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Wind in Butler County, Iowa
173 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
Butler County, Iowa, has 173 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 46 different years.
May is the busiest month, with 40 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 90 events against 70 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.8% of the 20,854 wind events recorded in Iowa; its 29.8 per 100 square miles compares with 37.3 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to damaging wind.
124 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 20 reached hurricane force (74 mph).
Some winter weather and high wind events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county; zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county are included and marked "Forecast zone" in the table.
Compared with Iowa
| Measure | Butler County | Iowa | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 173 | 20,854 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 29.8 | 37.3 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 120.7 | 65.3 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 25 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | May | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
3Feb
4Mar
8Apr
15May
40Jun
39Jul
21Aug
18Sep
11Oct
4Nov
6Dec
4
Magnitude distribution
NWS wind thresholds
- under 58 mph
- below severe threshold
- 58–73 mph
- severe
- 74–95 mph
- hurricane-force
- 96 mph and over
- extreme
Wind speed converted from the knots NCEI records; estimated and measured gusts are combined. Events without a speed are not binned.
Recorded events
All 173 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 2025 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Feb 2025 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 41 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Sep 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Sep 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Sep 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 2019 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | $100K | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $60K | — | 1 | — | County |
| 17 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $100K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 17 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Sep 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Sep 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Sep 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Feb 2016 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Nov 2015 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $80K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $70K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | $15K | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $600K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 86 mph | $500K | $100K | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Oct 2010 | High Wind | 40 mph | $25K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Sep 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2008 | High Wind | 40 mph | $25K | $25K | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jan 2006 | High Wind | 43 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Nov 2005 | High Wind | 40 mph | $30K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Nov 2005 | High Wind | 40 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Sep 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $3K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 13 Sep 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 77 mph | $5K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2005 | High Wind | 58 mph | $20K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 May 2005 | High Wind | 40 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jan 2005 | High Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Dec 2004 | High Wind | 40 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Oct 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2004 | High Wind | 46 mph | $25K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Apr 2004 | High Wind | 40 mph | $75K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Apr 2004 | High Wind | 40 mph | $80K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Mar 2004 | High Wind | 41 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Nov 2003 | High Wind | 58 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Feb 2003 | High Wind | 60 mph | $7K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Jun 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2002 | High Wind | 58 mph | $75K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Apr 2002 | High Wind | 70 mph | $30K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Mar 2002 | High Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Dec 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Sep 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2001 | High Wind | 58 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | $1K | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2000 | High Wind | 60 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Mar 1999 | High Wind | 58 mph | $30K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Nov 1998 | High Wind | 70 mph | $300K | $5K | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $15K | $2K | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | $1K | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $75K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 1998 | High Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Aug 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $35K | $10K | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $25K | $2K | — | — | County |
| 5 May 1997 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Apr 1997 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Oct 1996 | High Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jun 1996 | High Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Apr 1996 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Mar 1996 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Feb 1996 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jan 1996 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Sep 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $25K | $3K | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | $500 | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $50K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 1976 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 1971 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Mar 1966 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 1964 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 1962 | Thunderstorm Wind | 86 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1959 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 1958 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Butler County had?
173 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of damaging wind became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded wind event in Butler County?
15 Aug 2025 (Thunderstorm Wind, 58 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Butler County?
The thunderstorm wind of 22 Jul 2011, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $500K and crop damage at $100K.
How does Butler County compare with Iowa for wind?
29.8 events per 100 square miles against 37.3 statewide; the county holds 173 of the state's 20,854 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Wind hub and the county page.