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NOTABLE WEATHER INCIDENTS of RINGGOLD COUNTY, IOWA
The standard running joke if you live in Iowa is "if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes." I've always
commented that we live in Iowa so we can tell our out-of-state relatives just how tough we are. Following are Ringgold County,
Iowa, weather incidents between January 1st, 1950 to May 31st, 2008 which have been recorded by the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). _______________
DEFINITIONS
ALBERTA CLIPPER A fast moving low pressure system which forms east of the Canadian Rockies on
the high plains of Alberta, Canada, then course in a southeastern direction into the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa, and
across the Great Lakes toward the Atlantic Coast. Alberta Clippers are normally located hundresf of miles from moisture
sources of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, therefore they do not produce heavy snowfall. However, a Clipper's strong,
frigid winds produce blizzard conditions with wind gusts from 40 to 60 mph which create severe blowing and drifting of the
few inches of light, powdery snowfall that does occur.
BLIZZARD A heavy snowstorm with winds in excess of 35 miles per hour and visibility of less than 1/4 of a mile
or less, storm lasting for an extended period of time, such as 4 hours, accompanied by cold temperatures and drifting snow.
HAIL or HAIL STONES Percipition of ice pellets occurring when there are strong rising air currents, usually classified
by size, such as "pea-sized," "golf-ball-sized," "grapefruit-sized", etc.
HAIL STORM A storm that produces hailstones that fall to the ground, commonly used when the
amount of size of the hail is considered to be significant.
FLASH FLOOD A flood that occurs within a few hours,normally less than six hours, as a result of
excessive or heavy rainfall, or a dam or levee failure.
FLOODING The rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto what is normally dry land.
THUNDERSTORM A transient, sometimes violent storm of thunder and lightning, often accompanied by
rain which can be heavy and falling in a short duration of time, at times accompanied by hail. The National Weather
Service classifies a thunderstorm as severe if it contains hail of 3/4" or larger and/or wind gusts of 58 mph or higher.
The lightning from a thunderstorm is capable of cloud-to-ground flashes.
TORNADO A localized and violently destructive windstorm occurring over land, characterized by a
funnel-shaped, rotating cloud extending toward the ground and whirling at destructively high speeds, ranging in width
from a few yards to more than a mile. Tornadoes are assessed as to the potential destructiveness on a scale from F-0 to
F-5 which is the most severe.
F0 - Fastest gust, 40-72 mph;
Second gust, 65-85 mph.
F1 - Fastest gust, 73-112 mph;
Second gust, 79-117 mph.
F2 - Fastest gust, 113-157 mph;
Second gust, 118-161 mph.
F3 - Fastest gust, 158-207 mph;
Second gust, 162-209 mph.
F4 - Fastest gust, 208-260 mph;
Second gust, 210-261 mph.
F5 - Fastest gust, 261-318 mph;
Second gust, 262-317 mph.
CYCLONE A rotating mass of air with minimum pressure in its center, moving in a
counterclockwise rotation. Tornadoes are associated with a thunderstorm. The terms have been used interchangably,
particularly in the latter part of the 1800's.
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April 23, 1955, 4 p.m. Ringgold County: Hailstorm with an accumulation of 1" of hailstones and a F3 tornado estimated
to be 5 miles by 440 yards. Property damaged assessed at $25.0K.
April 16, 1960, 3:30 p.m. Ringgold County: Hailstorm with an accumulation of 1.75" of hailstones.
July 17, 1963, 2:30 a.m. Ringgold County: Severe thunderstorm. No additional information available.
May 23, 1966, 6:30 a.m. Ringgold County: F1 tornado measuring 50 yards in width.
October 14, 1966, 3:15 p.m. Ringgold County: Tornado causing $2.5K of property damage.
May 13, 1970, 4:10 p.m. Ringgold County: Hail storm with an accumulation of 1" of hailstones.
May 5, 1971, 5:15 p.m. Ringgold County: F2 tornado measuring 1 mile by 200 yards, resulting in $25.0K of property damage.
June 6, 1971, 7:30 p.m. Ringgold County: Thunderstorm with strong winds. No further information available.
July 14, 1972, 6:27 p.m. Ringgold County: F1 tornado measuring 1 mile by 100 yards resulting in $25.K of property damage.
April 19, 1973, 6:15 p.m. Ringgold County: F1 tornado measuring 3 miles by 300 yards resulting in $25.K of property damage.
May 30, 1974, 6:15 p.m. Ringgold County: Thunderstorm and hailstorm with hailstones accumulating 2".
July 3, 1974, 6:45 p.m. Ringgold County: Thunderstorm with strong winds. No further information available.
December 14, 1975, 1:30 a.m. Ringgold County: Thunderstorm with strong winds. No further information available.
May 21, 1977, 5:50 p.m. Ringgold County: Thunderstorm with strong winds. No further information available.
May 23, 1981, 5:00 p.m. Ringgold County: F2 tornado measuring 16 miles by 130 yards resulting in $250.0K of property damage.
August 8, 1981, 5:30 a.m. Ringgold County: Thunderstorm with strong winds. No further information available.
June 9, 1982, 2:20 p.m. Ringgold County: Hailstorm with hailstones accumulating from .75 to 2-inches.
August 4, 1982, 9:30 p.m. Ringgold County: Thunderstorm with strong winds. No further information available.
September 6, 1983, 4:23 a.m. Ringgold County: Thunderstorm with strong winds. No further information available.
June 7, 1984, 5:30 p.m. Ringgold County: Thunderstorm with strong winds and a F2 tornado occurring at
7:34 p.m., measuring 14 miles by 150 yards, resulting in one fatality, 3 injuries, and $2.5M of property damages.
September 10, 1984, 12:06 p.m. Ringgold County: Hailstorm with hailstones accumulating to 1.75 inches.
May 11, 1985, 2:00 p.m. Ringgold County: Thunderstorm with strong winds. No further information available.
June 16, 1985, 2:27 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. Ringgold County: Thunderstorm with strong winds. No further information available.
May 8, 1988, 9:50 a.m. Ringgold County: Thunderstorm with wind gusts up to 50 mph. No further information available.
April 27, 1989, 9:45 p.m. Ringgold County: Thunderstorm with wind gusts up to 50 mph. No further information available.
May 24, 1989, 5:41 p.m. Ringgold County: F4 tornado measuring 26 miles by 300 yards, resulting in $25.0M of property damage.
following by a severe thunderstorm at 6:40 p.m. with wind gusts up to 50 mph.
August 26, 1989, 9:15, p.m. Ringgold County: Thunderstorm with wind gusts up to 52 mph and an
accompanying hailstorm with hailstones accumulating up to 1".
May 9, 1990, 3:55 a.m. Ringgold County: Thunderstorm with wind gusts up to 50 mph. No further information available.
June 16, 1990, 11:40 p.m. Ringgold County: Thunderstorm with wind gusts up to 65 mph. No further information available.
July 9, 1990, 5:00 p.m. Ringgold County: Thunderstorm with wind gusts up to 50 mph, followed by a
second thunderstorm with 50 mph wind gusts.
July 25, 1990, 6:50 p.m. Ringgold County: F2 tornado measuring 4 miles by 73 yards, resulting in $250.0K of property damage.
April 11, 1991, 7:45 a.m. Ringgold County: Thunderstorm with wind gusts up to 50 mph. No further information available.
June 14, 1991, 9:00 & 11:00 p.m. Ringgold County: Two back-to-back thunderstorms with wind gusts up to 50 mph. No further information available.
June 15, 1991, 2:30 a.m. Ringgold County: On the heels of the two thunderstorms a few hours previously on
June 14, a third thunderstorm with wind gusts up to 50 mph.
