Iowa, 1997

Cold in Iowa, May 13, 1997

May 13, 1997 · NWS OAX · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

A record breaking late season cold snap generated the latest freeze on record over portions of southwest Iowa as temperatures dipped into the 26-32F degree range. Some minor crop and fruit tree damage resulted from the cold temperatures.

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.

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

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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 record breaking late season cold snap generated the latest freeze on record over portions of southwest Iowa as temperatures dipped into the 26-32F degree range. Some minor crop and fruit tree damage resulted from the cold temperatures. This was especially true in low lying areas since the cold air tended to drain into those areas. Damage was generally minor as many of the plants had just begun to emerge and were not particularly succeptible to the cold.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.

Cold/Wind Chill, Fremont

When
May 13, 1:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where
Fremont forecast zone
Coordinates
40.746, -95.605 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Harrison

When
May 13, 1:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where
Harrison forecast zone
Coordinates
41.683, -95.817 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Mills

When
May 13, 1:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where
Mills forecast zone
Coordinates
41.034, -95.621 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Monona

When
May 13, 1:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where
Monona forecast zone
Coordinates
42.052, -95.960 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Montgomery

When
May 13, 1:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where
Montgomery forecast zone
Coordinates
41.030, -95.156 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Page

When
May 13, 1:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where
Page forecast zone
Coordinates
40.739, -95.150 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Pottawattamie

When
May 13, 1:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where
Pottawattamie forecast zone
Coordinates
41.337, -95.542 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Shelby

When
May 13, 1:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where
Shelby forecast zone
Coordinates
41.685, -95.310 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Cold/Wind Chill
Cold or wind chill below warning criteria that caused deaths, injuries or damage.

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, May 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: 5606452, 5606453, 5606454, 5606455, 5606456, 5606457, 5606458, 5606459.