High Wind in Iowa, April 12, 1998

Name: High Wind in Iowa, April 12, 1998
Start: 1998-04-12T08:00
End: 1998-04-12T16:00
Location: Iowa

April 12, 1998 · NWS DMX · 51 events in 51 counties and zones

Low pressure intensified over central South Dakota during the day. The pressure gradient was very strong across Iowa.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 51 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $2.5 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 51

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 DMX wrote it up.

Low pressure intensified over central South Dakota during the day. The pressure gradient was very strong across Iowa. Upper air soundings taken at 0600 CST indicated winds of 70 to 75 kts over Iowa between 3000 and 5000 feet above the ground. During the day, strong winds mixed toward the surface with sustained wind speeds in the 25 to 40 MPH range by shortly after sunrise. Winds continued to increase with mid day winds sustained in the 30 to 40 MPH range, with frequent gusts over 50 MPH. Some of the strongest winds included a 62 MPH wind gust at Storm Lake and Mason City. Winds gusted to 60 MPH at Carroll and 59 MPH at Ottumwa. Many areas of the state reported winds of 55 MPH or greater. Scattered light damage was received from around the state. Some tree limbs were lost with local power outages.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

51 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Adair

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Adair forecast zone
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph)
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 41.331, -94.471 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Adams

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Adams forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 41.029, -94.699 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Appanoose

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Appanoose forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 40.743, -92.869 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Audubon

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Audubon forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 41.685, -94.906 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Black Hawk

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Black Hawk forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 42.470, -92.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Boone

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Boone forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 42.037, -93.932 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Bremer

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Bremer forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 42.775, -92.318 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Butler

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Butler forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 42.732, -92.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Calhoun

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Calhoun forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 42.385, -94.640 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Carroll

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Carroll forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 42.036, -94.861 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Cass

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Cass forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 41.332, -94.928 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Cerro Gordo

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Cerro Gordo forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 43.082, -93.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Clarke

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Clarke forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 41.029, -93.785 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Crawford

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Crawford forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 42.037, -95.382 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Dallas

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Dallas forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 41.685, -94.040 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Davis

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Davis forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 40.748, -92.410 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Decatur

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Decatur forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 40.738, -93.786 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Emmet

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Emmet forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 43.378, -94.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Franklin

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Franklin forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 42.733, -93.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Greene

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Greene forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 42.036, -94.397 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Grundy

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Grundy forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 42.402, -92.791 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Guthrie

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Guthrie forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 41.684, -94.501 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Hamilton

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Hamilton forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 42.384, -93.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Hancock

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Hancock forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 43.082, -93.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Hardin

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Hardin forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 42.384, -93.240 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Humboldt

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Humboldt forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 42.777, -94.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Jasper

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Jasper forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 41.686, -93.054 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Kossuth

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Kossuth forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 43.204, -94.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Lucas

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Lucas forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 41.029, -93.328 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Madison

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Madison forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 41.331, -94.016 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Mahaska

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Mahaska forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 41.335, -92.641 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Marion

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Marion forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 41.334, -93.099 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Marshall

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Marshall forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 42.036, -92.999 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Monroe

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Monroe forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 41.030, -92.869 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Palo Alto

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Palo Alto forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 43.082, -94.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Pocahontas

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Pocahontas forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 42.734, -94.679 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Polk

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Polk forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 41.686, -93.573 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Poweshiek

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Poweshiek forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 41.686, -92.531 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Ringgold

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Ringgold forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 40.735, -94.244 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Sac

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Sac forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 42.386, -95.105 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Story

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Story forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 42.036, -93.465 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Tama

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Tama forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 42.080, -92.532 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Taylor

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Taylor forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 40.737, -94.696 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Union

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Union forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 41.028, -94.242 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Wapello

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Wapello forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 41.031, -92.409 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Warren

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Warren forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 41.334, -93.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Wayne

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Wayne forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 40.740, -93.327 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Webster

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Webster forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 42.428, -94.182 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Winnebago

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Winnebago forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 43.378, -93.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Worth

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Worth forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 43.377, -93.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Wright

When: April 12, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Wright forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 42.733, -93.735 (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

Every storm in Iowa in 1998 Every state in 1998 This day in weather history Warnings in Iowa, April 1998

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: 5641631, 5641632, 5641633, 5641634, 5641635, 5641636, 5641637, 5641638, 5641639, 5641640, 5641641, 5641642, 5641643, 5641644, 5641645, 5641646, 5641647, 5641648, 5641649, 5641743, 5641744, 5641745, 5641746, 5641747, 5641748, 5641749, 5641750, 5641751, 5641752, 5641753, 5641754, 5641755, 5641756, 5641757, 5641758, 5641759, 5641760, 5641761, 5641762, 5641763, and more.