAY-02 19:45:00 (CST)
Location: LEIGHTON
Magnitude: 52 E
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in MARION, IOWA
From 08-MAY-02 19:17:00 to 08-MAY-02 19:17:00 (CST)
Location: KNOXVILLE
Magnitude: 52 E
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: UNKNOWN

Hail in TAYLOR, IOWA
From 08-MAY-02 17:59:00 to 08-MAY-02 17:59:00 (CST)
Location: ATHELSTAN
Magnitude: 0.75 
Crop damage: 1K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in POWESHIEK, IOWA
From 08-MAY-02 19:59:00 to 08-MAY-02 19:59:00 (CST)
Location: SEARSBORO
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Crop damage: 1K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in POWESHIEK, IOWA
From 08-MAY-02 20:03:00 to 08-MAY-02 20:03:00 (CST)
Location: SEARSBORO
Magnitude: 65 E
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in LUCAS, IOWA
From 08-MAY-02 19:18:00 to 08-MAY-02 19:18:00 (CST)
Location: RUSSELL
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 2K
Crop damage: 1K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in DECATUR, IOWA
From 08-MAY-02 18:40:00 to 08-MAY-02 18:40:00 (CST)
Location: LAMONI
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Crop damage: 1K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in MARION, IOWA
From 08-MAY-02 19:40:00 to 08-MAY-02 19:40:00 (CST)
Location: HARVEY
Magnitude: 61 E
Property damage: 15K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Tornado in MARION, IOWA
From 08-MAY-02 19:15:00 to 08-MAY-02 19:15:00 (CST)
Location: PLEASANTVILLE
Tornado F-scale: F0
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Brief spin up gustnado in open area.

Hail in POWESHIEK, IOWA
From 08-MAY-02 20:03:00 to 08-MAY-02 20:03:00 (CST)
Location: SEARSBORO
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 20K
Crop damage: 1K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in POWESHIEK, IOWA
From 08-MAY-02 20:13:00 to 08-MAY-02 20:13:00 (CST)
Location: MONTEZUMA
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 3K
Crop damage: 1K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in RINGGOLD, IOWA
From 08-MAY-02 18:34:00 to 08-MAY-02 18:34:00 (CST)
Location: KELLERTON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Crop damage: 1K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Thunderstorm Wind in MAHASKA, IOWA
From 08-MAY-02 19:48:00 to 08-MAY-02 19:48:00 (CST)
Location: OSKALOOSA
Magnitude: 61 E
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in MAHASKA, IOWA
From 08-MAY-02 19:57:00 to 08-MAY-02 19:57:00 (CST)
Location: NEW SHARON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Crop damage: 1K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER