States › Iowa › Polk County › Wind
Wind in Polk County, Iowa
769 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.
Polk County, Iowa, has 769 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 67 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 201 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 489 events against 195 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 3.7% of the 20,854 wind events recorded in Iowa; its 134.3 per 100 square miles compares with 37.3 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to damaging wind.
618 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 84 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 | Polk County | Iowa | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 769 | 20,854 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 134.3 | 37.3 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 15.5 | 65.3 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 25 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
7Feb
4Mar
22Apr
45May
123Jun
201Jul
170Aug
110Sep
58Oct
7Nov
11Dec
11
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 199 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 769. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | $700 | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 2025 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Dec 2024 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 78 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 77 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $1K | — | 1 | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | $150K | $50K | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | $75K | $50K | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | $250K | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 14 Apr 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 110 mph | $200K | $500K | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 98 mph | $150K | $250K | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $200K | $100K | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 86 mph | $100K | $100K | — | — | County |
| 27 Oct 2010 | High Wind | 62 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 84 mph | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | 3 | County |
| 26 Oct 2008 | High Wind | 69 mph | $100K | $25K | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $50K | $25K | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | $50K | $25K | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $50K | $25K | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $50K | $25K | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $50K | $10K | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $100K | $50K | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $50K | $25K | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2006 | High Wind | 40 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Jan 2006 | High Wind | 60 mph | $50K | — | — | 2 | Forecast zone |
| 12 Nov 2005 | High Wind | 66 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Dec 2004 | High Wind | 59 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Apr 2004 | High Wind | 64 mph | $75K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Apr 2004 | High Wind | 63 mph | $80K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Nov 2003 | High Wind | 58 mph | $300K | — | — | 1 | Forecast zone |
| 22 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 77 mph | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | $100K | $15K | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $100K | $15K | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 77 mph | $100K | $10K | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 77 mph | $100K | $10K | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $100K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Mar 2002 | High Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Sep 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $50K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | $150K | $15K | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $25K | $50K | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2001 | High Wind | 58 mph | $150K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 86 mph | $50K | $10K | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Nov 1998 | High Wind | 70 mph | $1.3M | $5K | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Aug 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 120 mph | $40M | — | — | 40 | County |
| 29 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 120 mph | $10M | $25K | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 100 mph | $4.0M | $200K | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 92 mph | $3.0M | $150K | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $2.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $2.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | $2.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 92 mph | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $120K | $20K | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | $75K | $3K | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 1998 | High Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $50K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Polk County had?
769 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 Polk County?
30 Jul 2025 (Thunderstorm Wind, 64 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Polk County?
The thunderstorm wind of 29 Jun 1998, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $40M.
How does Polk County compare with Iowa for wind?
134.3 events per 100 square miles against 37.3 statewide; the county holds 769 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.