Tornadoes and Hail in Iowa, July 28, 1986

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in Iowa, July 28, 1986
Start: 1986-07-28T18:02
End: 1986-07-28T23:55
Location: Iowa

July 28, 1986 · NWS DSM · 73 events in 37 counties and zones

59 thunderstorm wind, 8 hail, 6 tornado, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 1
Property damage: $501 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 73

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

Event by event

59 thunderstorm wind, 8 hail, 6 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Woodbury

When: July 28, 6:02 PM CST
Where: Woodbury County
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 42.400, -96.380

Thunderstorm Wind, Sioux

When: July 28, 6:20 PM CST
Where: Sioux County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 43.230, -96.170

Tornado, Clay

When: July 28, 6:35 PM CST
Where: Clay County
Rating: F1
Path length: 1 mi
Path width: 40 yd
Property damage: $250,000
Coordinates: 43.030, -95.280

Thunderstorm Wind, Sioux

When: July 28, 6:35 PM CST
Where: Sioux County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 43.070, -95.880

Tornado, O'Brien

When: July 28, 6:38 PM CST
Where: O'Brien County
Rating: F1
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 13 yd
Property damage: $25,000
Coordinates: 43.180, -95.870

Tornado, Woodbury

When: July 28, 6:49 PM CST
Where: Woodbury County
Rating: F4
Path length: 11.5 mi
Path width: 73 yd
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $250 million
Coordinates: 42.420, -96.380

Thunderstorm Wind, O'Brien

When: July 28, 7:00 PM CST
Where: O'Brien County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 43.080, -95.570

Hail, Buena Vista

When: July 28, 7:03 PM CST
Where: Buena Vista County
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Coordinates: 42.870, -95.150

Tornado, Monona

When: July 28, 7:11 PM CST
Where: Monona County
Rating: F4
Path length: 1 mi
Path width: 73 yd
Property damage: $250 million
Coordinates: 42.180, -96.230

Hail, Pocahontas

When: July 28, 7:15 PM CST
Where: Pocahontas County
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 42.850, -94.850

Hail, Pocahontas

When: July 28, 7:15 PM CST
Where: Pocahontas County
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 42.880, -94.630

Thunderstorm Wind, O'Brien

When: July 28, 7:15 PM CST
Where: O'Brien County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 42.970, -95.500

Thunderstorm Wind, Cherokee

When: July 28, 7:23 PM CST
Where: Cherokee County
Measured: 69 kt (79 mph)
Coordinates: 42.750, -95.550

Thunderstorm Wind, Buena Vista

When: July 28, 7:25 PM CST
Where: Buena Vista County
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Coordinates: 42.780, -94.950

Hail, Woodbury

When: July 28, 7:29 PM CST
Where: Woodbury County
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Coordinates: 42.500, -96.380

Thunderstorm Wind, Buena Vista

When: July 28, 7:29 PM CST
Where: Buena Vista County
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates: 42.650, -95.200

Thunderstorm Wind, Pocahontas

When: July 28, 7:30 PM CST
Where: Pocahontas County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 42.730, -94.670

Thunderstorm Wind, O'Brien

When: July 28, 7:30 PM CST
Where: O'Brien County
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Coordinates: 43.180, -95.480

Tornado, Calhoun

When: July 28, 7:47 PM CST
Where: Calhoun County
Rating: F2
Path length: 4 mi
Path width: 150 yd
Property damage: $250,000
Coordinates: 42.550, -94.680

Hail, Woodbury

When: July 28, 7:50 PM CST
Where: Woodbury County
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 42.500, -96.380

Thunderstorm Wind, Pocahontas

When: July 28, 7:53 PM CST
Where: Pocahontas County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 42.630, -94.600

Thunderstorm Wind, Webster

When: July 28, 7:55 PM CST
Where: Webster County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 42.580, -94.350

Thunderstorm Wind, Humboldt

When: July 28, 8:00 PM CST
Where: Humboldt County
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates: 42.720, -94.220

Tornado, Crawford

When: July 28, 8:05 PM CST
Where: Crawford County
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.2 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Coordinates: 42.070, -95.600

Hail, Woodbury

When: July 28, 8:10 PM CST
Where: Woodbury County
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 42.400, -96.380

Thunderstorm Wind, Sac

When: July 28, 8:10 PM CST
Where: Sac County
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates: 42.420, -95.000

Thunderstorm Wind, Calhoun

When: July 28, 8:10 PM CST
Where: Calhoun County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 42.400, -94.630

Thunderstorm Wind, Webster

When: July 28, 8:15 PM CST
Where: Webster County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 42.500, -94.180

Thunderstorm Wind, Webster

When: July 28, 8:20 PM CST
Where: Webster County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 42.370, -94.300

Thunderstorm Wind, Webster

When: July 28, 8:30 PM CST
Where: Webster County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 42.370, -94.050

Thunderstorm Wind, Carroll

When: July 28, 8:30 PM CST
Where: Carroll County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 42.070, -94.880

Thunderstorm Wind, Sac

When: July 28, 8:30 PM CST
Where: Sac County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 42.280, -95.100

Thunderstorm Wind, Hamilton

When: July 28, 8:45 PM CST
Where: Hamilton County
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph)
Coordinates: 42.250, -93.930

Thunderstorm Wind, Greene

When: July 28, 9:00 PM CST
Where: Greene County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 42.030, -94.230

Thunderstorm Wind, Hamilton

When: July 28, 9:00 PM CST
Where: Hamilton County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 42.470, -93.820

