84
Recorded events
1
Direct deaths
3
Direct injuries
$4.2M
Property damage
Thunderstorm Wind in Louisa County, Iowa: 84 recorded events between 1962 and 2026. The strongest on record measured 103. That places the county #2,409 nationally and #96 statewide for this hazard.
Decade by decade
Thunderstorm Wind in Louisa County, Iowa: events per decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
The busiest decade for thunderstorm wind in Louisa County is the 1990s, when 22 of the county's 84 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 Louisa County archive, thunderstorm wind makes up 34.0% of all recorded severe weather across 8 hazard types. Nationally the county sits at #2,409 for this hazard and #96 within Iowa, putting it in the 23.4 percentile of all U.S. counties.
Seasonality
Events by month
Jun is the peak month for thunderstorm wind in Louisa County with 22 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 29, 1998 | COUNTYWIDE | 70 | 1 | 1 | $1.0M |
| Feb 11, 1999 | LETTS | 63 | 0 | 2 | $20K |
Most recent
Latest recorded events
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 17, 2026 | WAPELLO | 52 | $0 |
| Apr 15, 2026 | LETTS | 56 | $0 |
| Apr 15, 2026 | FREDONIA | 56 | $0 |
| Jun 3, 2025 | NEWPORT | 65 | $0 |
| Mar 15, 2025 | COLUMBUS CITY | 54 | $0 |
| Jun 13, 2024 | OAKVILLE | 70 | $0 |
| Jun 13, 2024 | OAKVILLE | 70 | $0 |
| May 24, 2024 | COLUMBUS JCT | 61 | $0 |
| May 21, 2024 | GLADWIN | 61 | $0 |
| Apr 28, 2024 | LETTS | 51 | $0 |
Other hazards here
More from Louisa County
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
Bow echo entered Louisa County from Henry County and affected mainly the southern part of the county before crossing the Mississippi River into Illinois. Trees and power poles down were the primary damage but several homes and buildings were damaged by falling trees, had shingles removed, or suffered partial roof failure. A car dealership under construction at the junction of U.S. 61 and highway 78 was destroyed or 4.2 miles east of Morning Sun. Pictures indicate all the debris laying in one direction. However, the manager of a nearby convenience store reported seeing a funnel. Radar data is in conclusive but the location is on the leading edge of the squall line and is likely a gustnado. Based on radar, the following times are established (all CST); Morning Sun 1138-1148, 4.2E of Morning Sun 1143-1153, Oakville 1147-1157.
Widespread straight-line winds that produced damage were reported throughout Louisa County, associated with a derecho. These winds lasted around an hour in total at any one location, even though the initial line of storms moved out quickly. Damaging straight-line winds continued and were associated with the rear inflow jet. Maximum wind speeds were estimated to be around 60 MPH for much of the county. These estimates were determined based off damage reports and photos submitted through social media. The duration of strong winds caused extensive damage to a few trees and crops in their path.
Report was relayed by broadcast media. 12-inch tree broken off about a foot above the base. Open farm outbuilding destroyed. Pictures shared and show damage in one direction. Time of the event was estimated using radar.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many thunderstorm wind events are on record in Louisa County, Iowa?
84 thunderstorm wind events are recorded in Louisa County between 1962 and 2026, causing 1 direct deaths.
What is the strongest thunderstorm wind recorded in Louisa County?
The strongest thunderstorm wind on record in Louisa County measured 103.
Where does the thunderstorm wind data for Louisa 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 Louisa County, Iowa.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/iowa/louisa-county/thunderstorm-wind/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.