The seasons first strong push of cold air moved south into the central U.S. on the 26th.  A very strong upper level trough of low pressure aloft dropped south out of Saskatchewan accompanied by a strong upper level jet stream and a tropospheric fold.  As the cold air moved in, the atmosphere became adiabatic, creating a mixed layer, up to the 700 mb to 600 mb level.  The mixed layer contained very strong winds of 60 to 70 kts.  The downward momentum in the subsidence area behind a cold front that moved south across the area produced high winds over a large part of the state.  Most areas reported sustained winds of 40 to 45 MPH for several hours, with many areas reporting gusts of 60 to 65 MPH.  The highest gust was recorded in Polk County in West Des Moines with a gust of 69 MPH.  Some of the other higher gusts occurred in north central Iowa with a 68 MPH wind gust in Cerro Gordo County at Ventura, and in Polk County in Windsor Heights.  Scattered damage was reported around the state with numerous tree branches broken and some trees blown over.  Power was knocked out in several locations.  In the Des Moines metropolitan area, about 17,000 homes were without power at the height of the storm.  Power was out for 3 to 6 hours in most cases. Thousands of homes were without power for brief periods of time during the wind event.  In Black Hawk County, at Dunkerton, the high winds caused severe damage to a nearly completed new COOP with damage estimated over a million dollars.  The new COOP was under construction following the damage earlier in the spring as a tornado destroyed the old one.  There was some crop damage as well as the high winds caused lodging of some of the corn around the state as the harvest was not yet complete.  During the afternoon of the 26th, the high winds caused some travel problems as it was difficult to maintain control due to cross winds. The mile long bridge across the Saylorville Reservoir near Polk City, in Polk County, was closed for several hours due to the high winds for safety reasons.

High Wind in GREENE, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 09:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

High Wind in WEBSTER, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 09:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

High Wind in HUMBOLDT, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 09:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

High Wind in KOSSUTH, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 09:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 50.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

High Wind in HANCOCK, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 09:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

High Wind in HAMILTON, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 09:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

High Wind in WINNEBAGO, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 09:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 54.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Public

High Wind in WRIGHT, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 09:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in BUTLER, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 09:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

High Wind in GRUNDY, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 09:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

High Wind in MONROE, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 11:00:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

High Wind in LUCAS, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 11:00:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

High Wind in CLARKE, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 11:00:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

High Wind in UNION, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 11:00:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in SAC, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 09:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

High Wind in WORTH, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 09:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in CERRO GORDO, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 09:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 59.00 MG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in FRANKLIN, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 09:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in HARDIN, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 09:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in BOONE, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 09:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in STORY, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 09:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: ASOS

High Wind in BREMER, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 09:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

High Wind in CASS, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 10:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

High Wind in ADAIR, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 10:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in ADAIR, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 10:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in MADISON, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 10:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

High Wind in WARREN, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 10:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

High Wind in EMMET, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 09:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: ASOS

High Wind in PALO ALTO, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 09:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

High Wind in POCAHONTAS, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 09:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

High Wind in CALHOUN, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 09:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in CARROLL, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 09:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: AWOS

High Wind in CRAWFORD, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 09:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in AUDUBON, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 09:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

High Wind in GUTHRIE, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 09:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

High Wind in POLK, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 10:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 60.00 MG
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

High Wind in MARSHALL, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 10:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in JASPER, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 10:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

High Wind in MARION, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 10:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in BLACK HAWK, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 10:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 1.25M
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Significant wind damage occurred in Dunkerton, where a COOP was damaged.

High Wind in TAMA, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 10:30:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

High Wind in POWESHIEK, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 11:00:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

High Wind in MAHASKA, IOWA
From 26-OCT-08 11:00:00 to 26-OCT-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations