Puffy thunderheads from storms firing near Marshalltown March 31st 2014

Today was a very warm and very windy day across the area. It featured morning showers and storms, afternoon warmth and wind and evening storms that developed. High temperatures today were in the middle to upper 70s which was even warmer then yesterday. Making it the warmest day of the season by far. These temperatures were blown in a very strong southerly breezes that gusted to 45MPH at times. In the evening hours as a cold front went through a broken line of thunderstorms formed along it north of Des Moines towards Ames and Marshalltown, where a severe thunderstorm warning was issued. Then the line developed into a full lines east of Des Moines towards Pella and Knoxville. Small hail was reported NW of Marshalltown and in Pella as well as other areas. A strong wind gust of 54MPH was reported at Ames and 52MPH at Pella as a storms moved by. Des Moines metro area west was missed completely and only saw strong winds as the front passed. What is very interesting to note is the huge temperature gradient that occurred across the state as this significant weather system went through. At one point it was 77.F officially in Des Moines and 37.F at Omaha, Nebraska. When the cold front reached Des Moines the temperature from from 75.F to 61.F in just minutes. by 10pm it was in the upper 30s and we’ll cool all the way down to the upper 20s tonight. On the storms NW side a blizzard and winter storm is occurring in South Dakota and Northern Minnesota where temps cooled into the teens. Below is a list of highs and wind gusts seen.

Des Moines International 77.F 49MPH
 Fairmount Park 75.F
Ankeny 75.F 45MPH
Pella 75.F 52MPH ( Thunderstorm )
Knoxville 75.F 44MPH
Indianola 75.F
Waukee 75.F
Polk City 75.F
 Ames 74.F  54MPH ( Thunderstorm )
 Perry 74.F 48MPH
Marshalltown 72.F 48MPH
Boone 72.F 49MPH