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Wind in Howard County, Iowa
130 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.
NCEI records 130 wind events in Howard County, Iowa, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 44 years.
June is the busiest month, with 31 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 69 events against 45 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 27.5 per 100 square miles compares with 37.3 statewide.
83 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 5 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 | Howard County | Iowa | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 130 | 20,854 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 27.5 | 37.3 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 137.2 | 65.3 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 25 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
2Mar
9Apr
9May
12Jun
31Jul
24Aug
14Sep
11Oct
6Nov
1Dec
10
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 130 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Mar 2026 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $60K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 60 mph | $25K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Sep 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | $65K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2016 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $200 | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Mar 2016 | Strong Wind | 48 mph | $200 | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Feb 2016 | Strong Wind | 48 mph | $500 | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Aug 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | $7.5M | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $12K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $740K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $12K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2010 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $70K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2010 | High Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | $5K | $15K | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $10K | $20K | — | 1 | County |
| 26 Oct 2008 | High Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $185K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Sep 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $75K | $10K | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | $3K | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Dec 2004 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | $4K | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $2K | $2K | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 94 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Oct 2001 | High Wind | 49 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Apr 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2001 | High Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $30K | $35K | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | $60K | $45K | — | — | County |
| 10 Nov 1998 | High Wind | 90 mph | $185K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $3K | $600 | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $200 | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $25K | $20K | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $85K | $35K | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $40K | $35K | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $12K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 1997 | High Wind | 64 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Apr 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Oct 1996 | High Wind | 60 mph | $100K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Aug 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1996 | High Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 92 mph | $50K | — | — | — | 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 |
| 9 Apr 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | $50K | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 98 mph | $500K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | $500 | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | $500 | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Oct 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Oct 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Mar 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 1971 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1971 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Sep 1965 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 1962 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Howard County had?
130 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 Howard County?
13 Mar 2026 (High Wind, 40 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Howard County?
The thunderstorm wind of 2 Sep 2011, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $0 and crop damage at $7.5M.
How does Howard County compare with Iowa for wind?
27.5 events per 100 square miles against 37.3 statewide; the county holds 130 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.