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Wind in Wapello County, Iowa

284 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.

284 events · 0 deaths recorded · peak month June · county share of state 1.4%

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Wind event locations in and around Wapello County. Dots: Wind event locations in the kept record. Boundaries: US Census Bureau.

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.

Wapello County, Iowa, has 284 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 64 different years.

June is the busiest month, with 102 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 142 events against 77 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.

The county holds 1.4% of the 20,854 wind events recorded in Iowa; its 65.8 per 100 square miles compares with 37.3 statewide.

220 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 39 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

MeasureWapello CountyIowaUS
Wind events since 195028420,854701,953
Per 100 square miles65.837.319.9
Per 10,000 residents80.665.321.1
Deaths recorded0252,166
Busiest monthJuneJuneJune

By year

195019882026
Wind events recorded in Wapello County per year, 1950 to 2026 (2026 is partial).

Seasonality

Jan
4
Feb
1
Mar
14
Apr
32
May
28
Jun
102
Jul
48
Aug
33
Sep
8
Oct
5
Nov
7
Dec
2
Wind events in Wapello County by month of occurrence, all years.

Magnitude distribution

under 58 mph62
58–73 mph181
74–95 mph38
96 mph and over1
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 162 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 284. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.

DateEvent typeMagnitudeProperty damageCrop damageDeathsInjuriesGeography
22 Jul 2025Thunderstorm Wind62 mph————County
20 Jul 2025Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$15K——2County
2 Apr 2025High Wind61 mph————Forecast zone
14 Mar 2025Thunderstorm Wind71 mph————County
5 Mar 2025High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
31 Jul 2024Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
30 Jul 2024Thunderstorm Wind74 mph————County
30 Jul 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
30 Jul 2024Thunderstorm Wind67 mph————County
7 May 2024Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
16 Apr 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
28 Jul 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
29 Jun 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
29 Jun 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
29 Jun 2023Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$10K———County
31 Mar 2023Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
5 Jul 2022Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
14 Apr 2022High Wind62 mph————Forecast zone
15 Dec 2021High Wind62 mph————Forecast zone
15 Dec 2021Thunderstorm Wind82 mph————County
24 Jun 2021Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
18 Jun 2021Thunderstorm Wind69 mph————County
23 Mar 2021Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
10 Aug 2020Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
20 Aug 2019Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
20 Jul 2019Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$2K———County
20 Jul 2019Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$2K———County
20 Jul 2019Thunderstorm Wind61 mph————County
28 Jun 2019Thunderstorm Wind61 mph————County
28 Jun 2019Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
28 Jun 2019Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$5K———County
28 Jun 2019Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$100K———County
15 Jun 2019Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
18 Sep 2018Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$15K———County
28 Aug 2018Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$5K———County
28 Aug 2018Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$100K———County
28 Aug 2018Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$2K———County
28 Aug 2018Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$10K———County
28 Aug 2018Thunderstorm Wind68 mph————County
19 Jul 2018Thunderstorm Wind71 mph————County
13 Jul 2018Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$5K———County
28 Jun 2018Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$30K———County
28 Jun 2018Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
28 Jun 2018Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
14 Jun 2018Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
14 Jun 2018Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$10K———County
14 Jun 2018Thunderstorm Wind61 mph————County
3 Jul 2017Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$5K———County
17 May 2017Thunderstorm Wind59 mph————County
6 Mar 2017Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$30K———County
6 Mar 2017Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
6 Mar 2017Thunderstorm Wind69 mph————County
6 Jul 2016Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$30K———County
6 Jul 2016Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$15K———County
11 Nov 2015Thunderstorm Wind59 mph————County
11 Nov 2015Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$15K———County
11 Nov 2015Thunderstorm Wind59 mph————County
28 Jul 2015Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$10K———County
28 Jul 2015Thunderstorm Wind59 mph————County
28 Jul 2015Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$15K———County
28 Jul 2015Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
28 Jul 2015Thunderstorm Wind69 mph$50K———County
28 Jul 2015Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$10K———County
24 Jul 2015Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$10K———County
20 Jun 2015Thunderstorm Wind92 mph$100K———County
20 Jun 2015Thunderstorm Wind86 mph$100K———County
20 Jun 2015Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$10K———County
20 Jun 2015Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
20 Jun 2015Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
20 Jun 2015Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$25K———County
20 Jun 2015Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
20 Jun 2015Thunderstorm Wind69 mph$20K———County
