Low pressure intensified as it moved across Iowa during the evening of the 31st into the morning of the 1st.  A strong cold front passed through the state with a very tight pressure gradient behind the low.  Strong winds became established in the low levels with winds below 5000 feet AGL in the 40 to 60 kt range.  Strong subsidence behind the front allowed the strong winds aloft to mix down.  A widespread area of north central into central Iowa reported sustained winds of 40 to 45 MPH with spotty gusts near 60 MPH recorded over the north during the predawn hours.  The strongest winds occurred on the bridge over Saylorville Lake in Polk County with a wind gust of 72 MPH.  Winds of 59 MPH were reported in Hancock County at Kanawha and in Marshall County at Marshalltown.  Some tree damage occurred, along with minor property damage.  Spotty power outages were reported around the state as well.  There were about 1000 customers out of power in the Des Moines Metro area before dawn on the 1st, with nearly 2500 out of power in the Waterloo Metro area.  The winds dropped off toward sunrise, allowing many of the customers out of power to be placed back on line.  A shortwave dropped southeast across the area during the day on the 1st, bring another round of high winds.  Though winds did not gust to 50 kts with the second round, most locations reported sustained winds of 40 to 45 MPH with gusts to around 55 MPH for several hours through the mid morning and early afternoon.  Additional power outages occurred with around 2000 more homes knocked out in the Des Moines Metropolitan area.  Overall, damage was limited with the event due to a couple of factors.  One was the fact that the event was a low end high wind event, the second being it was January, the tree damage is limited due to the lack of leaves.

High Wind in EMMET, IOWA
From 01-JAN-12 01:00:00 to 01-JAN-12 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 38.00 MS
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

High Wind in PALO ALTO, IOWA
From 01-JAN-12 01:00:00 to 01-JAN-12 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 38.00 ES
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in POCAHONTAS, IOWA
From 01-JAN-12 01:00:00 to 01-JAN-12 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 38.00 ES
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in CALHOUN, IOWA
From 01-JAN-12 01:00:00 to 01-JAN-12 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 40.00 MS
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in FRANKLIN, IOWA
From 01-JAN-12 03:00:00 to 01-JAN-12 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 39.00 ES
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in HARDIN, IOWA
From 01-JAN-12 03:00:00 to 01-JAN-12 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 36.00 MS
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in STORY, IOWA
From 01-JAN-12 03:00:00 to 01-JAN-12 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 36.00 ES
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in POLK, IOWA
From 01-JAN-12 03:00:00 to 01-JAN-12 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Measured at Saylorville Lake.

High Wind in CARROLL, IOWA
From 01-JAN-12 01:00:00 to 01-JAN-12 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 36.00 MS
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

High Wind in MARSHALL, IOWA
From 01-JAN-12 03:00:00 to 01-JAN-12 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in KOSSUTH, IOWA
From 01-JAN-12 01:00:00 to 01-JAN-12 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 MS
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

High Wind in HUMBOLDT, IOWA
From 01-JAN-12 01:00:00 to 01-JAN-12 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in WEBSTER, IOWA
From 01-JAN-12 01:00:00 to 01-JAN-12 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in GREENE, IOWA
From 01-JAN-12 01:00:00 to 01-JAN-12 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in JASPER, IOWA
From 01-JAN-12 03:00:00 to 01-JAN-12 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 37.00 ES
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in POWESHIEK, IOWA
From 01-JAN-12 03:00:00 to 01-JAN-12 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 37.00 MS
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in MARION, IOWA
From 01-JAN-12 03:00:00 to 01-JAN-12 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 37.00 MS
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in MAHASKA, IOWA
From 01-JAN-12 03:00:00 to 01-JAN-12 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 37.00 ES
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in WINNEBAGO, IOWA
From 01-JAN-12 01:00:00 to 01-JAN-12 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in HANCOCK, IOWA
From 01-JAN-12 01:00:00 to 01-JAN-12 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in HANCOCK, IOWA
From 01-JAN-12 01:00:00 to 01-JAN-12 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 38.00 ES
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in HAMILTON, IOWA
From 01-JAN-12 01:00:00 to 01-JAN-12 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 38.00 MS
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in BOONE, IOWA
From 01-JAN-12 01:00:00 to 01-JAN-12 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 38.00 ES
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in WORTH, IOWA
From 01-JAN-12 03:00:00 to 01-JAN-12 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 38.00 ES
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in CERRO GORDO, IOWA
From 01-JAN-12 03:00:00 to 01-JAN-12 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 39.00 MS
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS