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Wind in Decatur County, Iowa
131 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.
Decatur County, Iowa, has 131 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 39 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 40 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 57 events against 61 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.6% of the 20,854 wind events recorded in Iowa; its 24.6 per 100 square miles compares with 37.3 statewide.
98 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 11 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 | Decatur County | Iowa | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 131 | 20,854 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 24.6 | 37.3 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 171.0 | 65.3 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 25 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
4Feb
1Mar
11Apr
14May
16Jun
40Jul
14Aug
16Sep
10Oct
1Nov
1Dec
3
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 131 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 Sep 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Sep 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2025 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Apr 2025 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 2025 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2023 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 83 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $90K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Sep 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | $100K | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 77 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Sep 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | $100K | $50K | — | — | County |
| 26 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 43 mph | $25K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 41 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jan 2006 | High Wind | 43 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $25K | $1K | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $10K | $1K | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $10K | $1K | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $10K | $1K | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2004 | High Wind | 40 mph | $75K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Apr 2004 | High Wind | 40 mph | $80K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Mar 2002 | High Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Mar 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 82 mph | $5K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 8 Apr 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $25K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 7 Apr 2001 | High Wind | 58 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Sep 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | $5K | $1K | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | $1K | — | — | County |
| 8 Mar 2000 | High Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Nov 1998 | High Wind | 70 mph | $300K | $5K | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | $100K | $10K | — | — | County |
| 22 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | $150K | $10K | — | — | County |
| 22 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $25K | $3K | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 1998 | High Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Aug 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | $1K | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 1997 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Oct 1996 | High Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jul 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | $1K | — | — | County |
| 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 |
| 2 Sep 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $50K | $500 | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $50K | $500 | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $50K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1964 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 1961 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1959 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 1957 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 1956 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1956 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Decatur County had?
131 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 Decatur County?
17 Sep 2025 (Thunderstorm Wind, 71 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Decatur County?
The high wind of 10 Nov 1998, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $300K and crop damage at $5K.
How does Decatur County compare with Iowa for wind?
24.6 events per 100 square miles against 37.3 statewide; the county holds 131 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.