Wind events in Palo Alto County, Iowa The wind events on record, by date and by year
This page is a county record of past events and claims. It does not show the flood zone or the risk of an address. For the flood map of an address, use FEMA's address search (opens in a new tab).
NCEI has 146 wind events on record for Palo Alto County, Iowa, from 1955 through 30 Jun 2026.
The newest wind event on record is on 28 Jul 2025.
From 2016 through 2025, NCEI has 33 wind events on record for the county.
The NWS collects event reports from a variety of sources, which include (but are not limited to): county, state, and federal emergency management officials, local law enforcement officials, SKYWARN spotters, NWS damage surveys, newspaper clipping services, the insurance industry, and the general public, among others.
The National Weather Service reports property and crop damage estimates using available data at the time of event reporting. These values should therefore be considered broad estimates. Damage amounts are not adjusted for inflation.
Zone (NWS Forecast Zone): A zone is a geographic area defined by the NWS for issuing forecasts, watches, and warnings. While zones often align with counties, they can also represent smaller or subdivided areas within a county to account for differences in weather conditions, such as elevation or proximity to water. Larger-scale events—such as heat, cold, drought, and winter storms—are typically recorded by zone.
The words of the agency. Source: NOAA NCEI, Storm Events Database, page "Frequently Asked Questions", copied on .
Date of the data: NCEI storm events through . Event types on this page: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.
Newest wind events on record
Thunderstorm Wind72 mph (63 knots, measured gust)
1 mile E of FAIRVILLE
Thunderstorm Wind62 mph (54 knots, measured gust)
2 miles NNE of RUTHVEN. Damage estimate: $50 thousand
Thunderstorm Wind70 mph (61 knots, measured gust)
3 miles ENE of RODMAN
Thunderstorm Wind67 mph (58 knots, measured gust)
4 miles NE of EMMETSBURG
Thunderstorm Wind60 mph (52 knots, estimated gust)
1 mile E of EMMETSBURG
High Wind40 mph (35 knots, estimated sustained wind)
On record for the forecast zone
High Wind63 mph (55 knots, measured gust)
On record for the forecast zone
High Wind40 mph (35 knots, measured sustained wind)
On record for the forecast zone
Thunderstorm Wind58 mph (50 knots, estimated gust)
1 mile SW of WEST BEND
Thunderstorm Wind59 mph (51 knots, measured gust)
At AYRSHIRE
Thunderstorm Wind58 mph (50 knots, estimated gust)
1 mile NE of GRAETTINGER
High Wind58 mph (50 knots, estimated gust)
On record for the forecast zone
High Wind41 mph (36 knots, measured sustained wind)
On record for the forecast zone
Thunderstorm Wind70 mph (61 knots, estimated gust)
1 mile NNW of OSGOOD. Damage estimate: $25 thousand
Thunderstorm Wind70 mph (61 knots, estimated gust)
3 miles ESE of RUTHVEN. Damage estimate: $500 thousand
High Wind64 mph (56 knots, estimated gust)
On record for the forecast zone
Thunderstorm Wind58 mph (50 knots, estimated gust)
3 miles N of OSGOOD
Thunderstorm Wind58 mph (50 knots, estimated gust)
2 miles NE of GRAETTINGER
High Wind58 mph (50 knots, estimated gust)
On record for the forecast zone
Thunderstorm Wind60 mph (52 knots, estimated gust)
2 miles NNE of RUTHVEN
High Wind59 mph (51 knots, estimated gust)
On record for the forecast zone
Thunderstorm Wind60 mph (52 knots, measured gust)
3 miles ESE of EMMETSBURG
Thunderstorm Wind60 mph (52 knots, estimated gust)
1 mile SE of EMMETSBURG. Damage estimate: $5 thousand
Thunderstorm Wind60 mph (52 knots, estimated gust)
1 mile N of MALLARD. Damage estimate: $20 thousand
Thunderstorm Wind60 mph (52 knots, estimated gust)
1 mile W of CURLEW. Damage estimate: $20 thousand
A place is the text of the NCEI record: a distance and a direction from a reference place. The site does not show a place text that names a private property or reads as a person. Wind speed is in miles per hour, with the knots that NCEI gives.
Wind events by year
| Decade | Year that ends in 0 | Year that ends in 1 | Year that ends in 2 | Year that ends in 3 | Year that ends in 4 | Year that ends in 5 | Year that ends in 6 | Year that ends in 7 | Year that ends in 8 | Year that ends in 9 | All |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| 1970s | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 1980s | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| 1990s | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 34 |
| 2000s | 9 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 42 |
| 2010s | 5 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 33 |
| 2020s | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 (part of the year) | 18 |
A darker cell has a larger count. The number is in each cell.
Thunderstorm wind events are on record from 1955. High wind and strong wind events are on record from 1996. The year 2026 has the events through 30 Jun 2026 only.
