Iowa, 2010

High Wind in Iowa, October 26, 2010

October 26, 2010 · NWS DMX · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

A strong low pressure area developed over Kansas during the afternoon of the 25th. The low lifted north-northeast and intensified very rapidly to a record deep low pressure over southern Minnesota by the afternoon of the 26th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 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
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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

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 area developed over Kansas during the afternoon of the 25th. The low lifted north-northeast and intensified very rapidly to a record deep low pressure over southern Minnesota by the afternoon of the 26th. Central pressure dropped to around 955 mb as it reached northern Minnesota. Strong winds developed around the low on the 26th with sustained winds across the state of Iowa in the 30 to 35 MPH range, with gusts to around 50 MPH. The highest wind gusts recorded were in the Boone area, with a gust to 58 MPH during the early morning, and at the Estherville Airport with a gust of 58 MPH during the mid afternoon. The winds continued relatively strong into the night. Pressure gradients tightened overnight with another round of high winds working south toward Iowa. The stronger winds briefly moved into north central Iowa shortly before midnight, producing a 58 MPH wind gust at the Mason City Airport. Scattered reports of power outages were received, with about 200 customers out of power across the state. Damage was only very minor.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Des Moines, IA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Oct 26, 5:34 AM CST, 1 hour 23 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 26, 5:34 AM CST, 1 hour 23 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Oct 26, 4:07 AM CST, 2 hours 50 minutes before
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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Boone

When
October 26, 6:57 AM CST
Where
Boone forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
42.037, -93.932 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Emmet

When
October 26, 2:53 PM CST
Where
Emmet forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
43.378, -94.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Cerro Gordo

When
October 26, 10:32 PM CST
Where
Cerro Gordo forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
43.082, -93.261 (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 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, October 2010

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: 258348, 258350, 258545.