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Flood in Howard County, Iowa
34 floods and flash floods events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Flood, Flash Flood, Coastal Flood, Lakeshore Flood.
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.
NCEI records 34 flood events in Howard County, Iowa, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 17 years.
June is the busiest month, with 17 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 22 events against 12 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.5% of the 7,383 flood events recorded in Iowa; its 7.2 per 100 square miles compares with 13.2 statewide.
Compared with Iowa
| Measure | Howard County | Iowa | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flood events since 1950 | 34 | 7,383 | 183,559 |
| Per 100 square miles | 7.2 | 13.2 | 5.2 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 35.9 | 23.1 | 5.5 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 18 | 2,961 |
| Busiest month | June | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
0May
5Jun
17Jul
4Aug
4Sep
4Oct
0Nov
0Dec
0
Recorded events
All 34 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Jun 2024 | Flood | — | $40K | $10K | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2020 | Flash Flood | — | $5K | $175K | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2019 | Flash Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Sep 2019 | Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 2016 | Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2016 | Flood | — | $470K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2016 | Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2016 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2016 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2015 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2014 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2013 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2013 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2012 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Sep 2010 | Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2010 | Flood | — | $150K | $50K | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2008 | Flash Flood | — | $80K | $70K | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2008 | Flood | — | $750K | $1.0M | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 2007 | Flash Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 2007 | Flash Flood | — | $20K | $20K | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 2007 | Flood | — | $50K | $25K | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2004 | Flash Flood | — | $4K | $8K | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2004 | Flash Flood | — | $50K | $85K | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2002 | Flash Flood | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2000 | Flash Flood | — | $55K | $40K | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2000 | Flash Flood | — | $70K | $90K | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2000 | Flash Flood | — | $300K | $125K | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2000 | Flash Flood | — | $35K | $40K | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 1999 | Flash Flood | — | $275K | $90K | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1999 | Flood | — | $375K | $90K | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jun 1998 | Flash Flood | — | $20K | $30K | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1998 | Flash Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1998 | Flash Flood | — | $15K | $25K | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many flood events has Howard County had?
34 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of floods and flash floods became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded flood event in Howard County?
22 Jun 2024 (Flood). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging flood event recorded in Howard County?
The flood of 7 Jun 2008, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $750K and crop damage at $1.0M.
How does Howard County compare with Iowa for flood?
7.2 events per 100 square miles against 13.2 statewide; the county holds 34 of the state's 7,383 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 Flood hub and the county page.