Summer Classic

This was the Storm Prediction Center's (SPC) convective outlook at 11:54 pm CDT, Wednesday, July 17, 2019. Much of the state of Iowa was in the yellow Slight Risk category. The classic formula for summer gust front storms was developing this day in the state: a cold front colliding with a warm sultry air environment. (At 12:15 pm, prior to the storm's arrival, temperatures hovered at about 86 degrees F. At 1:52 pm, after the storm had passed, it had dropped to 69 degrees F.)

On radar prior to 1:00 pm, a linear stretch of storms was bearing down on the Hiawatha/Cedar Rapids/Marion metro area, having originated in western Iowa earlier in the morning. All of the following images were captured from or near the intersection of Progress Drive and Martha's Way in Hiawatha, Iowa and were imaged by my iPhone 6-Plus camera. The above image looks west at the approaching storm at 1:05 pm.

Radar frame capture corresponding to 1:05 pm. The target icon shows my position to the storm, whose movement is indicated with arrows. The well-defined linear nature of the storm is evident.

1:06 pm. Panorama of the approaching storm, whose leading edge was only about 8-9 miles distant at this moment.

1:06 pm. Another panorama shot.

1:06 pm. Looking southwest. An area of the leading edge of the gust front appears almost vertical here as it was nearing my location.

1:07 pm. Turbulent appearing clouds thrashed by high winds as the front nears me from the west.

1:07 pm. Looking southwest. Front leader of gust front gobbling up the warm air as it plows east (left). Note the clouds indicating high wind and rain behind it (right).

1:08 pm. A look to the northeast down the other end of the line. Though never reaching severe levels at this location, high winds, heavy rain and lightning followed--in classic summertime fashion.