By month, all years
- Jan6 events
- Feb4 events
- Mar7 events
- Apr14 events
- May15 events
- Jun35 events
- Jul19 events
- Aug23 events
- Sep6 events
- Oct8 events
- Nov4 events
- Dec5 events
Magnitudes on record
| Wind speed | Level | Events |
|---|---|---|
| under 58 mph | below severe threshold | 48 |
| 58 to 73 mph | severe | 87 |
| 74 to 95 mph | hurricane-force | 9 |
| 96 mph and over | extreme | 0 |
Magnitude for wind speeds (e.g., 81 kts, where 1 kt = 1.152 mph) can be estimated by damage caused or measured by official NWS-approved calibrated anemometers. Common measurement types include Measured Gust (MG), Measured Sustained (MS), Estimated Gust (EG), or Estimated Sustained (ES).
The table has the events with a speed in the record. NCEI gives the speed in knots; 1 knot is 1.151 miles per hour.
Beside the other counties
| Measure | Palo Alto | All counties of Iowa | All counties of the United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events, 1955 to 2026 | 146 | 20,783 | 637,939 |
| Events for each 100 square miles | 25.9 | 37.2 | 18.1 |
| Events for each 10,000 residents | 163.9 | 65.1 | 19.2 |
The columns for the state and the United States total the counties. They count the events of each county in the same way as the county column. A forecast zone with another name than a county counts for the state only.
More wind events on record
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Damage estimate | Deaths | Injuries | On record for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $20 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| High Wind | 58 mph | none | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $120 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County | |
| High Wind | 40 mph | none | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| High Wind | 40 mph | none | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $30 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $25 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County | |
| High Wind | 40 mph | $5 thousand | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| High Wind | 44 mph | $10 thousand | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $60 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| High Wind | 70 mph | $150 thousand | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $25 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $20 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $15 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | $15 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $15 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| High Wind | 40 mph | $50 thousand | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| High Wind | 40 mph | $25 thousand | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| High Wind | 43 mph | $10 thousand | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| High Wind | 40 mph | $50 thousand | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $5 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | $5 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County | |
| High Wind | 40 mph | $10 thousand | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| High Wind | 40 mph | $50 thousand | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| High Wind | 46 mph | $10 thousand | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| High Wind | 40 mph | $75 thousand | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| High Wind | 40 mph | $80 thousand | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| High Wind | 58 mph | $50 thousand | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| High Wind | 40 mph | $25 thousand | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| High Wind | 60 mph | $5 thousand | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| High Wind | 60 mph | $5 thousand | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $20 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| High Wind | 70 mph | $75 thousand | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| High Wind | 58 mph | $75 thousand | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| High Wind | not recorded | $50 thousand | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| High Wind | 75 mph | $75 thousand | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $45 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $7 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $60 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $55 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $30 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| High Wind | 58 mph | $50 thousand | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| High Wind | 58 mph | $30 thousand | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| High Wind | 70 mph | $305 thousand | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $6 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $15 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | $30 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | $11 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| High Wind | not recorded | $50 thousand | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| High Wind | 60 mph | $16 thousand | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| High Wind | 60 mph | none | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| High Wind | 63 mph | none | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| High Wind | 62 mph | none | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| High Wind | 66 mph | none | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| High Wind | 60 mph | none | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| High Wind | 62 mph | none | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| High Wind | 64 mph | none | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| High Wind | 63 mph | none | 0 | 0 | Forecast zone | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $16 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $50 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $70 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $35 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $501 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $50 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $51 thousand | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 78 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County | |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | none | 0 | 0 | County |
The table has all other events on record. A damage figure is an estimate in the NCEI record.
Official channels
- NCEI Storm Events Database (opens in a new tab)Search the full NCEI record by state, county and date.
- National Weather Service: Des Moines, IA (opens in a new tab)The forecast office that issues the weather warnings for the county.
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center: Search By Address (opens in a new tab)Search an address to see its flood map. This site has no flood-zone data.
These links open the pages of the agencies. The site checked the links on .
Cite this page
County Hazards. "Wind events on record for Palo Alto County, Iowa". https://countyhazards.com/county/ia/palo-alto/wind/. Data: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database through 30 Jun 2026. Page made on .
Questions
- Which month has the most wind events on record for Palo Alto County?
- June has 35 of the 146 wind events on record from 1955 through 30 Jun 2026.
- How many wind events are on record for Iowa?
- NCEI has 20,854 wind events on record for Iowa from 1955 through 30 Jun 2026. That count has every forecast zone of the state.
- How does Palo Alto County compare with the other counties of Iowa?
- The counties of Iowa have 37.2 wind events for each 100 square miles. Palo Alto County has 25.9.
- How fast is the wind on record for Palo Alto County?
- 96 wind events have a speed of 58 mph or more. 9 events have a speed of 74 mph or more.