275
Recorded events
0
Direct deaths
2
Direct injuries
$3.7M
Property damage
Thunderstorm Wind in Buchanan County, Iowa: 275 recorded events between 1960 and 2026. The strongest on record measured 82. That places the county #557 nationally and #10 statewide for this hazard.
Decade by decade
Thunderstorm Wind in Buchanan County, Iowa: events per decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
The busiest decade for thunderstorm wind in Buchanan County is the 2010s, when 93 of the county's 275 recorded events were logged. Comparing decades is useful for spotting active periods, but the earliest years are thin because systematic reporting for this hazard began later.
Within the Buchanan County archive, thunderstorm wind makes up 46.0% of all recorded severe weather across 8 hazard types. Nationally the county sits at #557 for this hazard and #10 within Iowa, putting it in the 82.3 percentile of all U.S. counties.
Seasonality
Events by month
Jul is the peak month for thunderstorm wind in Buchanan County with 99 recorded events, while Jan is the quietest. Seasonality here is a property of the archive as much as the climate: reports cluster where population and spotter networks are densest.
Significant events
Deadliest on record
| Date | Location | Scale | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 21, 1997 | FAIRBANK | 60 | 0 | 1 | $0 |
| Aug 6, 1995 | Aurora | 50 | 0 | 1 | $20K |
Most recent
Latest recorded events
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 14, 2026 | THREE ELMS CO PARK | 78 | $0 |
| Aug 15, 2025 | INDEPENDENCE | 54 | $0 |
| Jul 30, 2025 | HAZLETON | 56 | $0 |
| Jul 30, 2025 | HAZLETON | 65 | $0 |
| Jul 30, 2025 | INDEPENDENCE | 65 | $0 |
| Jul 30, 2025 | LITTLETON | 65 | $0 |
| Jul 30, 2025 | JESUP | 65 | $0 |
| Jul 29, 2025 | INDEPENDENCE | 67 | $0 |
| Jul 29, 2025 | AURORA | 65 | $0 |
| Jul 29, 2025 | INDEPENDENCE | 70 | $0 |
Other hazards here
More from Buchanan County
- Hail 164
- Flash Flood 60
- Tornado 50
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
Severe thunderstorms blasted Buchanan county with 75 to 80 mph straight-line winds. Widespread damage was reported across the county. Three homes were completely destroyed, 75 farmsteads sustained $500 to $10,000 damage, 50 farmsteads had damage in the $10,000 to $100,000 range and 25 farmsteads sustained damages totaling $100,000 to $150,000. These figures included damage to hog houses, barns, grain bins and sheds, and also farm equipment damaged by the storm. Numerous large trees were destroyed including 46 trees at Cedar Crest Cemetery.
Wind gusts estimated to be around 80 mph caused widespread tree damage with tree limbs over 8 inches in diameter and trees over 3 feet in diameter blown down along a path from 2 miles south of Quasqueton, IA in Buchanan County, to Walker, IA in Linn County, along Highway W35 and Highway W6E to Center Point, IA in Linn County between 745 am and 830 am June 19. Some houses and many out buildings were damaged by falling trees. Power lines were also knocked down across much of the area. The end time of the damage was around 830 am.
Wind gusts estimated to be 75 mph blew down some two foot diameter trees and several 8 to 12 inch diameter tree limbs, ripped about 10 roofs off of some farm buildings, and blew down power lines in the vicinity of Rowley, IA around 1200 pm August 9. A power outage was also observed.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many thunderstorm wind events are on record in Buchanan County, Iowa?
275 thunderstorm wind events are recorded in Buchanan County between 1960 and 2026, causing 0 direct deaths.
What is the strongest thunderstorm wind recorded in Buchanan County?
The strongest thunderstorm wind on record in Buchanan County measured 82.
Where does the thunderstorm wind data for Buchanan County come from?
All events come from the NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, the federal public-domain archive of severe weather reports. Dates are UTC, damage is as reported and not inflation-adjusted, and the most recent entries may still be revised.
Cite this page
“Thunderstorm Wind in Buchanan County, Iowa.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/iowa/buchanan-county/thunderstorm-wind/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.