A strong storm system moved northeast across Kansas into northern Missouri during the late afternoon and early evening hours.  There was a strong contrast across a warm front that extended east from the low.  North of the front, afternoon temperatures were in the 50s, while mid 80s were common to the south of the front.  In addition, surface dew point temperatures were in the mid 60s in the warm sector.  Strong low level winds pushed the warm and moist air over the cold dome to the north of the warm front.  During the evening hours. a negatively tilted upper level trough of low pressure lifted northeast across the area.  This set the stage for widespread thunderstorm development.  With the freezing level relatively low, only 11,000 feet, hail was the most common severe weather reported.  There was one tornado that touched down briefly in Monroe and Wapello Counties.  A second tornado touched down a short time later northeast of Ottumwa.  No significant damage was reported with the tornado.  Several of the storms produced hail up to about an inch in diameter.  The stronger storms produced hail of golf ball size and larger.   The largest hail, baseball size, was reported in Jasper County at Colfax, and also a report of baseball size hail was received from south of Eddyville in Wapello County and north of Avery in Monroe County.  There were also several reports of golf ball size  hail from around central into southeast Iowa.  As the thunderstorms moved through Appanoose County, lightning struck a house in Moulton.  The house was set on fire and burned to the ground.

Tornado in WAPELLO, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 17:45:00 to 30-APR-03 17:45:00 (CST)
Location: HIGHLAND CENTER
Tornado F-scale: F0
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Brief touchdown in field.

Hail in POWESHIEK, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 18:50:00 to 30-APR-03 18:50:00 (CST)
Location: HARTWICK
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: UNKNOWN

Hail in MONROE, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 17:25:00 to 30-APR-03 17:25:00 (CST)
Location: AVERY
Magnitude: 2.75 
Property damage: 50K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in JASPER, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 20:09:00 to 30-APR-03 20:09:00 (CST)
Location: COLFAX
Magnitude: 2.50 
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in JASPER, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 20:13:00 to 30-APR-03 20:13:00 (CST)
Location: NEWTON
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in APPANOOSE, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 20:08:00 to 30-APR-03 20:08:00 (CST)
Location: MOULTON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Lightning in APPANOOSE, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 20:10:00 to 30-APR-03 20:10:00 (CST)
Location: MOULTON
Property damage: 75K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Hail in DECATUR, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 18:04:00 to 30-APR-03 18:04:00 (CST)
Location: LAMONI
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: UNKNOWN

Hail in POLK, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 19:28:00 to 30-APR-03 19:28:00 (CST)
Location: DES MOINES
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in APPANOOSE, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 19:30:00 to 30-APR-03 19:30:00 (CST)
Location: NUMA
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: UNKNOWN

Hail in POWESHIEK, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 21:00:00 to 30-APR-03 21:00:00 (CST)
Location: BROOKLYN
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in WAYNE, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 18:55:00 to 30-APR-03 18:55:00 (CST)
Location: SEYMOUR
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: UNKNOWN

Hail in DECATUR, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 17:28:00 to 30-APR-03 17:28:00 (CST)
Location: LEON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Reported by: UNKNOWN

Hail in POLK, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 19:34:00 to 30-APR-03 19:34:00 (CST)
Location: DES MOINES
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: UNKNOWN

Hail in JASPER, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 19:56:00 to 30-APR-03 19:56:00 (CST)
Location: COLFAX
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: UNKNOWN

Hail in JASPER, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 19:56:00 to 30-APR-03 19:56:00 (CST)
Location: COLFAX
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in POLK, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 19:36:00 to 30-APR-03 19:36:00 (CST)
Location: PLEASANT HILL
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)

Hail in POLK, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 19:20:00 to 30-APR-03 19:20:00 (CST)
Location: DES MOINES
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 2K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in JASPER, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 20:06:00 to 30-APR-03 20:06:00 (CST)
Location: COLFAX
Magnitude: 2.75 
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Hail in POLK, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 19:18:00 to 30-APR-03 19:19:00 (CST)
Location: URBANDALE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in JASPER, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 20:14:00 to 30-APR-03 20:14:00 (CST)
Location: NEWTON
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in DALLAS, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 18:48:00 to 30-APR-03 18:48:00 (CST)
Location: ADEL
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: UNKNOWN

