High Wind in Iowa

Events

2,700

Deaths

2

Injuries

22

Damage

$75 million

• Tornadoes and Hail in Iowa, April 9, 2011$19 million · EF4 · 29 eventsA very dynamic weather pattern set up over the central U.S. during the day on the 9th. A deep trough formed aloft over the southeast U.S. with a strong southwest flow setting up over Iowa at all levels.
• Tornadoes and Hail in Iowa, December 15 to 16, 2021$7.1 million · EF2 · 182 eventsDecember 15, 2021 was an unprecedented and historic event for the state of Iowa and the central US.
• High Wind in Iowa, November 10, 19981 death · $18 million · 61 kt wind · 51 eventsIowa experienced the worst November storm system since the great storm of 9 and 10 November 1975. During the 9th, low pressure developed over southeast Colorado. The low moved across Kansas during the afternoon and evening of the 9th and deepened to about 990 mb.
• Tornado and Flash Flooding in Iowa, May 26 to 27, 20131 death · $2.3 million · EF0 · 32 eventsThe continued series of thunderstorms moved across Iowa during the afternoon of the 26th and through the overnight hours of the 26th into the 27th. A stationary front remained in place from central Nebraska into northern Missouri.
• Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Iowa, December 15 to 16, 2021$4.0 million · EF2 · 69 eventsAn unprecedented storm system lifted across the central Plains from December 15 into the early hours of December 16. Kinematic fields were at the top of the climatological distributions, leading to extreme wind shear in the lowest levels.
• High Wind in Iowa, May 30, 20031 death · $700,000 · 50 kt wind · 28 eventsAn intense late May low pressure dropped southeast across northern Minnesota into southern Wisconsin during the afternoon hours. The low took on the characteristics of an Alberta Clipper as it dropped to around 993 mb during the afternoon hours.
• Tornadoes and Hail in Iowa, March 31, 2023$2.1 million · EF2 · 64 eventsAn intense storm system tracked across the state of Iowa on Friday, March 31st. This system pulled unseasonably warm and moist conditions into the Midwest, which coupled with a very favorable wind profile and created quite the volatile environment for severe thunderstorms.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Iowa, May 6 to 7, 2007$5.4 million · EF2 · 41 eventsA very strong upper level low pressure trough had carved out over the western U.S. Iowa was in the strong southwest flow on the front side of this system. A surface warm front lifted north into southwest Iowa during the evening of the 5th.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Iowa, May 24 to 25, 20041 injured · $3.2 million · F0 · 119 eventsOnce again it was a very active severe weather day over Iowa. The frontal system that had moved through the state on the night of the 22nd was returning north as a warm front. This time Iowa did not get completely into the warm sector.
• Tornadoes and Hail in Iowa, April 9, 2011$1.3 million · EF2 · 45 eventsThunderstorms produced widespread severe weather in northwest Iowa during the evening of April 9th, beginning at the end of the afternoon.
• Tornado and Flash Flooding in Iowa, June 26 to 27, 2011$3.7 million · EF1 · 77 eventsA dynamic pattern was once again in place over the central U.S. A strong surge of moisture took place during the day on the 26th, with precipitable water values rising to over 2 inches by evening.
• High Wind in Iowa, April 7, 20014 injured · $3.2 million · 72 kt wind · 51 eventsA powerful storm system lifted northeast out of the Rockies during the night of the 6th into the morning of the 7th. The storm intensified rapidly as it moved across the central U.S. with the central pressure falling below 980 Mb during the day on the 7th.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Iowa, June 5 to 6, 20082 injured · $1.2 million · EF1 · 57 eventsA very dynamic weather situation unfolded during the 5th into the 6th. Although the atmosphere was summer like in the lower elevations, the upper levels were more typical of April.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Iowa, June 23, 2009$1.1 million · 1.75 in hail · 95 eventsA very unstable airmass was in place over Iowa during the afternoon of the 23rd. Surface temperatures soared to the low to mid 90s in most areas, with dew point temperatures in the upper 70s to mid 80s.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Iowa, June 11, 2004$877,000 · F1 · 70 eventsA very unstable situation took shape over Iowa during the day on the 11th. A nearly stationary frontal boundary extended nearly east to west across the state along U.S. Highway 20, or roughly from Fort Dodge to Waterloo.
• High Wind in Iowa, November 12, 20032 injured · $2.6 million · 55 kt wind · 45 eventsAn intensifying low pressure system moved southeast across southern Minnesota into the lower Great Lakes. As the storm passed Iowa, strong subsidence took place. A tropospheric fold reached below 700 mb in the wake of the storm, enhancing the wind.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Iowa, July 22, 2013$1.3 million · 2 in hail · 70 eventsA cold front moved into Iowa during the afternoon from the northwest. The airmass became very unstable ahead of the front. Temperatures rose into the upper 80s to low 90s, with dewpoint readings in the upper 60s to lower 70s.
• High Wind in Iowa, April 27, 2004$3.5 million · 56 kt wind · 47 eventsAn intense low pressure moved across the northern tier of states during the day on the 27th. Very strong south-southwest winds developed with profilers indicating wind of 50 to 65 kts within the lowest range gates.
• High Wind in Iowa, April 18, 2004$3.6 million · 57 kt wind · 45 eventsA warm front lifted north across the state during the previous night. At the same time, intense low pressure formed to the west of Iowa and tracked northeast through South Dakota into Minnesota.
• High Wind in Iowa, April 12, 1998$2.5 million · 54 kt wind · 51 eventsLow pressure intensified over central South Dakota during the day. The pressure gradient was very strong across Iowa. Upper air soundings taken at 0600 CST indicated winds of 70 to 75 kts over Iowa between 3000 and 5000 feet above the ground.
• High Wind in Iowa, March 9, 2002$2.5 million · 54 kt wind · 51 eventsIntense low pressure located northeast of Iowa, combined with high pressure building into the area produced a very strong pressure gradient across the state. The low pressure deepened to below 990 mb as it approached Lake Superior during the afternoon.
• High Wind in Iowa, October 26, 2008$3.5 million · 60 kt wind · 43 eventsThe seasons first strong push of cold air moved south into the central U.S. on the 26th. A very strong upper level trough of low pressure aloft dropped south out of Saskatchewan accompanied by a strong upper level jet stream and a tropospheric fold.
• High Wind in Iowa, April 6, 1997$1.8 million · 55 kt wind · 51 eventsThe storm system that moved through Iowa the day before was located to the north of the state on the morning of the 6th. High winds developed in the wake of the deepening storm system. Central pressure of the storm was below 975 mb at the time.
• High Wind in Iowa, January 24, 20062 injured · $550,000 · 60 kt wind · 51 eventsAn intense low pressure moved southeast out of northern Alberta during the night of the 23rd and early morning of the 24th. The low tracked southeast across Lake Winnipeg early on the 24th and was over Lake Superior during the afternoon of the 24th.
• High Wind in Iowa, November 12 to 13, 2005$1.9 million · 57 kt wind · 39 eventsAs the low pressure system mentioned in the narrative above liftednortheast, a cold front swept through the state. In the wake of thefront, strong subsidence took place and very strong winds were mixeddown in the dry slot behind the front.

High Wind everywhereEvery kind of event in Iowa

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.