South winds ahead of an approaching frontal system drew warm air into the central U.S.  Moisture with the system was quite limited however.  Temperatures by late afternoon reached the mid 70s to mid 80s, however dew points only reached the low 50s. Precipitable water values were under an inch.   I spite of this, there was enough destabilization to break the cap by the late afternoon hours.  A surface low pressure tracked northeast into eastern Nebraska by early evening with the upper low lifting northeast across the area as well.  Thunderstorms formed very late in the afternoon and became severe as they lifted northeast into Iowa.  Lifted indices just before initiation were in the -3 to -4 C. range with CAPE values in the 700 to 750 J/kg range.  The freezing level was generally in the 11,000 to 11,500 foot range in the near storm environment.  The main mode of severe weather was high winds as the system became linear and raced northeast.  There were some reports of three quarter to one inch diameter hail as well.  Tornadoes did not materialize  as the LC  was in the 6000 to 8000 foot range.  Wind caused damage from southwest into central Iowa.  There were several reports of tree limb damage with some spotty reports of more significant damage.  A pole barn was blown down by the high winds in Boone County.  A car lot sign was blown down on the northeast side of Des Moines, and a chimney was blown off of a house in Urbandale.

Hail in TAYLOR, IOWA
From 11-APR-06 19:10:00 to 11-APR-06 19:10:00 (CST)
Location: NEW MARKET
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in DALLAS, IOWA
From 11-APR-06 19:50:00 to 11-APR-06 19:50:00 (CST)
Location: PERRY
Magnitude: 56 MG
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Thunderstorm Wind in BOONE, IOWA
From 11-APR-06 20:03:00 to 11-APR-06 20:03:00 (CST)
Location: MADRID
Magnitude: 52 MG
Property damage: 2K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Thunderstorm Wind in DALLAS, IOWA
From 11-APR-06 19:49:00 to 11-APR-06 19:49:00 (CST)
Location: ADEL
Magnitude: 52 EG
Property damage: 2K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in DALLAS, IOWA
From 11-APR-06 19:50:00 to 11-APR-06 19:50:00 (CST)
Location: PERRY
Magnitude: 52 EG
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Thunderstorm Wind in POLK, IOWA
From 11-APR-06 20:05:00 to 11-APR-06 20:05:00 (CST)
Location: WEST DES MOINES
Magnitude: 55 EG
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: STORM CHASER

Hail in BOONE, IOWA
From 11-APR-06 20:13:00 to 11-APR-06 20:13:00 (CST)
Location: BOONE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in STORY, IOWA
From 11-APR-06 20:16:00 to 11-APR-06 20:16:00 (CST)
Location: AMES
Magnitude: 52 MG
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)

Thunderstorm Wind in BOONE, IOWA
From 11-APR-06 20:11:00 to 11-APR-06 20:11:00 (CST)
Location: BOONE MUNI ARPT
Magnitude: 52 EG
Property damage: 2K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in POLK, IOWA
From 11-APR-06 20:11:00 to 11-APR-06 20:11:00 (CST)
Location: DES MOINES
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in POLK, IOWA
From 11-APR-06 20:10:00 to 11-APR-06 20:10:00 (CST)
Location: WINDSOR HGTS
Magnitude: 50 EG
Property damage: 2K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in BOONE, IOWA
From 11-APR-06 20:10:00 to 11-APR-06 20:10:00 (CST)
Location: MADRID
Magnitude: 52 EG
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Thunderstorm Wind in POLK, IOWA
From 11-APR-06 20:08:00 to 11-APR-06 20:08:00 (CST)
Location: DES MOINES
Magnitude: 50 EG
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in DECATUR, IOWA
From 11-APR-06 20:15:00 to 11-APR-06 20:15:00 (CST)
Location: LAMONI
Magnitude: 52 EG
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: UTILITY COMPANY

Thunderstorm Wind in GUTHRIE, IOWA
From 11-APR-06 19:29:00 to 11-APR-06 19:29:00 (CST)
Location: PANORA
Magnitude: 52 MG
Property damage: 2K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Thunderstorm Wind in POLK, IOWA
From 11-APR-06 20:20:00 to 11-APR-06 20:20:00 (CST)
Location: DES MOINES
Magnitude: 50 EG
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Thunderstorm Wind in POLK, IOWA
From 11-APR-06 20:20:00 to 11-APR-06 20:20:00 (CST)
Location: URBANDALE
Magnitude: 50 EG
Property damage: 2K
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Thunderstorm Wind in POLK, IOWA
From 11-APR-06 20:25:00 to 11-APR-06 20:25:00 (CST)
Location: URBANDALE
Magnitude: 50 EG
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Thunderstorm Wind in STORY, IOWA
From 11-APR-06 20:30:00 to 11-APR-06 20:30:00 (CST)
Location: MAXWELL
Magnitude: 52 EG
Property damage: 2K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Hail in HAMILTON, IOWA
From 11-APR-06 20:35:00 to 11-APR-06 20:35:00 (CST)
Location: WEBSTER CITY
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in ADAIR, IOWA
From 11-APR-06 19:13:00 to 11-APR-06 19:13:00 (CST)
Location: FONTANELLE
Magnitude: 52 MG
Property damage: 2K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC