Damaging Winds in Iowa, July 18, 1998

Name: Damaging Winds in Iowa, July 18, 1998
Start: 1998-07-18T22:25
End: 1998-07-18T22:50
Location: Iowa

July 18, 1998 · NWS DMX · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

A very stable airmass was located over iowa. A warm front extended from eastern South Dakota, southeast across southwest Iowa, into Missouri.

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

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $205,000
Crop damage: $35,000
Events: 2

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.

A very stable airmass was located over iowa. A warm front extended from eastern South Dakota, southeast across southwest Iowa, into Missouri. Moisture pooled near the warm front with dew point temperatures in the mid 70s to low 80s quite common. A short wave dropped southeast through the Dakotas and set off thunderstorm development to the northwest of Iowa. As the mesoscale convective system advanced southeast, high winds entered northwest Iowa. Winds around 90 MPH ripped through the town of Estherville in Emmet County. The winds tore the roof off of a D.O.T. garage and partially destroyed a downtown business. The storms continued to move southeast, but weakened rapidly as they did. In Kossuth County, gusty winds caused tree damage in many areas of the county and flattened several corn stands.

The radar

The Sioux Falls radar (KFSD), 153 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:23 UTC.

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Event by event

2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Emmet

When: July 18, 10:25 PM CST
Where: Emmet County, Estherville
Measured: 78 kt (90 mph)
Property damage: $200,000
Crop damage: $25,000
Coordinates: 43.420, -94.850

Thunderstorm Wind, Kossuth

When: July 18, 10:50 PM CST
Where: Kossuth County, Algona
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 43.070, -94.230

What these are

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.

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, July 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: 5653365, 5653366.