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Wind in Lee County, Iowa
249 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.
Lee County, Iowa, has 249 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 56 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 88 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 132 events against 84 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 48.1 per 100 square miles compares with 37.3 statewide.
192 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 34 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 | Lee County | Iowa | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 249 | 20,854 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 48.1 | 37.3 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 75.0 | 65.3 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 25 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
4Mar
16Apr
26May
21Jun
88Jul
50Aug
18Sep
12Oct
4Nov
5Dec
4
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 190 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 249. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Oct 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 100 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 100 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 100 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Nov 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Nov 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Sep 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2019 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Dec 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Nov 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 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 |
| 7 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Sep 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $200 | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jan 2006 | Strong Wind | 54 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Sep 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $15K | $6K | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $12K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 8 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $250K | $40K | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $250K | $10K | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $60K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $50K | $10K | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $50K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $500K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | $100K | $10K | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $60K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $60K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $50K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $50K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 11 Sep 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | $1.0M | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Feb 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 11 Feb 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Oct 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 1997 | High Wind | 58 mph | $100K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Apr 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | $50 | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 76 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Sep 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 1967 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 1967 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Apr 1967 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 1966 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 1965 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 1964 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 1959 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 1958 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Lee County had?
249 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 Lee County?
17 Apr 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 64 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Lee County?
The thunderstorm wind of 11 Sep 2000, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $0 and crop damage at $1.0M.
How does Lee County compare with Iowa for wind?
48.1 events per 100 square miles against 37.3 statewide; the county holds 249 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.