Iowa, 1997

High Wind in Iowa, April 6, 1997

April 6, 1997 · NWS OAX · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

A strong low pressure system moved northeast from the central plains through northern Minnesota to eastern Canada. The tight pressure gradient between the low and a cold Canadian high pressure system which moved south into the plains behind the low generated very strong winds.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
8

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS OAX wrote it up.

A strong low pressure system moved northeast from the central plains through northern Minnesota to eastern Canada. The tight pressure gradient between the low and a cold Canadian high pressure system which moved south into the plains behind the low generated very strong winds. Winds gusted over 58 mph at many areas. Some trees were blown down and scattered power outages occurred.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Monona

When
April 6, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where
Monona forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
42.052, -95.960 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Harrison

When
April 6, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where
Harrison forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
41.683, -95.817 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Shelby

When
April 6, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where
Shelby forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
41.685, -95.310 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Pottawattamie

When
April 6, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where
Pottawattamie forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
41.337, -95.542 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Mills

When
April 6, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where
Mills forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
41.034, -95.621 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Montgomery

When
April 6, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where
Montgomery forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
41.030, -95.156 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Fremont

When
April 6, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where
Fremont forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
40.746, -95.605 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Page

When
April 6, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where
Page forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
40.739, -95.150 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Iowa in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, April 1997

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: 5594556, 5594557, 5594558, 5594559, 5594560, 5594561, 5594562, 5594563.