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Wind in O'Brien County, Iowa
211 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.
O'Brien County, Iowa, has 211 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 54 different years.
July is the busiest month, with 43 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 92 events against 77 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1% of the 20,854 wind events recorded in Iowa; its 36.8 per 100 square miles compares with 37.3 statewide.
133 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 27 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 | O'Brien County | Iowa | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 211 | 20,854 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 36.8 | 37.3 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 150.6 | 65.3 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 25 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | July | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
4Feb
6Mar
6Apr
16May
29Jun
40Jul
43Aug
38Sep
13Oct
5Nov
2Dec
9
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 174 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 211. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Mar 2026 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Feb 2026 | High Wind | 41 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2026 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2025 | Strong Wind | 54 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Nov 2025 | Strong Wind | 54 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2025 | Strong Wind | 48 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 May 2025 | High Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Mar 2025 | Strong Wind | 52 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Feb 2025 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Dec 2024 | Strong Wind | 33 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Dec 2024 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Nov 2024 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2024 | Strong Wind | 53 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 2024 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2023 | Strong Wind | 55 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Feb 2023 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | — | $5K | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | — | $230K | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | $2K | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 44 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Mar 2022 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Sep 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $350K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Sep 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | $20K | — | — | County |
| 17 Sep 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Dec 2016 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Feb 2016 | High Wind | 41 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 96 mph | $1.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2010 | High Wind | 60 mph | $4K | — | — | 1 | Forecast zone |
| 22 Sep 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2008 | High Wind | 40 mph | $20K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2005 | High Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jan 2005 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Dec 2004 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Mar 2004 | High Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Aug 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Feb 2003 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2002 | High Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2001 | High Wind | 67 mph | $100K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Apr 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2000 | High Wind | 68 mph | $12K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Oct 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | $500 | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $50K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | $50 | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | $50 | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | $500 | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $500K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $50K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $50K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Sep 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 78 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Oct 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1971 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 1967 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 1963 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has O'Brien County had?
211 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 O'Brien County?
15 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 O'Brien County?
The thunderstorm wind of 22 Jun 2015, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $1.0M.
How does O'Brien County compare with Iowa for wind?
36.8 events per 100 square miles against 37.3 statewide; the county holds 211 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.