August 24, 1991, 1:35 a.m. Ringgold County: Thunderstorm with wind gusts up to 50 mph. No further information available.
July 15, 1992, 5:40 p.m. Ringgold County: Hailstorm with hailstones accumulating to .75 inches.
July 24, 1992, 5:20 p.m. Ringgold County: F0 tornado measuring 13 yards wide resulting in $0.3K of property damage.
July 28, 1992, 4:41 p.m. Ringgold County: Thunderstorm with wind gusts up to 50 mph. No further information available.
January 20, 1993, 4:30 a.m. All Iowa Counties: The rain began in southwest and central Iowa when temperatures were in the
teens and lower 20's at the onset, creating a glazing of ice on the road surfaces. Accidents across the state were numerous, numbering in the hundreds
if not the thousands, causing the interestate and several major highways to be closed down to traffic. A major accident involved south of Des Moines
on Interstate-35 when up to 75 trucks slid off the highway, blocking both north and south-bound lanes. Deemed one of the worst ice storm experienced by
the southwest half of the State of Iowa in several decades, it was estimated that 90% of the school districts cancelled classes. Numerous injuries
occurred due to falls along icy sidewalks and traffic accidents. Approximately 1/4" of ice glazed everything within the path of the storm, which was
a wintery mix of freezing rain, snow,and ice pellets.The storm had passed by mid to late evening. Although the main highways
were generally ice-free by then, county and gravel roads remained ice-covered for several days. Property damage in Ringgold
County from the ice storm was assessed to be $50.0K.
February 8, 1993, 10:30 p.m. Most Iowa Counties: Freezing rain and ice pellets covered most of the State of
Iowa during the night of February 8th and ending around 3:00 p.m. on February 9th, with percipitation amounts around 0.1-inch. Property damage in Ringgold County
was assessed to be around $0.5K.
Febrauary 10, 1993, 9 p.m. All Iowa Counties: Freezing rain and ice pellets covered the entire State of Iowa,
accumulating to around 0.25-inch, causing several major traffic accidents and hundreds of minor accidents. A six-year-old
Des Moines girl was killed in a freak accident when an unoccupied car slid down an icy hill, into the icy driveway and ran
over the little girl who was playing with her sled. Estimated property damage was at $50.0K.
February 20, 1993, 2:00 p.m. to February 21, 1993, 6:00 a.m. Southern Iowa Counties: Freezing rain and ice pellets
quickly 100% covered all the roads in southern Iowa, followed by snowfall amounts from 1- to 4-inches. When the winds picked up
to 15 to 30 mph, the southern part of the state was further hindered by blowing and drifting snow and low visibility, near
white-out conditions at times. Hundreds of cars slid off the roads and into ditches. Estimated property damage was around $5.0K.
February 25, 1993, 5:00 a.m. to February 26, 1993, 2:00 a.m. Southern Iowa Counties: Heavy snow fell in southern Iowa
with accumulations from 3- to 7-inches, accompanying by 10 to 20 mph winds which caused considerable drifting. This was followed by record
cold temperatures in the morning. Some areas reported an accumulation of 12 inches of snow. Estimated property damage was around
$0.5K.
March 2, 1993, Noon, to March 18, 1993, approximately 6:00 p.m. Most of Iowa: With melting snow and rainfall, 3/4 of
the State of Iowa experienced what has been called the "100-year flood" which included flash flooding and rivers cresting from 1 to 3 feet
over flood stage. Ice jams along the rivers created additional problems, flooding many agricultural acres along with property damage
assessed to be approximately $50.0K.
March 9, 1993, 10:30 p.m. to March 19, 1994, 5:00 p.m. Most of Iowa: Fueled by an Alberta Clipper, high
winds approaching 62 mph and snowfall of around 3 or more inches per hour fell across most of the state, accompanyied with
freezing temperatures. The southern part of the state received rain which was mixed with ice pellets and heavy wet snow.
Propeprty damages were assessed to be around $500.0K.
March 22, 1993, 6:00 a.m. to March 31, 1993, Midnight The State of Iowa: Official on-set of the "100 Year Flood."
New snowfall of the water equivalent between 1/2- to 1-inch on top of saturated water tables posed serious problems when the snow began
to melt across the State of Iowa. On March 29th through March 30th, band of storms crossed the state, depositing 1- to 2-inch
rainfall from southwest through central Iowa, proceeding on to northeast Iowa. On the 30th through the 31st, widespread 1/2- to 1-inch
rainfall swept over the entire state, with some areas receiving 2.24-inches in a 24-hour period. 11 Iowa counties were declared as
disaster zones. Property damage was assessed at $50.0M.
April 1, 1993 Entire State of Iowa: The flooding of March continued with some rivers reaching historic
crests of 17.17 feet as the rain kept falling. Property damage was assessed at around $50.0M.
April 20, 1993, 6:00 a.m. through April 30, 1993, Midnight Most of Iowa: Widespread rainfall measuring from
1- and up to 2.5-inches added more persistent flooding. Climatologist Harry HILLAKER of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and
Land Stewardship stated that this was the 2nd wettest November-April period on record with 15.09-inches of percipitation. Of
note, 4 of the 5 wettest November-April periods occurred since the beginning of the 1980's. Property damage was assessed to
be approximately $5.0M.
May 7, 1993, 6:00 p.m. through May 16, 1994, Noon All of Iowa: Most of Iowa's rivers were in a state of
recession of flood waters during the first part of May when rainfall measuring from 5- to 6-inches fell upstream in Minnesota,
creating significant rises and major flooding downstream in Iowa. A second heavy rainfall of 2- to 3-inches in the northwest and
north-central portions of Iowa caused the rivers to rise slightly over flood stage. Property damage was assessed to be $5.0M and
crop damage assessed at $5.0M.
August 29, 1993, 3:00 a.m. through August 31, 1993, Midnight All of Iowa: Early in the morning of August
29th, 3- to 5-inches of rain fell in a narrow band along Interstate 80 which produced major flash flooding. This percipitation
was followed by additional rain fall measuring from 1- to 3-inches, and another rainfall of 3/4- to 1 1/2-inches, and another
measuring from 1 1/2- to 3-inches of rainfall. The ground was saturated with many pools of standing water. Property damage was
assessed to be $500.0K and crop damage assessed at $500.0K.
September 1, 1993 through September 12, 1993 All of Iowa: Flooding continued through the first part of
September, hindered by being the coldest September on record which resulted in little evaporation. It took many days for the
rivers to recede to flood stage crests. Property damage was assessed to be $5.0M and crop damage assessed at $5.0M.
September 2, 1993, 12:20 p.m. Mount Ayr, Ringgold County: A hailstorm hit approximately 2 miles east of
Mount Ayr with an accumulation of hailstones measuring 1-inch. Property damage was assessed at $50.0K and crop damage at $50.0K.
Wind gusts from the accompanying thunderstorm were at 50 mph, causing addition $50.0K property damage and $0.5K crop damage. Areas
southwest of Mount Ayr reported wind gusts of up to 61 mph and property damage of $50.0K and crop damage of $50.0K.
September 6, 1993, 6:00 a.m. through September 10, 1993, Noon Southern Iowa: During a 24-hour period,
ending on the morning of September 6th, 1- to 2-inches of rain fell over the southern tier of Iowa's counties, resulting in
flooding along the lower portions of many rivers. Property damage assessed at $500.0K and crop damage at $500.0K.
