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Wind in Polk County, Missouri
272 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, Missouri, has 272 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 43 different years.
May is the busiest month, with 53 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 182 events against 81 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.3% of the 21,755 wind events recorded in Missouri; its 42.8 per 100 square miles compares with 31.6 statewide.
200 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 16 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 Missouri
| Measure | Polk County | Missouri | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 272 | 21,755 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 42.8 | 31.6 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 84.9 | 35.3 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 49 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | May | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
9Mar
10Apr
28May
53Jun
49Jul
42Aug
32Sep
30Oct
8Nov
6Dec
4
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 155 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 272. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Sep 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $9K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Oct 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Sep 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Sep 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Sep 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Feb 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Feb 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Feb 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Feb 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Oct 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Sep 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | $35K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Dec 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Sep 2013 | Strong Wind | 55 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Feb 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Oct 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Oct 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Oct 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Sep 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Feb 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Feb 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Nov 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $7.0M | — | — | 1 | County |
| 22 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Sep 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Nov 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Sep 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $19K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 1 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $50K | $500 | — | 4 | County |
| 26 Apr 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Sep 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Polk County had?
272 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?
25 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 Polk County?
The thunderstorm wind of 8 May 2009, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $7.0M.
How does Polk County compare with Missouri for wind?
42.8 events per 100 square miles against 31.6 statewide; the county holds 272 of the state's 21,755 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.