Lightning in Palo Alto County, Iowa

Strong warm air advection took place across Iowa during the overnight hours of the 10th into the morning of the 11th. CAPE increased to over 3000 J/kg as the lifted index fell to around -7. A strong low level jet of 50 to 60 kts was in place over the state. Thunderstorms formed initially over Kansas, then spread northeast into western Iowa. A wind gust of 65 MPH occurred in Bedford as the storms passed. Mainly, the storms produced very heavy rainfall. In Taylor County, an inch of rain fell in 30 minutes at Gravity. For the most part, the storms produced wind gusts of 30 to 45 MPH and pea to marble size hail. Flash flooding occurred in Crawford County as heavy rains caused the water to rise over the top of U.S. Highway 30. Rainfall of nearly 2 inches in less than an hour caused flash flooding in Bedford. Lightning struck a 20 year old male that was working with his father in their yard, killing him.