Iowa, 1998

Hail and Damaging Wind in Iowa, May 28, 1998

May 28, 1998 · NWS ARX · 12 events in 4 counties and zones

A funnel cloud was also sighted near Decorah.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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
$104,000
Crop damage
$130,000
Events
12

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 ARX wrote it up.

Storm spotters and law enforcement officials reported hail the size of dimes, quarters and even golf balls.A funnel cloud was also sighted near Decorah.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 hail, 1 funnel cloud, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Floyd

When
May 28, 3:20 PM CST
Where
Floyd County, Rockford
Measured
1 in hail
Crop damage
$25,000
Coordinates
43.050, -92.970

Hail, Floyd

When
May 28, 3:42 PM CST
Where
Floyd County, Floyd
Measured
1 in hail
Property damage
$22,000
Coordinates
43.130, -92.770

Hail, Chickasaw

When
May 28, 3:53 PM CST
Where
Chickasaw County, 5 mi NE of New Hampton
Measured
1 in hail
Crop damage
$30,000
Coordinates
43.120, -92.270

Hail, Winneshiek

When
May 28, 4:26 PM CST
Where
Winneshiek County, Calmar
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
43.180, -91.880

Hail, Winneshiek

When
May 28, 4:30 PM CST
Where
Winneshiek County, Spillville
Measured
0.75 in hail
Crop damage
$18,000
Coordinates
43.200, -91.970

Funnel Cloud, Winneshiek

When
May 28, 4:40 PM CST
Where
Winneshiek County, Decorah
Coordinates
43.291, -91.844 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Winneshiek

When
May 28, 4:45 PM CST
Where
Winneshiek County, Decorah
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$27,000
Coordinates
43.300, -91.800

Hail, Winneshiek

When
May 28, 4:50 PM CST
Where
Winneshiek County, Decorah
Measured
1 in hail
Crop damage
$30,000
Coordinates
43.300, -91.800

Hail, Winneshiek

When
May 28, 5:00 PM CST
Where
Winneshiek County, 4 mi NE of Decorah
Measured
1 in hail
Crop damage
$27,000
Coordinates
43.330, -91.750

Thunderstorm Wind, Winneshiek

When
May 28, 5:15 PM CST
Where
Winneshiek County, 3 mi E of Decorah
Measured
54 kt (62 mph)
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
43.300, -91.730

Hail, Winneshiek

When
May 28, 5:15 PM CST
Where
Winneshiek County, 3 mi E of Decorah
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$30,000
Coordinates
43.300, -91.730

Hail, Allamakee

When
May 28, 5:30 PM CST
Where
Allamakee County, 5 mi N of Waukon
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
43.330, -91.480

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Funnel Cloud
A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
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

More

Every storm in Iowa in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, May 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: 5642052, 5642053, 5642054, 5642055, 5642056, 5642057, 5642058, 5642059, 5642063, 5642060, 5642061, 5642062.