September 22, 1993, 3:00 a.m. through September 24, 1993, 6:00 p.m. Ringgold, Montgomery, Page, Taylor,
and Union Counties: As the result of sever minor but cumulative rainfall, the rivers southwestern Iowa continued to flood,
causing additonal estimated $500.0K in property damage and $500.0K in crop damage.
September 25, 1993, 2:00 p.m. through September 29, 1993, 3:00 p.m. Southern half of Iowa: The last of
major rainfall occured over a 48-hour period, sweeping through the southern half of Iowa. When the heaviest rainfall occurred
on the morning of September 25th, reportedly 4-inches, the result was widespread flash flooding which was followed by more flooding.
Property damage was assessed at $5.0M and crop damage assessed at $500.0K.
October 1, 1993 through October 4, 1993, 3:00 p.m. Central and Southern Iowa: Although the waters were
receeding, many areas remained flooded during the first few days of October, 1993. The last site to fall below flood stage by
October 4th was Ottumwa in Wapello County along the Des Moines River. Here, the area lacked only seven days of being above
the 10-foot flood stage for an incredible five consecutive months. Property damage assessed at $50.0K and crop damage assessed at
$50.0K.
November 24, 1993, 9:00 a.m. through November 25, 1993, 3:00 a.m. Most of Iowa: A sharp artic cold front
slowly moved across the southern portion of Iowa, creating an inverted trough. On the eastern side of the trough, winds were
easterly with tempertures in the 30's and 40's. On the western side of the trough, winds were northwest with temperatures in
the uppers teens and lower 20's. On the cold side of the trough, areas affected experienced wide-spread freezing rain and
freezing drizzle with significant icing of the roads which caused numerous traffic accidents and a general disruption of
the Thanksgiving Holiday travel. Propety damage was assessed at $5.0K.
December 5, 1993, 3:00 p.m. through December 6, 1993, 5:00 a.m. Southwestern Iowa: A strong low pressure
system passed through the northern portion of Iowa while, at the same time, an intense upper level distrubance crossed over
the state, producing high winds in the southwestern and west-central areas of Iowa. Wind gusts averaged from 56 to 64 mph.
Property damage was assessed at $500.0K.
January 14, 1994, 3:00 a.m. through January 206, 1994, 10:00 a.m. Entire State of Iowa: After a closed upper
level storm system passed over the State of Iowa, a strong artic high pressure system settled over the state, producing the
coldest temperatures experienced in Iowa in over four years with wind chill indices dipping to -40 degrees to -65 degrees.
For the most part, residents experienced frozen water pipes and struggled with vehicles engines that would not turn over. One
Boone, Iowa, woman died of exposure on the front steps of her home on January, 14th. An Albert Clipper passed through the upper
midwestern United States, followed by aneven colder high pressure system with tempertures remaining sub-zero for three days.
Temperatures did not rise above -15 degrees, causing numerous incidents of frozen water pipe and school closings throughout
the State of Iowa. Between January 17 and 18, wind chill indices hovered between -50 to -80 degress with actual temperatures
from -15 to -25 degrees. Property damage assessed at $500.0K; 1 fatality.
January 26, 1994, 1:00 p.m. to January 27, 1994, 3:00 a.m. Most of Iowa: Freezing rain swept over the
state, causing an estimated $500.0K in property damage.
February 22, 1994, 10:00 a.m. through February 25, 1994, 6:00 p.m. Entire State of Iowa: A storm came
into Iowa, producing heavy snowfall over the next 20 hours, followed by an Alberta Clipper which produced blizzard and near
blizzard conditions across the state. Snow fell at the rate of 1- to 2-inches per hour, reducing visibility to between
1/8 to 1/2 mile for a period of approximately two hours. Strong winds gusing up to 50 mph reduced visibility to nearly zero
in open areas throughout the early morning hours of the 25th, producing snow drifts in excess of 10-feet in some places.
Wind chill indices were in the -25 to -45 range throughout the day. Property damage assessed at $50.0K.
March 03, 1994, Noon through March 14, 1994, 6:00 a.m. Most of Iowa: When the heavy snow pack began to melt,
ice jams in the rivers resulted in flooding, mostly confined to agricultural areas with rivers cresting to one to three feet
over flood state. Snowmelt from Minnesota also added to the flooding in Iowa. Property damage was assessed at around $500.0K.
April 14, 1994, 10 p.m. through April 15, 1994, 7 p.m. Most of Iowa: As a low pressure system moved into
Wisconsin, a high pressure system built up on the High Plains, producing strong winds across Iowa with gusts averaging between
50 to 60 mph with occasion gusts of 65 mph. As a result, there was spotty power outages, scattered property damage, and tree
damage throughout the State of Iowa. Property damage assessed at $500.0K.
April 26, 1994, 9:00 a.m. Most of Iowa: When the high pressure system of April 14th moved into Minnesota,
winds in Iowa increased and continued throughout the day with gusts averaging 30 to 45 mph and occasional gusts of 60 mph or ore.
Because most of the fields consisted of bare dry ground, blowing dust reduced visibility to near zero at times. Three injuries
occurred in Davenport, Scott County, Iowa, when high winds blew over a tree onto a car parked at an elementary school, injuring
the occupants, a woman and two four-year-olds. They were treated at a local hospital and later released. Although the wind
abated shortly after sunset, gusts of 25 to 40 mph continued well into the night. Property damage assessed at $5.0M; 3 injuries.
May 24, 1994, 4:27 p.m. Kellerton, Ringgold County: A hailstorm hit Kellerton with a
hailstone accumulation of 0.88 to 1.75 inches. Property damage assessed at $50.0K and crop damage assessed at $5.0K.
June 2, 1994, 5:00 a.m. Redding, Ringgold County: Thunderstorms moved through Ringgold County with
lightning striking and killing a 2-year-old purebred Charolais bull on a farm near Redding, estimated to be worth $5,000.
June 5, 1994, 6:00 a.m. Tingley, Ringgold County: As a thunderstorm swept across Iowa, there was a
report of strong winds near Sioux City with wind gusts of 70 to 80 mph, uprooting trees, overturning mobile homes, and
blowing small buildings off teir foundations. The storm produced several small tornadoes; the first touching down briefly
west of Galva in Ida County; the second touching down in Buena Vista County and tracking from south of Sulphur Springs to
an open area west of Newell; and the third touching down approximately five miles north of Gravity in Taylor County. The same
storm produced lightning which destroyed all of the electrical wiring in a house and peeling off all the gutters, but fortunately
did not set the house on fire. Two people were injured with minor cuts from flying debris. Wind gusts were estimated to be
50 mph. Property damage assessed at $50.0K; crop damage assessed at $0.5K; two minor injuries.
June 22, 1994, 11:30 p.m. through June 30, 1994, Midnight Southwestern Iowa: At first the rains of
June, 1994 was a welcomed relief from dry weather of April and May. However, June became the wettest month in Iowa since
August of 1993. The most significant rainfall occurred from the evening of June 22nd, lasting into the morning of June 23rd,
with a report of 5.85-inches in southwestern Iowa. Most of the flooding was restricted to lowland agricultural regions.
Property damage assessed at $500.0K and crop damage at $500.0K.
January 26, 1995, 11:00 p.m. through January 27, 1995, 10:00 p.m. State of Iowa: A low pressure system
full of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico produced freezing rain with a mixture of ice pellets, snow, and freezing drizzle. When
temperatures fell below freezing at sunset on January 27th, a glaze of 1/2-inches of ice knocked out several power lines
and created treacherous driving conditions. Many roads were closed by either authorities or by blockage from thousands of
traffic accidents across the state. Several people were injuried when they fell on the ice. Schools were closed and many
other activities across the state were either postponed or canceled. Property damage assessed at $100.0K.
