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Wind in Washington County, Iowa
188 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.
Washington County, Iowa, has 188 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 45 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 42 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 106 events against 63 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.9% of the 20,854 wind events recorded in Iowa; its 33.1 per 100 square miles compares with 37.3 statewide.
144 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 26 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 | Washington County | Iowa | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 188 | 20,854 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 33.1 | 37.3 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 83.6 | 65.3 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 25 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
2Mar
14Apr
21May
38Jun
42Jul
42Aug
17Sep
5Oct
3Nov
3Dec
0
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
All 188 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 78 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 77 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 86 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Sep 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2011 | High Wind | 64 mph | $200 | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2010 | Strong Wind | 48 mph | $50 | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2009 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2008 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Aug 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | $6K | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | $6K | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | $3K | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jan 2006 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Aug 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $1K | $10K | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Oct 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $50K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $50K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Feb 2003 | High Wind | 43 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Mar 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Mar 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2001 | Strong Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Feb 2001 | High Wind | 54 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Sep 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | $1.0M | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Nov 1998 | High Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 123 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 96 mph | $21M | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Sep 1997 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 1997 | High Wind | 58 mph | $100K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Apr 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Oct 1996 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 92 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 104 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Mar 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Nov 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 1968 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1967 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 1964 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Washington County had?
188 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 Washington County?
11 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 60 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Washington County?
The thunderstorm wind of 29 Jun 1998, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $21M.
How does Washington County compare with Iowa for wind?
33.1 events per 100 square miles against 37.3 statewide; the county holds 188 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.