Damaging Winds in Iowa, June 14, 1998

Name: Damaging Winds in Iowa, June 14, 1998
Start: 1998-06-14T00:43
End: 1998-06-14T01:33
Location: Iowa

June 14, 1998 · NWS DMX · 4 events in 3 counties and zones

Intense low pressure was developing over the central high plains. The warm front was located to the south of Iowa with a 50 knot low level jet impinging in the front.

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: $140,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Events: 4

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.

Intense low pressure was developing over the central high plains. The warm front was located to the south of Iowa with a 50 knot low level jet impinging in the front. This set the stage for a good over running thunderstorm outbreak. A dryline formed over the western high plains and advanced east during the evening. Thunderstorms fired rapidly ahead of the dryline and moved into southwest Iowa. They did lose their punch as they moved north of the warm front however. High winds were the result as they entered Iowa. Winds of 70 MPH swept through New Market in Taylor County, knocking over trees and breaking power lines. One house was set on fire as the power line was pulled from the landing of the house and a fire started. Wind damage was also reported in Bedford in Taylor County, and also in Creston of Union County. One farm southwest of Diagonal in Ringgold County received significant damage as 75 MPH winds blasted the area.

The radar

The Omaha radar (KOAX), 139 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 06:41 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Taylor

When: June 14, 12:43 AM CST
Where: Taylor County, New Market
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 40.730, -94.900

Thunderstorm Wind, Ringgold

When: June 14, 1:00 AM CST
Where: Ringgold County, 3 mi SW of Diagonal
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph)
Property damage: $100,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 40.770, -94.370

Thunderstorm Wind, Taylor

When: June 14, 1:03 AM CST
Where: Taylor County, Bedford
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 40.670, -94.720

Thunderstorm Wind, Union

When: June 14, 1:33 AM CST
Where: Union County, Creston
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph)
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 41.070, -94.370

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, June 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: 5654072, 5654075, 5654073, 5654074.