States › Iowa › Des Moines County › Wind
Wind in Des Moines County, Iowa
257 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.
Des Moines County, Iowa, has 257 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 53 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 87 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 167 events against 66 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.2% of the 20,854 wind events recorded in Iowa; its 61.8 per 100 square miles compares with 37.3 statewide.
197 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 30 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 | Des Moines County | Iowa | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 257 | 20,854 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 61.8 | 37.3 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 66.8 | 65.3 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 25 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
2Mar
20Apr
21May
29Jun
87Jul
28Aug
38Sep
15Oct
6Nov
7Dec
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
The 197 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 257. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 86 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 77 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Nov 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Nov 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Nov 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Sep 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Nov 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Sep 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Sep 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Sep 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Sep 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2010 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Apr 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2007 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jan 2006 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Sep 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $60K | $25K | — | — | County |
| 29 Oct 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $3K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $3K | $2K | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $70K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Sep 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | $2.0M | — | — | County |
| 11 Sep 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Feb 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 1997 | High Wind | 54 mph | $100K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Aug 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $75K | $2K | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $30K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | $1K | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $75K | $1K | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Mar 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Oct 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Mar 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Des Moines County had?
257 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 Des Moines County?
17 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 58 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Des Moines County?
The thunderstorm wind of 11 Sep 2000, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $0 and crop damage at $2.0M.
How does Des Moines County compare with Iowa for wind?
61.8 events per 100 square miles against 37.3 statewide; the county holds 257 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.