The situation with the hail damage to crops in north central Iowa is becoming clearer. On Aug. 9, 2009 an intense storm travelled approximately 150 miles from western Sac and Ida counties to eastern Grundy County. The hail swath was about ten miles wide, between Highways I-175 and US-20, with three miles in the middle being almost completely lost. The stones were large, which created major damage to both plants and developing grain. Earlier storms in northeast Iowa also created large losses but the grain itself was less developed.