States › Iowa › Cherokee County › Wind
Wind in Cherokee County, Iowa
156 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.
Cherokee County, Iowa, has 156 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 46 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 32 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 85 events against 45 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.7% of the 20,854 wind events recorded in Iowa; its 27.0 per 100 square miles compares with 37.3 statewide.
101 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 19 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 | Cherokee County | Iowa | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 156 | 20,854 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 27.0 | 37.3 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 135.6 | 65.3 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 25 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
4Feb
5Mar
6Apr
12May
17Jun
32Jul
32Aug
18Sep
10Oct
4Nov
1Dec
15
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 156 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 May 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jan 2026 | Strong Wind | 30 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2025 | Strong Wind | 54 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 49 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Nov 2025 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2025 | Strong Wind | 33 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 May 2025 | High Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Mar 2025 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Mar 2025 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Feb 2025 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Dec 2024 | Strong Wind | 30 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Dec 2024 | Strong Wind | 41 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2023 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Feb 2023 | Strong Wind | 33 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 44 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Mar 2022 | Strong Wind | 36 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 100 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 45 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 96 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 96 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 100 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | $50K | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Dec 2016 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Feb 2016 | High Wind | 41 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Oct 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2010 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Sep 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Mar 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2008 | High Wind | 45 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2008 | High Wind | 70 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 98 mph | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2005 | High Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jan 2005 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Dec 2004 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Feb 2003 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2001 | High Wind | 67 mph | $100K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2000 | High Wind | 68 mph | $12K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Sep 1998 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jul 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Sep 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 1997 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Oct 1996 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Apr 1996 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Feb 1996 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $50K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | $50 | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Sep 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Sep 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 1961 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1957 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 1957 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 1957 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1957 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 1957 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Cherokee County had?
156 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 Cherokee County?
17 May 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 85 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Cherokee County?
The thunderstorm wind of 1 Aug 2006, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $200K.
How does Cherokee County compare with Iowa for wind?
27.0 events per 100 square miles against 37.3 statewide; the county holds 156 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.