February 10, 1995 Entire State of Iowa: A strong artic cold front dipped down into the State of Iowa
during the early morning hours of February, producing 25 to 40 mph wind gusts which at times were 45 to 50 mph. The wind
subsided shortly before sunset, diminishing to 20 to 35 mph. Wind chill indices dropped to -30 to -65 degrees. Property damage assessed at $100.0K.
April 3, 1995, 1:00 p.m. Most of Iowa: A strong artic cold front entered into Iowa with wind gusts
reported across the state as being from 48 to 70 mph, downing several power lines and creating low visibility due to
blowing dust from the dry bare fields. Property damage assessed at $125.0K.
April 18, 1995, 7:00 a.m. Most of Iowa: Strong cyclonic winds blew into Iowa during the morning hours with
gusts of up to 60 mph, Due to the wet ground condition, many trees were blown over and many high-profile vehicles were blown
off the roadways. Property damage assessed at $500.0K.
May, 1995 Southern Tier of Iowa Counties: Frequent and excessive rainfall during the month of May, 1995
resulted in signifcant delays for Iowa farmers with reports of only 43% of the soybean and 80% of the corn being planted. Colder than
normal tempertures posed another threat for the crops which had been planted. With flooding worse than the Flood of 1993,
the Governor of Iowa declared 31 southern Iowa counties as disaster areas. South-central Iowa experienced the wettest May
in almost 90 years. Property damage assessed at $200.0K; crop damage estimated at $66.0M.
May 27, 1995, 9:19 p.m. Ringgold County: A F1 tornado developed 8 miles south to south east of Mount
Ayr which was six miles wide long 40 yards wide, and tracked to 4 miles southwest of Kellerton, causing $30.0K in property
damage and $60.00 in crop damage.
June 1, 1995 thourgh June 10, 1995 Most of Iowa: Wet conditions persisted, causing additional delays
in planting corn and soybean crops. Southern Iowa was hit the hardest with 1% of the crop in the ground by the second week
of June. Total losses during the month of June, 1995 were estimated to be around $140 million.
June 24, 1994 4:30 p.m. Ringgold County: Excessive rainfall created a flash flood in Ringgold County.
Property damage assessed at $50.0K; crop damage assessed at $10.0K.
June 28, 1995, 6:00 a.m. through June 30, 1995, 6:00 a.m. Southern Iowa: Heavy rainfall of up to 3-inches reated flooding to agricultural areas. Property
damage assessed at $25.0K; crop damage assessed at $30.0K.
July 4, 1995 9:00 p.m. through July 9, 1994, Noon Central and Southern Iowa: Widespread rains
swept through southern and central Iowa with some locations receiving from 3- to 4-inches. As a result most of the
low-lying agricultural areas were flooded. Property damage assessed at $25.0K; crop damage assessed at $10.0K.
July 7, 1995, 8:34 p.m. Benton, Ringgold County: Severe thunderstorms developed and swept through
southern Iowa. One cell dropped 3/4- to 1-inch diameter hailstones which accumulated to 1-inch, approximately one mile west of Benton before tracking
southeast into Missouri. Property damage assessed at $3.0K; crop damage assessed at $1.0K.
July 12, 1995, 11:00 a.m. through July 14, 1995, 10:00 p.m. Entire State of Iowa: Intense heat spread
over Iowa on July 12, lasting well into the evening of July 14, creating a heat wave. Winds were well below 10 mph with
temperatures ranging from 98 to 108-degrees. Most of the western portion of the state from the century record high mark on
July 13th with a heat index of 131 by late afternoon. Three people died as a result of the heat. A 95-year-old woman from
Des Moines who did not have air-conditioning or fans; a 71-year-old Marshalltown man who died in his unairconditioned home; and
a 37-year-old Burlington man who resided in an unairconditioned apartment. Statewide livestock losses numbered at 4,000
head of cattle, 370 hogs, 1,250,000 chickens, and 250,000 turkeys. Disposal of the perished livestock became a problem when
the rendering plants were overwhelmed. Around the state were numerous reports of heat buckles on streets and highways.
Property damage assessed at $3.8M; 3 fatalities.
July 15, 1995, 3:30 p.m. Tingley, Ringgold County: A thunderstorm produced 50 mph wind gusts at Tingley,
resulting in $5.0K in property damage and $1.0K in crop damage.
August, 1995 Entire State of Iowa: Dry weather conditions combined with well above normal temperatures
resuled in 4th warmest August of record. As a result corn crop loss in the southern part of the state were between five
and twenty-five bushel per acre. Soybean losses were estimated to be generally 5% or less. This translates to approximately
$420 million in corn loss and $116 million in soybean loss. Crop damage across the State of Iowa estimated to be $0.5B.
September 21, 1995, 11: p.m. to September 22, 1995, 8:00 a.m. Most of the State of Iowa: As if Iowa's crop
production hadn't already been hit hard in 1995 with wet conditions delaying planting schedules and a drought, a strong
cold front swept across Iowa, causing one of the earliest freezes on record as tempertures dropped to as low as 24-degrees.
The soybean crop was hit the hardest with approximately $30 million bushels lost. The corn crop had already suffered
significant damage from the August drought, so corn losses were not as badly damaged. Estimated soybean loss was approximately
$195 million and corn losses were estimated to be around $9 million statewide.
October 23, 1995, 1:00 p.m. through October 24, 1995, 7:00 a.m. Most of Iowa: The first winter storm
blew into Iowa from Colorado with winds gusting up to 52 mph. Damage was mostly limited to blowing debris and falling tree limbs
which created local power outages covering large areas of the state. Property damage assessed at $100.0K.
November 10, 1995, Noon Southern Iowa: A strong cold front moved through Iowa late in the night of
November 9th and the early hours of November 10th. With tempertures falling into the 20's and ground temperatures above freezing,
what snow that fell froze to the road surfaces, creating extremely icy conditions. Most areas received snowfall accumulations of
2- to 4-inches with the heaviest snowfall of 5 1/2 inches in Bedford, Taylor County. Property damaged assessed at $10.0K.
November 27, 1995, 5:00 a.m. Much of Iowa: A snow storm swept across Iowa creating property damage assessed at $50.0K.
December 6, 1995, 6:00 a.m. Clarke, Decatur, Ringgold, Taylor, Union, and Wayne Counties: A strong cold
font moved across the southern Iowa tier of counties and became nearly stationary along a band approximately 40 miles wid
and extending from Omaha and Council Bluffs to an area southeast to Lamoni. Accumulated snowfall amounts were 10-inches at
Mount Ayr, Blockton, and Beaconsfield; 8 to 9 inches at Creston; 8.3 inches at Leon; and 8.5 inches at Corning. Although the
snowfall in those areas were heavy, the snow was powdery and wind gusts remained around 10 mph. Property damage assessed at $5.0K.
December 8, 1995, 2:00 a.m. Entire State of Iowa: A snowstorm passed through Iowa with conditions
turning into a blizzard over the western part of the state around 10:00 a.m. on December 8th with visibility near zero by
mid-afternoon with strong northwest winds of 45 to 50 mph. By evening, temperatures quickly dropped down to zero with wind
chills values between -40 and -55 degrees.
Accidents closed down portions of Interstates 35 and 80 and hundreds of cars slid off into the ditches.
Propery damage assessed at $20.0K.
January 17, 1996, 9:00 p.m. through January 19, 1996, 1:00 a.m. Most of Iowa: High winds at 55 knots
blew over the state bringing extremely cold wind chill throughout the day and night of the 18th. Blizzard-like conditions
on the 18th caused one fatality. Property damage assessed at $250.0K.