Thunderstorm Wind, Boone

When: July 28, 9:00 PM CST
Where: Boone County
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Coordinates: 42.030, -93.970

Thunderstorm Wind, Boone

When: July 28, 9:10 PM CST
Where: Boone County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 41.880, -93.850

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When: July 28, 9:16 PM CST
Where: Polk County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 41.830, -93.720

Thunderstorm Wind, Dallas

When: July 28, 9:17 PM CST
Where: Dallas County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 41.770, -93.830

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When: July 28, 9:20 PM CST
Where: Polk County
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph)
Coordinates: 41.600, -93.720

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When: July 28, 9:27 PM CST
Where: Polk County
Measured: 69 kt (79 mph)
Coordinates: 41.650, -93.470

Thunderstorm Wind, Story

When: July 28, 9:28 PM CST
Where: Story County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 42.020, -93.450

Thunderstorm Wind, Warren

When: July 28, 9:32 PM CST
Where: Warren County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 41.500, -93.500

Thunderstorm Wind, Jasper

When: July 28, 9:40 PM CST
Where: Jasper County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 41.670, -93.250

Thunderstorm Wind, Audubon

When: July 28, 9:40 PM CST
Where: Audubon County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 41.580, -94.880

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When: July 28, 9:44 PM CST
Where: Polk County
Measured: 58 kt (67 mph)
Coordinates: 41.530, -93.670

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When: July 28, 9:48 PM CST
Where: Polk County
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Coordinates: 41.670, -93.530

Thunderstorm Wind, Jasper

When: July 28, 9:50 PM CST
Where: Jasper County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 41.720, -92.920

Thunderstorm Wind, Marshall

When: July 28, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Marshall County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 41.930, -93.100

Thunderstorm Wind, Warren

When: July 28, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Warren County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 41.470, -93.420

Thunderstorm Wind, Marion

When: July 28, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Marion County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 41.470, -93.320

Thunderstorm Wind, Marion

When: July 28, 10:15 PM CST
Where: Marion County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 41.320, -93.100

Thunderstorm Wind, Poweshiek

When: July 28, 10:20 PM CST
Where: Poweshiek County
Measured: 69 kt (79 mph)
Coordinates: 41.750, -92.730

Thunderstorm Wind, Marion

When: July 28, 10:30 PM CST
Where: Marion County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 41.400, -93.070

Thunderstorm Wind, Mahaska

When: July 28, 10:30 PM CST
Where: Mahaska County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 41.470, -92.670

Thunderstorm Wind, Poweshiek

When: July 28, 10:35 PM CST
Where: Poweshiek County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 41.580, -92.530

Hail, Adair

When: July 28, 10:36 PM CST
Where: Adair County
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 41.300, -94.530

Thunderstorm Wind, Poweshiek

When: July 28, 10:38 PM CST
Where: Poweshiek County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 41.730, -92.450

Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe

When: July 28, 10:40 PM CST
Where: Monroe County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 41.130, -92.680

Thunderstorm Wind, Marion

When: July 28, 10:45 PM CST
Where: Marion County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 41.180, -92.970

Thunderstorm Wind, Wapello

When: July 28, 10:48 PM CST
Where: Wapello County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 41.170, -92.630

Thunderstorm Wind, Poweshiek

When: July 28, 10:50 PM CST
Where: Poweshiek County
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Coordinates: 41.580, -92.530

Thunderstorm Wind, Mahaska

When: July 28, 10:55 PM CST
Where: Mahaska County
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Coordinates: 41.500, -92.470

Thunderstorm Wind, Keokuk

When: July 28, 10:55 PM CST
Where: Keokuk County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 41.330, -92.200

Thunderstorm Wind, Wapello

When: July 28, 11:00 PM CST
Where: Wapello County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 41.020, -92.400

Thunderstorm Wind, Appanoose

When: July 28, 11:15 PM CST
Where: Appanoose County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 40.850, -92.820

Thunderstorm Wind, Jefferson

When: July 28, 11:15 PM CST
Where: Jefferson County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 41.000, -91.980

Thunderstorm Wind, Davis

When: July 28, 11:25 PM CST
Where: Davis County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 40.750, -92.200

Thunderstorm Wind, Van Buren

When: July 28, 11:28 PM CST
Where: Van Buren County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 40.880, -91.930

Thunderstorm Wind, Henry

When: July 28, 11:45 PM CST
Where: Henry County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 40.970, -91.550

Thunderstorm Wind, Lee

When: July 28, 11:48 PM CST
Where: Lee County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 40.650, -91.550

Thunderstorm Wind, Van Buren

When: July 28, 11:48 PM CST
Where: Van Buren County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 40.700, -91.780

Thunderstorm Wind, Lee

When: July 28, 11:55 PM CST
Where: Lee County
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 40.400, -91.380

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Iowa in 1986 Every state in 1986 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Iowa, 1986 Warnings in Iowa, July 1986

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 10013174, 10013175, 10013176, 10013177, 10013178, 10013179, 10013180, 10013181, 10013182, 10013183, 10013184, 10013185, 10013186, 10013187, 10013188, 10013189, 10013190, 10013191, 10013192, 10013193, 10013194, 10013195, 10013196, 10013197, 10013198, 10013199, 10013200, 10013201, 10013202, 10013203, 10013204, 10013205, 10013206, 10013207, 10013208, 10013209, 10013210, 10013211, 10013212, 10013213, and more.