A cold front blew through Iowa during the evening of October 3rd, and was accompanied by very strong non-thunderstorm winds. A strong surface pressure gradient, 50+ kt 850mb winds, and general subsidence, resulted in widespread wind gusts in excess of 40 mph and a small handful of wind gusts around 60 mph.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS DMX wrote it up.
A cold front blew through Iowa during the evening of October 3rd, and was accompanied by very strong non-thunderstorm winds. A strong surface pressure gradient, 50+ kt 850mb winds, and general subsidence, resulted in widespread wind gusts in excess of 40 mph and a small handful of wind gusts around 60 mph. Only minor damage was seen or reported.
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 3, 5:59 PM CST, 16 minutes earlier.
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</html>Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Des Moines IA 225 PM CDT Wed Oct 3 2018 IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>050-057>062-070>075- 081>086-092>097-032200- Emmet-Kossuth-Winnebago-Worth-Palo Alto-Hancock-Cerro Gordo- Pocahontas-Humboldt-Wright-Franklin-Butler-Bremer-Sac-Calhoun- Webster-Hamilton-Hardin-Grundy-Black Hawk-Crawford-Carroll-Greene- Boone-Story-Marshall-Tama-Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Polk-Jasper- Poweshiek-Cass-Adair-Madison-Warren-Marion-Mahaska-Adams-Union- Clarke-Lucas-Monroe-Wapello-Taylor-Ringgold-Decatur-Wayne- Appanoose-Davis- Including the cities of Estherville, Algona, Forest City, Lake Mills, Northwood, Manly, Emmetsburg, Garner, Britt, Kanawha, Mason City, Clear Lake, Pocahontas, Laurens, Rolfe, Fonda, Gilmore City, Humboldt, Eagle Grove, Clarion, Belmond, Hampton, Parkersburg, Clarksville, Shell Rock, Greene, Aplington, Allison, Dumont, Waverly, Sac City, Lake View, Odebolt, Wall Lake, Schaller, Early, Rockwell City, Manson, Lake City, Pomeroy, Fort Dodge, Webster City, Iowa Falls, Eldora, Ackley, Grundy Center, Reinbeck, Conrad, Dike, Wellsburg, Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Denison, Carroll, Jefferson, Boone, Ames, Marshalltown, Tama, Toledo, Traer, Dysart, Gladbrook, Audubon, Exira, Guthrie Center, Panora, Bayard, Casey, Perry, Waukee, Adel, Des Moines, Newton, Grinnell, Atlantic, Greenfield, Stuart, Adair, Fontanelle, Winterset, Earlham, Indianola, Norwalk, Carlisle, Pella, Knoxville, Oskaloosa, Corning, Creston, Osceola, Chariton, Albia, Ottumwa, Bedford, Lenox, New Market, Mount Ayr, Lamoni, Leon, Corydon, Seymour, Allerton, Humeston, Centerville, and Bloomfield 225 PM CDT Wed Oct 3 2018 ...GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS THIS AFTERNOON... Strong and gusty southwest winds around 25 to 35 mph with some gusts to 40 to 45 mph will be possible through 5 pm this afternoon. Winds will then shift around to the northwest and be gusty and potentially increase further tonight behind a cold front moving through the state. A Wind Advisory has been issued for much of the area for this evening into tonight. MJB
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Des Moines IA 229 PM CDT Wed Oct 3 2018 IAZ033>039-044>050-057>062-070>075-081>086-092>097-032145- Sac-Calhoun-Webster-Hamilton-Hardin-Grundy-Black Hawk-Crawford- Carroll-Greene-Boone-Story-Marshall-Tama-Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas- Polk-Jasper-Poweshiek-Cass-Adair-Madison-Warren-Marion-Mahaska- Adams-Union-Clarke-Lucas-Monroe-Wapello-Taylor-Ringgold-Decatur- Wayne-Appanoose-Davis- Including the cities of Sac City, Lake View, Odebolt, Wall Lake, Schaller, Early, Rockwell City, Manson, Lake City, Pomeroy, Fort Dodge, Webster City, Iowa Falls, Eldora, Ackley, Grundy Center, Reinbeck, Conrad, Dike, Wellsburg, Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Denison, Carroll, Jefferson, Boone, Ames, Marshalltown, Tama, Toledo, Traer, Dysart, Gladbrook, Audubon, Exira, Guthrie Center, Panora, Bayard, Casey, Perry, Waukee, Adel, Des Moines, Newton, Grinnell, Atlantic, Greenfield, Stuart, Adair, Fontanelle, Winterset, Earlham, Indianola, Norwalk, Carlisle, Pella, Knoxville, Oskaloosa, Corning, Creston, Osceola, Chariton, Albia, Ottumwa, Bedford, Lenox, New Market, Mount Ayr, Lamoni, Leon, Corydon, Seymour, Allerton, Humeston, Centerville, and Bloomfield 229 PM CDT Wed Oct 3 2018 ...HEAT AND HUMIDITY THIS AFTERNOON... Temperatures have risen into the mid 80s across much of central and southern Iowa this afternoon, along with dewpoints around 70 degrees. These values combine to produce heat index values of 85 to around 90 degrees. This could lead to dehydration and heat- related illnesses for those working outdoors or have outdoor activities this afternoon. Please drink lots of water and take breaks indoors if possible. MJB
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Mason City Municipal Airport recorded a 60 mph wind gust.
Four to 6 inch diameter tree limbs were down. The wind gusts were from convective showers without lightning.
Chariton Municipal Airport AWOS recorded a 58 mph wind gust.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Iowa in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, October 2018
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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 787214, 789924, 787216.