January 26, 1996, Midnight to January 27, 1996, 1:00 a.m. Most of Iowa: Heavy snow and a blizzard caused
two fatalities and property damage assessed at $600.0K. This strong Artic cold front produced wind gusts of up to 53 mph, visibility
down to 50-feet at times, and wind chills below -50 degrees. Many country roads and highways had drifted shut.
February 1, 1996, 4:00 p.m. through February 2, 1996, 11:00 a.m. Entire State of Iowa: A strong reinforcing
Artic cold front dipped down into Iowa with north winds at 15 to 20 mph and temperatures betwee -15 and -30 degrees. This
resulted in to wind chills from -50 to -79 degrees. Record breaking lows were reported across the state.
February 10, 1996, Noon to February 11, 1996, 2:00 a.m. Entire State of Iowa: A strong low pressure
system passed through Iowa, followed by a strong Pacific high pressure system, producing northwest winds of 30 to 40 mph
with frequents gusts over 50 mph. Throughout the state were reports of roofs being torn of buildings. Property damage assessed at $350.0K.
March 24, 1996, 5:00 p.m. through March 25, 1996, 7:00 p.m. Most of Iowa: Strong winds of 54 knots
blew across the state causing property damage assessed at $300.0K.
April 25, 1996, 9:30 a.m. to April 26, 1996, 3:00 a.m. Most of Iowa: High winds blew over the state
causing property damage assessed at $750.0K. Blowing dust occasionally reduced visibility down to 100-feet.
May of 1996 Entire State of Iowa: Unseasonably cold weather caused poor germanation of the spring's
planting. About 4% of the state's 12.7 million acres of corn had to be replanted. Crop damage assessed at $5.1M.
May 3, 1996, 5:29 p.m. Ringgold County: A hailstorm passed through Ringgold County with hailstone
accumulation of 0.75-inches and $5.0K property damage at Mount Ayr; hailstone accumulation of 0.75-inches and property
damage of $2.0K approximately four miles north of Beaconsfield; and hailstone accumulation of 0.90-inches and property
damage of $5.0K four miles north of Ellston.
May 9, 1996, 6:00 a.m. through May 13, 1996, 6:00 p.m. Southern Iowa Counties: Heavy rains in the
southern half of Iowa caused flooding. At times several inches of rain fell in less than 6 hours. Property damage was
assessed at $100.0K and crop damage at $50.0K.
May 26, 1996, Noon to May 31, 1996, 11:59 p.m. Southern Iowa Counties: Several areas in southern Iowa
received heavy rain over a two-night period which resulted in floods with property damage assessed at $400.0K and crop damage at $100.0K.
May 27, 1996, 1:55 p.m. Mount Ayr, Ringgold County: A F0 tornado with the width of 25 yards touched
down 9 miles south of Mount Ayr and tracked to the southeast.
June 23, 1996, 1:35 p.m. to 3:40 p.m. Ringgold County: A hailstorm passed through Ringgold County with hailstone
accumulation of 0.75-inches 2 miles north of Kellerton; hailstone accumulation of 0.75-inches 2 miles north of Redding; and
hailstone accumulation of 0.75-inches 8 miles north of Mount Ayr. Property damage was assessed at $1.0K and crop damage assed
at $5.0K.
October 29, 1996, 11:00 a.m. through October 30, 1996, 9:00 a.m. Entire State of Iowa: A record low pressure system moved out of the
southern Rockies and as it passed through Iowa high winds with frequent gusts of 55 to 60 mph uprooted many trees and
damaged the corn crop throughout the state. Property damage assessed at $500.0K and crop damage at $100.0K.
November 14, 1996, 4:00 p.m. through November 15, 1996, Noon Entire State of Iowa: A large Artic air mass
hovered over the State of Iowa for several days, keeping temperatures below freezing. When warm air surged in, a large storm
system developed in southwestern Iowa, producing freezing drizzle and ice pellets which turned into freezing rain. Nearly
all of the schools in the vicinity were closed, many power lines, power poles, and trees were down due to the ice accumulation.
Property damage assessed at $150.0K.
January 9, 1997, 9:00 p.m. through January 11, 1997, Noon Ringgold County: A major blast of Artic air
swept through Iowa, creating blizzard conditions with wind gusts reaching 55 mph for a period of thirty-six hours. Temperatures
dipped with wind chill indices measured between -40 to -60 degrees.
January 15, 1997, 9:00 p.m. to January 16, 1997, 3:00 p.m. Entire State of Iowa: A low pressure system
tracked across Iowa, leaving fresh 2- to 5-inches of snow. This was followed by sharply colder temperatures and wind gusts
up to 62 mph. Visibility was reduced to zero with occasional whiteout conditions. Many roadways were closed due to drifting
snow and numerous reports proclaimed that some drifts were as tall as 20-feet. Wind chills were in the -50 to -60 degree
range. Many heads of cattle froze to death. The Governor declared 11 counties as disaster areas. Property damage was
assessed to be $750.0K.
February 18, 1997, 6:00 p.m. through February 24, 1997, 6:00 a.m. Southern Iowa Counties: Most of Iowa
was covered under a deep snow pack with water equivalents ranging from 1-inch over the southern half of the state to
5-inches in the northern half. A strong warming trend produced rapid snow melt with as much as 11-inches melting in within
a 24-hour period of time. This created flooding whent ice-choked rivers were unable to handle the runoff. During the night of
February 20th and into the morning of February 21st, as much as 2 1/2-inches of rainfall created additional flooding.
Property damage assessed at $750.0K.
April 6, 1997, 9:00 a.m. Most of Iowa: A storm system brought high winds with gusts up to 62 mph into
the State of Iowa. Throughout the state were reports of overturned high-profile vehicles, downed trees and power lines, and
damage to numerous buildings. Property damage assessed at $1.8M.
April 10, 1997, 5:00 a.m. to April 11, 1997, 4:00 p.m. Lucas, Mahasaka, Marion, Monroe,
Davis, Decatur, Ringgold, Taylor, Wapello, and Wayne Counties in Southern Iowa: A strong baraclinic front crept into Southern
Iowa during the pre-dawn hours of April 10th, creating snowstorms with temperatures close to freezing and wind gusts of
approximately 20 mph. The heavy, wet snow caked on trees and power lines, bringing them down. Total accumulations of over
24-inches were reported throughout the vicinity. If it had not been as warm as it was, total accumulations could have been
in excess of 30-inches. Several roofs throughout the area collapsed under the weight of the snow, including the firestation
at Centerville and the Tupperware factory at Centerville, both in Appanoose County. Structural engineers estimated that the
weight on the Tupperware factory roof was in excess of 30 pounds per square foot. The Governor declared a state of emergency
for the southern two tiers of Iowa counties due to the persistent threat of building and roof collapse. Throughout the storm,
snowfall measured from six to twelve inches in a 36-hour period with snowdrifts as high as 4-feet in some places.
Property damage assessed at $1.6M.
May 13, 1997, 12:01 a.m. Most of Iowa: A large Canadian high pressure system settled over central
United States bringing in unseasonably cold weather. Some crop damage was reported, however most of the crops had not
been planted. Most of the frost damage was to outdoor plants with nurserys reporting heavy losses. Property damage assessed at $1.0M and crop damage assessed at $100.0K.
August 24, 1997, 10:03 p.m. Kellerton, Ringgold County: A severe thunderstorm swept through the Kellerton
community with wind gusts up to 56 mph. The storm tracked to Mount Ayr by 10:25 p.m. with wind gusts of 65 mph which
downed numerous trees. At approximately 5 miles southwest of Mount Ayr, a hailstorm developed, producing hailstones
3/4-inch in diameter with an accumulation of 0.75-inches. Property damage assessed at $10.0K and crop damage at $15.0K.
