Iowa, 2008

High Wind in Iowa, October 26, 2008

October 26, 2008 · NWS ARX · 5 events in 4 counties and zones

Low pressure moved across the northern Great Lakes on October 26, pulling a cold front across northeast Iowa. Strong winds accompanying the front gusted between 45 and 55 mph, although a 63 mph gust was recorded in St.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$10,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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.

Low pressure moved across the northern Great Lakes on October 26, pulling a cold front across northeast Iowa. Strong winds accompanying the front gusted between 45 and 55 mph, although a 63 mph gust was recorded in St. Ansgar (Mitchell County). There were some trees and power lines downed, mostly in locations west of Highway 63.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Mitchell

When
October 26, 2:21 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where
Mitchell forecast zone
Measured
55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$250
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
43.356, -92.789 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tree limbs were blown down in Osage.

High Wind, Floyd

When
October 26, 2:51 PM CST to 4:56 PM CST
Where
Floyd forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
43.060, -92.789 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Trees and power lines were down in Charles City.

High Wind, Floyd

When
October 26, 2:51 PM CST to 4:56 PM CST
Where
Floyd forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$750
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
43.060, -92.789 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A large tree limb was blown down onto a house in Nora Springs.

High Wind, Howard

When
October 26, 3:21 PM CST to 5:40 PM CST
Where
Howard forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$3,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
43.357, -92.317 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Power lines were down in Cresco.

High Wind, Chickasaw

When
October 26, 3:21 PM CST to 5:30 PM CST
Where
Chickasaw forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
43.060, -92.318 (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

More

Every storm in Iowa in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, October 2008

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 133534, 133530, 133532, 133528, 135946.