High Wind in Iowa, March 17, 1999

Name: High Wind in Iowa, March 17, 1999
Start: 1999-03-17T12:00
End: 1999-03-17T18:00
Location: Iowa

March 17, 1999 · NWS DMX · 27 events in 27 counties and zones

S. states during the night of the 16th through the day of the 17th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 27 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: $890,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 27

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 strong low pressure system moved across the northern tier of U.S. states during the night of the 16th through the day of the 17th. The low pressure had considerable support aloft and deepened considerably as it moved across northern Minnesota and the upper Great Lakes. At the same time, Iowa was in the southwest quadrant of the upper low which placed the state in the subsidence area. Gusty winds began in the morning and by noon winds gusts were reaching 45 MPH or more over much of the north half of the state. Through the middle of the afternoon winds were sustained in the 35 to 45 MPH range with frequent gusts in the 50 to 55 MPH range. The highest official wind gust came from Mason City with a 58 MPH wind gust. Spotty damage was reported around the state, including an overturned truck in Story County near Ames. Fortunately, the leaves were not yet on the trees. This fact helped minimize damage around the state.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

27 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Black Hawk

When: March 17, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Black Hawk forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $45,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.470, -92.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Boone

When: March 17, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Boone forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.037, -93.932 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Bremer

When: March 17, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Bremer forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.775, -92.318 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Butler

When: March 17, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Butler forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.732, -92.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Calhoun

When: March 17, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Calhoun forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.385, -94.640 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Carroll

When: March 17, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Carroll forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.036, -94.861 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Cerro Gordo

When: March 17, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Cerro Gordo forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 43.082, -93.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Crawford

When: March 17, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Crawford forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.037, -95.382 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Emmet

When: March 17, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Emmet forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 43.378, -94.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Franklin

When: March 17, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Franklin forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.733, -93.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Greene

When: March 17, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Greene forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.036, -94.397 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Grundy

When: March 17, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Grundy forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.402, -92.791 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Hamilton

When: March 17, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Hamilton forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.384, -93.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Hancock

When: March 17, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Hancock forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 43.082, -93.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Hardin

When: March 17, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Hardin forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.384, -93.240 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Humboldt

When: March 17, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Humboldt forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.777, -94.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Kossuth

When: March 17, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Kossuth forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 43.204, -94.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Marshall

When: March 17, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Marshall forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.036, -92.999 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Palo Alto

When: March 17, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Palo Alto forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 43.082, -94.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Pocahontas

When: March 17, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Pocahontas forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.734, -94.679 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Sac

When: March 17, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Sac forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.386, -95.105 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Story

When: March 17, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Story forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.036, -93.465 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Tama

When: March 17, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Tama forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.080, -92.532 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Webster

When: March 17, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Webster forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 42.428, -94.182 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Winnebago

When: March 17, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Winnebago forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 43.378, -93.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Worth

When: March 17, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Worth forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 43.377, -93.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Wright

When: March 17, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Wright forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
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 1999 Every state in 1999 This day in weather history Warnings in Iowa, March 1999

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: 5682361, 5682362, 5682363, 5682364, 5682365, 5682366, 5682367, 5682368, 5682369, 5682370, 5682371, 5682372, 5682373, 5682374, 5682375, 5682376, 5682377, 5682378, 5682379, 5682380, 5682381, 5682382, 5682383, 5682384, 5682385, 5682386, 5682387.