October 26, 1997, 3:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Southern Iowa Counties: A severe storm produced "thundersnow"
produced heavy snowfall of 9-inches in a band extending from Ringgold to Mahaska Counties. Beaconsfield received 10-inches
of snow from this storm. Because most of the trees were still leafed out, 75% of the trees in the storm's path were damaged
with falling branches taking out power lines. REC estimated that from 2,000 to 3,000 of their customers were without power and
damage to their lines was estimated at over $10 million. Because most of the soybean crop was still in the fields, the heavy
wet snow damaged most of those crops, estimated at a $24 million loss with a $41 million loss on the corn crop. 51 counties, including
Ringgold County, were declared by the Governor as disaster areas. Clean-up costs averaged from $30,000 in Tama County to
$1.84 million in Polk County. Total property damage assessed at $25.0M with crop damage assessed at $65.0M.
December 21, 1997, 2:00 p.m. to December 22, 1997, 7:00 a.m. Most of Iowa: Although the Midwest was
experiencing an El Nino winter with little cold air masses, an upper level low pressure system swept over Iowa on December
21st, producing an ice storm with the heaviest accumulation over the southern third of the state. Property damage
assessed at $88.2K.
December 24, 1997, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Decatur, Lucas, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Ringgold,
Wapello, and Wayne Counties: Freezing rain with heavy snowfall crossed the southern tier of Iowa Counties, producing
snowfall between six to eight inches. Property damage was assessed at $55.6K.
April 14, 1998, 9:56 p.m. Diagonal, Ringgold County: When strong thunderstorms passed over Iowa, one
storm produced a hook echo over Ringgold County. Although this did not produce a tornado, a hailstorm developed over the
Diagonal vicinity with hailstones ranging from 3/4- to 1-inch in diameter with an accumulation of 0.75-inches. Property damage
was assessed at $0.5K.
May 22, 1998, 2:15 a.m. Tingley and Ellston, Ringgold County: When a second round of thunderstorms moved into
Iowa during the pre-dawn hours, wind gusts ranged from 73 to 80 mph as it passed over Ringgold and Decatur Counties. The
Van Wert, Tingley, and Ellston areas reported trees that were blown over and structual damage. Property damage was assessed
at $50.0K and crop damage assessed at $10.0K.
June 14, 1998, 1:00 a.m. Diagonal, Ringgold County: As a severe thunderstorm passed over Taylor and
Ringgold Counties in the early hours of June, 14th, wind gusts of 70 mph knocked over trees which broke power lines with one
house in Taylor County erupting in flames when the power line was pulled from the landing of the house. One farm located
southwest of Diagonal received sufficient damage as 75 mph winds blasted the area. Property damage assessed at $100.0K
with $5.0K in crop damage.
June 29, 1998, 5:15 p.m. Ringgold County: Severe thunderstorms tracked through Iowa which spawned
several tornadoes. Three miles south of New Sharon in Mahaska County, high winds picked up a puppy and the dog house of
which the puppy was tied. Both were catapulted over a two-car garage and a corn crib before being deposited into the farm
yard. The dog house was upside down and the puppy, although very scared, was unharmed. Many areas reported wind gusts of
up to 80 mph with incredible tree and building damage. Some buildings were total losses. Several semi-tractors and trailers
were blown off Interstate 35 by high wind. A second line of severe thunderstorms developed and passed through the path of
the previous storm. Approximately 100,000 homes in central and southern Iowa were without power over a 36-hour period. At
least 125 people sustained injuries from flying debris. The storms produced an accumulation of 1.75-inches of hail in the
Diagonal vicinity. Property damage was assessed at $25.0K and crop damage at $10.0K.
April 8, 1999, 2:30 p.m. Mount Ayr, Ringgold County: An intense low pressure system developed southwest of
Iowa which created lines of severe thunderstorms which passed over Iowa. The storms produced tornadic activity throughout Iowa
most of the day of April 8th with one picking up a seventy-year-old man near the town of Slater and throwing him through the
air. Fortunately, he sustained injuries of which were recoverable, stitches and a dislocated shoulder. A F-4 tornado touched
down in Adair County which, according to eyewitnesses, split into two distinct tornadoes at one time. This activity swept
hunderds of farmsteads clean. Personal papers and debris were later found in a path stretching from Taylor to Jefferson Counties.
A horse was picked up by the tornado and thrown through a stand of 40-foot high pine trees. After significant medical attention
to the lacerations suffered by the horse, it did survive against all odds, although it lost sight in one eye. A truck
driver suffered from a broken back when the tornado lifted his semi-tractor-trailer from the Interstae and threw it into a
nearby field. As a tornado tracked through Union County, the sheriff was horrified to watch a vehicle in front of him being
lifted up off the roadway 35-feet in the air and throwing it 250-feet. The sheriff was greatly relieved when the driver
crawled out of his vehicle uninjured. Meanwhile, five coal cars were knocked off their tracks. A short time later, a F2 tornado
touched down in Warren County, followed by a F3 tornado touching down in Lucas County which weakened to a F2 as it passed
into Jasper County, and another F3 tornado touching down in Davis County. In the Mount Ayr vicinity, wind gusts of 70 mph
caused an estimated $75.0K in property damage. The Beaconsfield vicinity endured an estimated $2.0K in property damage
from wind gusts of 56 mph.
April 19, 2000, 7:42 p.m. Mount Ayr, Ringgold County: As thunderstorms swept across Iowa during the
evening of April 19th, nickel-sized hailstones fell in southern Iowa. Wind gusts of around 65 mph did approximately $10.0K
property damage with one barn located 5 miles southeast of Mount Ayr sustaining considerable roof damage.
June 25, 2000, 4:37 p.m. Tingley, Ringgold County: A major thunderstorm produced significant flash
flooding as it tracked through Ringgold County on June 25th, the remnants of Hurricane Carlotta. This storm produced high
winds averaging from 60 to 80 mph, and topping out at 85 mph. Some trees that were up to 2-feet in diameter were snapped
in two. Tingley sustaine an estimated $2.0K in property damage from the high winds.
April 5, 2001, 2:31 p.m. Redding, Ringgold County: A strong upper level low pressure system, coupled
with moisture fromthe Gulf of Mexico produced severe thunderstorms and hailstorms as it tracked across Iowa. 3/4-inch in
diameter hailstones fell in Adams and Ringgold Counties and large trees were down by high winds. Several buildings in the
town of Redding received structural damage when wind gusts of up to 75 mph blew through the area, causing an assesed $30.0K
in property damage.
April 8, 2001, 7:45 p.m. Mount Ayr, Ringgold County: After the vicinity had experience the passage of
a powerful storm system during the weekend, another severe storm system followed which produced hailstones ranging in size
from nickel-sized to golf ball-sized with an accumulation of 1.25-inches. Hailstone accumulation in Kellerton was measured
at 1-inch. A tornado which touched down in Decatur County near Leon. Rainfal of one to two-
inches per hour poured over Ringgold County with a total of 4-inches in less than 3 hours. This caused flash flooding with Lotts
Creek swept over a road southeast of Mount Ayr and creating $50,000 in damage as the road washed out. Property damage assessed
at $66.0K.
