A somewhat complex weather situation took place over the central U.S. on the 12th as a strong upper level system lifted northeast out of the southwest U.S.  Surface low pressure moved into Kansas during the day and headed northeast into northern Missouri by evening.  In many ways, the situation took the form of a classic spring severe weather pattern.  Moisture was transported north on a 30 to 45 kt jet in the low levels.  At the same time, a 140 kt jet in the upper levels moved over the area by evening.  A strong contrast was in place with a warm front extending from the surface low into far southeast Iowa.  South of the warm front, temperatures rose into the 60s to mid 70s, with dew points in the low 60s.  North of the front it remained in the 40s through the day.  Several rounds of convection took place with the first one affecting southeast Iowa during the early afternoon.  Hail of nickel to golf ball size fell over the southeast part of the Des Moines CWA.  One of the storms produced very strong straight line winds in Davis County southeast of Bloomfield.  Another decaying storm north of the Des Moines area produced a brief wind gust of 60 MPH.  The winds caused structural damage to at least 4 buildings with roof damage reported, one of which collapsed into a home.  During the evening,  thunderstorms fired over the far southeast, as well as along the 850 mb level warm front that was across central Iowa.  The storms all produced hail of up to an inch in diameter.  The most concentrated area of hail was over the far southeast...however one cell became severe in central Iowa and dropped nickel size hail in the Des Moines area.  A few hours later, another round of scattered storms developed along the upper level frontal boundary.  A storm in Marshall County produced half dollar size hail west of Marshalltown, and continued to move northeast and produce nickel size hail in Waterloo.  Hail reportedly accumulated to a depth of 2 inches in the city of Waterloo as well.  Hail also covered the ground in the town of Dewar, northeast of Waterloo.

Hail in WAPELLO, IOWA
From 12-MAR-06 20:42:00 to 12-MAR-06 20:42:00 (CST)
Location: AGENCY
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in POLK, IOWA
From 12-MAR-06 13:15:00 to 12-MAR-06 13:15:00 (CST)
Location: DES MOINES
Magnitude: 52 MG
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Hail in DAVIS, IOWA
From 12-MAR-06 13:42:00 to 12-MAR-06 13:42:00 (CST)
Location: BLOOMFIELD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 2K
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)

Hail in DAVIS, IOWA
From 12-MAR-06 13:50:00 to 12-MAR-06 13:50:00 (CST)
Location: PULASKI
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 2K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in POLK, IOWA
From 12-MAR-06 19:00:00 to 12-MAR-06 19:00:00 (CST)
Location: DES MOINES
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in WAPELLO, IOWA
From 12-MAR-06 20:03:00 to 12-MAR-06 20:03:00 (CST)
Location: ELDON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in APPANOOSE, IOWA
From 12-MAR-06 20:03:00 to 12-MAR-06 20:03:00 (CST)
Location: MOULTON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 4K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in DAVIS, IOWA
From 12-MAR-06 20:18:00 to 12-MAR-06 20:18:00 (CST)
Location: BLOOMFIELD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in WAYNE, IOWA
From 12-MAR-06 12:58:00 to 12-MAR-06 12:58:00 (CST)
Location: SEYMOUR
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in APPANOOSE, IOWA
From 12-MAR-06 13:10:00 to 12-MAR-06 13:10:00 (CST)
Location: CENTERVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)

Hail in APPANOOSE, IOWA
From 12-MAR-06 13:13:00 to 12-MAR-06 13:13:00 (CST)
Location: CENTERVILLE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in DAVIS, IOWA
From 12-MAR-06 13:30:00 to 12-MAR-06 13:30:00 (CST)
Location: BLOOMFIELD
Magnitude: 75 EG
Property damage: 150K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in DAVIS, IOWA
From 12-MAR-06 13:30:00 to 12-MAR-06 13:30:00 (CST)
Location: DRAKESVILLE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in DAVIS, IOWA
From 12-MAR-06 13:35:00 to 12-MAR-06 13:35:00 (CST)
Location: DRAKESVILLE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in MARSHALL, IOWA
From 13-MAR-06 00:10:00 to 13-MAR-06 00:10:00 (CST)
Location: MARSHALLTOWN
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in BLACK HAWK, IOWA
From 13-MAR-06 00:55:00 to 13-MAR-06 00:55:00 (CST)
Location: WATERLOO
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in BLACK HAWK, IOWA
From 13-MAR-06 01:06:00 to 13-MAR-06 01:06:00 (CST)
Location: WATERLOO
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in BLACK HAWK, IOWA
From 13-MAR-06 00:57:00 to 13-MAR-06 00:57:00 (CST)
Location: WATERLOO
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in APPANOOSE, IOWA
From 12-MAR-06 20:25:00 to 12-MAR-06 20:25:00 (CST)
Location: MORAVIA
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER