Thunderstorm Wind, Cerro Gordo
- When
- October 4, 10:59 PM CST to 11:10 PM CST
- Where
- Cerro Gordo County, Mason City
- Measured
- 54 kt (62 mph)
- Property damage
- $15,000
- Crop damage
- $1,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 43.150, -93.200
Damaging Wind in Iowa, October 4, 1998
A vigorous storm system was located over south central South Dakota during the evening hours of the 4th. A low level jet of 40 to 50 knots was in place over Iowa.
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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $15,000
- Crop damage
- $1,000
- Events
- 1
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 vigorous storm system was located over south central South Dakota during the evening hours of the 4th. A low level jet of 40 to 50 knots was in place over Iowa. This drew moist and unstable air over the top of a cold dome of air at the surface. Thunderstorms erupted and produced widespread heavy rainfall, for October, over a large part of the state. Though gusty winds were reported with most of the storms, severe weather was limited. High winds buffeted Cerro Gordo County as the storms passed. Actually, the winds were more in the wake of the storms rather than with the leading edge. It appears the rear inflow jet mixed into the low levels to cause winds in the 55 to 65 MPH range. Numerous trees were downed in the Mason City area as the winds swept through.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
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
- Flash Flooding in Missouri, October 4 to 5, 1998
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Oklahoma, October 4 to 5, 1998
- Flash Flooding in Kansas, October 4 to 5, 1998
- Tornadoes and Hail in Oklahoma, October 4 to 5, 1998
- Flash Flooding in Kansas, October 4 to 5, 1998
- Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Oklahoma, October 4 to 5, 1998
- Flash Flooding in Missouri, October 4 to 6, 1998
- Flash Flooding in Kansas, October 4 to 6, 1998
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Nebraska, October 4, 1998
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Kansas, October 4 to 31, 1998
- Tornadoes and Damaging Wind in Kansas, October 4, 1998
- Blizzard in Wyoming, October 4 to 5, 1998
More
Every storm in Iowa in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, October 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: 5669732.