April 11, 2001, 10:40 a.m. to 11:10 a.m. Mount Ayr to Ellston, Ringgold County: A F3 tornado measuring
approximately 24 miles by 500 yards moved out of Missouri and tracked across Ringgold County into Union County, going almost
all the way to Des Moines on April 11th. Accompanying this storm were hailstorms, depositing 1-inch in diameter hailstones east
of Redding. Damage from the tornado in Ringgold County was initially estimated to be around $1 millow. President BUSH later
declared Ringgold County as a federal disaster area. Several tornadoes were touched off across the state with two women killed
when the Odd Fellows Lodge in Agency was destroyed. Also, in Agency, a dog pen was lifted up and twirled through the air
before being pitched several feet later. The family's dog who was in the pen escaped, uninjured. Property damage was assessed at $1.5M.
June 14, 2001, 1:46 p.m. Mount Ayr and Kellerton, Ringgold County: A strong convection developed over
Missouri in the early afternoon hours of June 14th, which developed into a line of severe thunderstorms which moved into
south centeral Iowa. Hailstorms also developed, producing hailstones that were about marble-sized. Winds gusted from 60 to 70 mph
which toppled trees and downed power lines. Property damage assessed at $3.0K.
June 18, 2001, 10:23 p.m. Mount Ayr, Ringgold County: When a cold front entered into the State of Iowa
and bumped into a very unstable air mass, thunderstorms erupted along the cold frontal boundary by early afternoon. This
produced hailstorms with one depositing 0.75-inch accumulation of hailstones 8 miles southwest of Mount Ayr and causing
an assessed $5.0K in crop damage.
July 3, 2001, 3:54 p.m. Beaconsfield, Ringgold County: A thunderstorm tracking south from Des Moines
produced hailstorms with some reports of golf ball-sized hailstones which accumulated to 0.88-inches. Late in the storm's life
cycle, 65 mph winds were reported in Decatur City, Decatur County. Beacsonfield reported an accumulation of
1.75-inches of hailstones and property damage at $10.0K with crop damage at $10.0K.
A collapsing cell produced 70 mph winds which downed trees and power lines south of
Kellerton. Also, a grain bin was blown 300 meters off its foundation and a motor home was rolled off its foundation. Property
damage was assessed at $75.0K and crop damage at $15.0K.
July 18, 2001, 1:oo a.m. Mount Ayr, Ringgold County: As intense thunderstorms moved into Iowa from
Omaha, Nebraska, hailstorms developed with Nodaway in Adams County reported 1-inch in diameter hailstones. As the storms
tracked further east, hail production was diminished and replaced by gusts of 60 to 65 mph through Talor and Ringgold
Counties. Both counties experienced widespread power outage and tree damage. Mount Ayr reported $10.0K in property damage
and $2.0K in crop damage.
October 21, 2001, 3:09 p.m. Kellerton, Ringgold County: Throughout the day of October 21st, thunderstorms
erupted over the southern two tiers of counties in Iowa, producing heavy rain and small hailstones. A third storm cell moved
into Taylor County around 3:00 p.m which produced 3/4-inch hailstones. As the cell moved east, it dropped 3/4-inch diameter
hailstones north of Kellerton, creating $3.0K in crop damage.
March 8, 2002, 10:45 p.m. Kellerton, Ringgold County: As a storm cell passed over Iowa on March 8th,
numerous hailstorms erupted which contained pea-sized hailstones. When the storm passed through Ringgold County, many buildings
sustained damage. Wind gusts of up to 65 mph produced damage similar to that of a F1 tornado. Kellerton sustained property
damage of $50.0K.
April 18, 2000, 5:37 p.m. Mount Ayr, Ringgold County: By late afternoon on April 18th, thunderstorms
erupted throughout Iowa with some producing hailstorms which contained hailstones up to 2-inches in diameter. Several small
tornadoes exploded with the squall line with brief touchdowns which did minor damage. An accumulation of 1-inch caused
$5.0K in property damage ten miles west of Mount Ayr.
May 8, 2002, 6:34 p.m. Kellerton, Ringgold County: As the day heated up during May 8th, the airmass
became unstable, erupting into thunderstorms by late afternoon. These storms produced high wind gusts between 60 and
75 mph and hailstones from 1-inch in diameter to golf-ball-sized. A tornado briefly touched down near Pleasantville in
Marion County but because it was an open area, it caused very little damage. When a hailstorm passed through 10 miles south
of Kellerton, hailstone accumulation as 1-inch with property damage assessed to be around $5.0K and crop damage at $1.0K.
June 18, 2002, 8:21 am. Diagonal and Tingley, Ringgold County: During the morning of June 18, thunderstorms
formed over southwestern Iowa and dropped nickle to quarter-sized hail in Ringgold County. Hailstones accumulated to 1-inch
in Diagonal, creating $5.0K of property damage and $5.0K of crop damage. Tingley reported an accumulation of 0.88-inch of
hailstones with property damage assessed at $3.0K and crop damage at $5.0K.
June 26, 2002, 1:20 p.m. Kellerton and Mount Ayr, Ringgold County: As thunderstorms tracked across Iowa on June
26th, wind gusts of 52 mph caused $3.0K of property damage 2 miles north of Kellerton. An accumulation of 0.88-inches of
hail cause $3.0K in property damage and $5.0K in crop damage 8 miles southwest of Mount Ayr.
July 11, 2002, 3:33 p.m. Mount Ayr, Ringgold County: When an upper level low pressure system dropped into
southern Iowa on the afternoon of July 11, thunderstorm erupted over southwestern and south central portions of the state. Most
of the storms produced heavy rain, however one storm because quite strong, producing 50 mph wind and some hail. Quarter-inch
sized hail fell 6 miles north of Mount Ayr, causing $5.0K in crop damage before proceeding on into the State of Missouri.
July 25, 2003, 1:30 p.m. Delphos, Ringgold County: Thunderstorms tracking across the State of Iowa on
July 25th, created a storm which produced up to 65 mph in wind gusts. Although most of the damage was limited to trees
and power lines, one house located south of Delphos sustained broken windows. Rainfall of 3- to 5-inches within a two hour
period of time created flash flooding. Property damage was assessed at $5.0K.
July 5, 2003, 8:15 p.m. Maloy, Ringgold County: With airmasses over Iowa still unstable, a stationary
outflow created severe thunderstorms which produced hail and high wind with gusts up to 70 mph, causing $2.0K in property
damage in Wayne and Ringgold Counties. A strong funnel cloud was spotted 1 mile northeast of Kent in Union County, however
it did not touch down. Redding reported an accumulation of 0.88-inches of hailstones with property damage assesed at $2.0K
and crop damage of $5.0K.
March 27, 2004, 9:09 p.m. Mount Ayr, Ringgold County: An unstable airmass produced thunderstorms
when a strong cold front advanced into Iowa. The strongest of these storms swept through in Ringgold County, producing up to 70
mph wind which blew a car off of the highway 8.5 miles west of Mount Ayr. This same cluster produced an accumulation of 1-inch
of hailstones which caused $3.0K in property damage 8 miles west of Mount Ayr.
Property damage was assessed at $5.0K.
May 22, 2004, 10:37 p.m. Mount Ayr, Ringgold County: Thunderstorms erupting west of Des Moines along Interstate
80 quickly turned tornadic, and when a second thunderstorm complex moved in from Nebraska, all kinds of severe weather occurred
from the resulting supercells. 80+ mph wind, heavy rainfall, had hailstorms passed through southwestern and central Iowa. At
places the rainfall was 4- to 5-inches per hour. Flash flooding closed down several roads. Northern Warren County experienced
wind gusts of 160 mph. What few tornadoes that developed touched down in open areas and created little damage. Property damage
assessed at $10.0K.