Hail in WAPELLO, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 16:16:00 to 30-APR-03 16:16:00 (CST)
Location: AGENCY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in RINGGOLD, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 17:37:00 to 30-APR-03 17:37:00 (CST)
Location: BENTON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in POLK, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 19:39:00 to 30-APR-03 19:39:00 (CST)
Location: ALTOONA
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Hail in MONROE, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 17:30:00 to 30-APR-03 17:30:00 (CST)
Location: ALBIA
Magnitude: 2.50 
Property damage: 50K
Reported by: UNKNOWN

Hail in JASPER, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 20:15:00 to 30-APR-03 20:15:00 (CST)
Location: NEWTON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in WAPELLO, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 17:47:00 to 30-APR-03 17:47:00 (CST)
Location: EDDYVILLE
Magnitude: 2.75 
Property damage: 20K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in WAPELLO, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 18:00:00 to 30-APR-03 18:00:00 (CST)
Location: OTTUMWA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Hail in JASPER, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 20:10:00 to 30-APR-03 20:10:00 (CST)
Location: NEWTON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: UNKNOWN

Hail in WAYNE, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 17:30:00 to 30-APR-03 17:30:00 (CST)
Location: MILLERTON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: UNKNOWN

Hail in DECATUR, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 18:12:00 to 30-APR-03 18:12:00 (CST)
Location: LAMONI
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in MONROE, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 17:16:00 to 30-APR-03 17:16:00 (CST)
Location: ALBIA
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: UNKNOWN

Hail in MAHASKA, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 17:19:00 to 30-APR-03 17:19:00 (CST)
Location: OSKALOOSA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: UNKNOWN

Hail in POWESHIEK, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 20:58:00 to 30-APR-03 20:58:00 (CST)
Location: BROOKLYN
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: UNKNOWN

Hail in APPANOOSE, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 18:30:00 to 30-APR-03 18:30:00 (CST)
Location: MOULTON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: UNKNOWN

Hail in DALLAS, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 18:54:00 to 30-APR-03 18:54:00 (CST)
Location: DALLAS CENTER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in WAPELLO, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 18:54:00 to 30-APR-03 18:54:00 (CST)
Location: OTTUMWA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Tornado in WAPELLO, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 17:31:00 to 30-APR-03 17:32:00 (CST)
Location: CHILLICOTHE
Tornado F-scale: F0
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Brief touchdown in open area.  Tornado moved into county from Monroe County.

Hail in MAHASKA, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 18:18:00 to 30-APR-03 18:18:00 (CST)
Location: OSKALOOSA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: UNKNOWN

Hail in POLK, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 19:50:00 to 30-APR-03 19:50:00 (CST)
Location: DES MOINES
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Tornado in MONROE, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 17:30:00 to 30-APR-03 17:31:00 (CST)
Location: AVERY
Tornado F-scale: F0
Reported by: UNKNOWN

Brief touchdown in open area.  Tornado moved into from Monroe County into Wapello County.

Hail in POWESHIEK, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 20:57:00 to 30-APR-03 20:57:00 (CST)
Location: MALCOLM
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: UNKNOWN

Hail in MARION, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 16:54:00 to 30-APR-03 16:54:00 (CST)
Location: BUSSEY
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: UNKNOWN

Hail in WAPELLO, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 17:41:00 to 30-APR-03 17:41:00 (CST)
Location: CHILLICOTHE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in POLK, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 19:24:00 to 30-APR-03 19:24:00 (CST)
Location: DES MOINES
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Hail in RINGGOLD, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 17:45:00 to 30-APR-03 17:45:00 (CST)
Location: MT AYR MUNI ARPT
Magnitude: 0.88 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in POLK, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 19:24:00 to 30-APR-03 19:24:00 (CST)
Location: SAYLORVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in JASPER, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 19:56:00 to 30-APR-03 19:56:00 (CST)
Location: COLFAX
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in WAPELLO, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 15:57:00 to 30-APR-03 15:57:00 (CST)
Location: ELDON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: UNKNOWN

Hail in POLK, IOWA
From 30-APR-03 19:39:00 to 30-APR-03 19:39:00 (CST)
Location: BONDURANT
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.