20 Jun 2015Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$25K———County
20 Jun 2015Thunderstorm Wind81 mph$20K———County
6 Jul 2014Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$1K———County
22 Jun 2014Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$5K$5K——County
11 May 2014Thunderstorm Wind87 mph$50K———County
11 May 2014Thunderstorm Wind81 mph$25K———County
11 May 2014Thunderstorm Wind85 mph$50K———County
27 Apr 2014Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$5K———County
27 Apr 2014Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
27 Apr 2014Thunderstorm Wind59 mph————County
27 Apr 2014Thunderstorm Wind86 mph$100K———County
27 Apr 2014Thunderstorm Wind91 mph$100K——10County
27 Apr 2014Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$10K———County
26 Jan 2014High Wind60 mph$25K———Forecast zone
19 Sep 2013Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$50K———County
19 May 2013Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$2K———County
19 May 2013Thunderstorm Wind63 mph$40K———County
19 May 2013Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$5K———County
19 May 2013Thunderstorm Wind63 mph$5K———County
17 Apr 2013Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
17 Apr 2013Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
16 Jun 2012Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$2K———County
16 Jun 2012Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$5K———County
16 Jun 2012Thunderstorm Wind62 mph$1K———County
16 Jun 2012Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$3K———County
16 Jun 2012Thunderstorm Wind66 mph$10K———County
16 Jun 2012Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$25K———County
16 Jun 2012Thunderstorm Wind62 mph————County
6 Aug 2011Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$5K———County
6 Aug 2011Thunderstorm Wind59 mph————County
6 Aug 2011Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$10K———County
26 Jun 2011Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$5K———County
13 Jun 2011Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$3K———County
29 May 2011Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$2K———County
29 May 2011Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$2K———County
26 Jun 2010Thunderstorm Wind62 mph$2K———County
22 Jun 2010Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$2K———County
18 Jun 2010Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$3K———County
1 Jun 2010Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$2K———County
1 Jun 2010Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$2K———County
1 Jun 2010Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$5K———County
1 Jun 2010Thunderstorm Wind66 mph$10K———County
1 Jun 2010Thunderstorm Wind61 mph$1K———County
23 Jun 2009Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$5K———County
23 Jun 2009Thunderstorm Wind81 mph$15K———County
23 Jun 2009Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$3K———County
19 Jun 2009Thunderstorm Wind68 mph$3K———County
19 Jun 2009Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$1K———County
18 Jun 2009Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$10K———County
27 Jul 2008Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$25K$5K——County
27 Jul 2008Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$10K———County
8 Jun 2008Thunderstorm Wind63 mph$10K———County
8 Jun 2008Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$10K———County
25 May 2008Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$10K———County
22 Jun 2007Thunderstorm Wind62 mph$20K———County
24 Jan 2006High Wind43 mph$10K———Forecast zone
8 Jun 2005High Wind58 mph$20K———Forecast zone
8 Jun 2005Thunderstorm Wind66 mph$10K———County
8 Jun 2005Thunderstorm Wind66 mph$10K———County
22 Jan 2005High Wind43 mph$10K———Forecast zone
14 Jun 2004Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$25K$2K——County
17 May 2004Thunderstorm Wind79 mph$50K———County
12 Nov 2003High Wind58 mph$50K———Forecast zone
25 Aug 2003Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$5K$20K——County
25 Aug 2003Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$10K———County
14 May 2003Thunderstorm Wind68 mph$15K———County
1 Oct 2002Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$50K$5K——County
24 Apr 2002Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$25K———County
9 Mar 2002High Wind—$50K———Forecast zone
24 Jul 2001Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$10K$2K——County
14 Jun 2001Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$10K———County
7 Apr 2001High Wind58 mph$50K———Forecast zone
25 Jun 2000Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$15K$2K——County
13 Jun 2000Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$15K$1K——County
1 Jun 2000Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$15K———County
1 Jun 2000Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$10K———County
8 Mar 2000High Wind60 mph$10K———Forecast zone
6 Jun 1999Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$25K———County
10 Nov 1998High Wind70 mph$600K$5K——Forecast zone
29 Jun 1998Thunderstorm Wind71 mph$25K$3K——County
29 Jun 1998Thunderstorm Wind66 mph$10K$1K——County
15 May 1998Thunderstorm Wind67 mph$30K———County
12 Apr 1998High Wind—$50K———Forecast zone
30 Mar 1998Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$10K———County
21 Jun 1997Thunderstorm Wind79 mph$100K$10K——County
21 Jun 1997Thunderstorm Wind66 mph$35K$5K——County
30 Apr 1997High Wind60 mph$100K———Forecast zone
5 Apr 1997Thunderstorm Wind63 mph$20K———County
24 May 1996Thunderstorm Wind69 mph$30K———County
9 May 1996Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$30K———County

Questions and answers

How many wind events has Wapello County had?

284 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 Wapello County?

22 Jul 2025 (Thunderstorm Wind, 62 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.

What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Wapello County?

The high wind of 10 Nov 1998, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $600K and crop damage at $5K.

How does Wapello County compare with Iowa for wind?

65.8 events per 100 square miles against 37.3 statewide; the county holds 284 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.