May 23, 2004, 6:04 p.m. Maloy, Ringgold County:
Thunderstorm activity continued from May 22 with a few tornadoes developing but touching down in open areas. One F0
tornado touched down in an open area 4 miles south of Mount Ayr. Maloy experienced high winds gusting up to 69 mph and
causing $49.0K in property damage. 65 mph wind gusts caused $10.0K of property damage near Benton. 69 mph wind gusts
caused $70.0K of property damage in the Redding vicinity.
May 27, 2004, 10:52 a.m. Ringgold County: During the day severe thunderstorms erupted across southern
Iowa. Golf-sized hailstones fell in Deactur County. The combination of hailstones and 50 mph wind caused considerable
crop damage in Taylor County, assessed at $5.0K. Hailstones accumulated to 0.75-inches one mile northwest of Diagonal.
Mount Ayr reported $20.0K in property damage from the storms. Flash flooding in Ringgold County resulted in the closing of several roadways.
May 29, 2004, 10:35 p.m. Mount Ayr, Ringgold County: Supercells erupted into a series of thunderstorms
sweeping across Iowa in the evening hours of May 29. Wind gusts of 52 mph caused $2.0K of property damage 6 miles southwest
of Mount Ayr.
June 11, 2004, 6:30 p.m. Diagonal, Ringgold County: Several severe thunderstorms swept through Ringgold
County which produced a hailstorm. Clearfield experienced $2.0K in property damage and $5.0K in crop damage with an
accumulation of 0.88-inch of hailstones. Diagonal had an accumulation of 1-inch of hailstones, suffering from $3.0K in
property damage and $5.0K in crop damage.
August 1, 2004, 2:45 p.m. Mount Ayr, Ringgold County: Thunderstorm activity in western Iowa produced
a hailstorm which pelted Mount Ayr with 1-inch diameter hailstones south of of Mount Ayr with an accumulation of 1-inch
in hailstones. Property damage was assessed at $5.0K and crop damage was $10.0K.
August 25, 2004, 11:23 a.m. Mount Ayr, Ringgold County: Very moist and unstable moved over Iowa, erupting
into thunderstorms across southwestern Iowa. Golf-ball-sized hail accumulating to 1.75-inches and 52 mph wind gusts pounded an area 9 miles north of
Mount Ayr, causing $7.0K in property damage and $12.0K in crop damage.
August 26, 2004, 3:00 p.m. Diagonal and Mount Ayr, Ringgold County: Thunderstorms erupted in Iowa, producing
60 to 75 mph wind gusts and and hailstorms. Property damage was assessed at $5.0K and crop damage was assessed at $15.0K.
March 30, 2005, 9:57 a.m. Redding, Ringgold County: Thunderstorms moved across Iowa, producing
wind gusts from 65 to 71 mph. A hailstorm swept through the Redding vicinity, accumulating 0.75-inches of hailstones.
June 4, 2005, 6:15 p.m. Ringgold County: A F1 tornado formed in Harrison County, Missouri, and passed
into southern Iowa, lifting and then touching down again 10 miles southeast of Mount Ayr, measuring
1 mile long and 50 yards wide. The tornado tracked to 7 miles southwest of Kellerton. Softball-sized hail fell in Ringgold
County. Property damage was assessed at $25.0K and crop damage was assessed at $27.0K.
June 29, 2005, 11:00 p.m. Mount Ayr, Ringgold County: Thunderstorms erupted rapidly throughout
Iowa during the evening hours of June 29. Wind gusts of up to 85 mph developed, downing numerous trees and power lines. 52 mph
wind gusts 2 miles north of Mount Ayr caused $3.0K in property damage.
September 13, 2005, 5:14 a.m. and 10:38 a.m. Diagonal and Beaconsfield, Ringgold County: Thunderstorms passing through Iowa spawned
several hailstorms which produced 3/4- to 1-inch diameter sized hailstones. Diagonal sustained $5.0K in crop damage. A
second hailstorm produced 0.88-inch of hailstorm accumulation 3 miles northwest and north of Beaconsfield, causing
$1.0K in property damage and $5.0K in crop damage.
March 30, 2006, 5:55 p.m. Mount Ayr, Ringgold County: An early spring storm crossed over Iowa on
March 30th, producing hailstorms and two tornadoes that briefly touched down in open areas. Wind gusts exceeded 80 mph
near Creston in Union County, and 71 mph in Adair County. Most of the hailstones were 1-inch in diameter with the Des
Moines metro area reporting 2-inch diameter hailstones and golf ball-sized hailstones in Norwalk.
September 17, 2006, 12:15 a.m. Redding, Ringgold County: Late in the afternoon of September 17,
thunderstorms advanced into Iowa, producing wind gusts from 60 to 70 mph. An area 2 miles northeast of Redding reported
property damage around $20.0K and crop damage assessed at $2.0K.
March 21, 2007, 10:30 p.m. Kellerton, Ringgold County: Thunderstorms crossed the State of Iowa in
the evening hours of March 21. The first line of storms trcked across the northern part of the state, and the second
along the southern two tiers of counties. Most of the storms produced hailstones around 1-inch in diameter or less. Wind gusts
of near 60 mph were reported in Bedford, Taylor County; 50 to 60 mph northwest of Lamoni, Decatur County. A tornado
developed and touched down in Wayne County and tracked into Appanoose County. Kellerton reported an accumulation of
1-inches of hailstones which caused $5.0K in property damage.
August 20, 2007, 9:15 p.m. Mount Ayr and Kellerton, Ringgold County: A thunderstorm passing through Ringgold County
produced wind gusts up to 57 mph, downing numerour trees and power lines in Mount Ayr and Kellerton. Property damage was
assessed at $25.0K and crop damage assessed at $10.0K.
August 23, 2007, 7:45 p.m. Beaconsfield, Ringgold County: Thunderstorms passing through Ringgold County
produced wind gusts of 57 mph, blowing down several trees. Penny-sized hailstones fell in the area as wind gusts reached
70 mph. The storms produced rainfall of 1- to 2-inches per hour in Union and Ringgold Counties, creating flash floods in
the region with reports of 2 to 4 feet of flood water closing down many roadways. In the Rathbun area, 12.34-inches of rain
fell in a 12-hour time period. This heavy rainfall was statistically a 500 year event. Travel was discouraged throughout most of
southern Iowa and many households were without potable water. Two people stranded by flash flooding in Wayne County near
Corydon were rescued and brought to safety. Property damage was assessed at $10.0K.
September 30, 2007, 5:30 p.m. Delphos, Ringgold County: Severe thunderstorms rapidly entered into
southern and central Iowa late in the afternoon of September 30th, producing a F2 tornado which tracked through Marion,
Jasper, Mahaska, and Poweshiek Counties. A second, weaker F1 tornado developed northwest of Malcom. Both tornadoes caused
extensive damage, totally destroying three barns. Wind gusts of 52 mph caused $3.0K in property damage 3 miles southeast
of Delphos.
April 17, 2008, 4:30 p.m. Ellston, Ringgold County: During the afternoon of April 17, thunderstorms
developed over southern Iowa, many of them producing pea-sized hailstones measuring around a quarter to a half-inch in
diameter. As the storms moved through Ringgold County, lightning struck a house in the Sun Valley Lake region, setting
it on fire, causing $25.0K in property damage.
April 25, 2008, 2:29 a.m. Ellston, Ringgold County: Thunderstorms erupting in the evening hours of
April 24th produced hailstorms with hailstones from 3/4- to 1-inch in diameter. Hailstones accumulated to 0.88-inches
3 miles southwest of Ellston, causing $1.0K in property damage.
SOURCES:
ggweather.com/glossary.htm
www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwEvent~Storms~IA~Ringgold
National Climatic Data Center
U.S. Department of Commerce
Written & submitted by Sharon R. Becker, September, 2008
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