From NWS
1998: Slow moving thunderstorms produced very heavy rain and flooding particularly across southwestern Iowa. At Atlantic 13.18 inches of rain was recorded which is the highest official 24-hour total in state history and led to record flooding along the East Nishnabotna River.

1974: Severe thunderstorms struck portions of the eastern half of Iowa, including the Des Moines metro area where hail as large as golf balls and strong straight line winds produced extensive damage around Urbandale, Johnston, Ankeny, Berwick, and Altoona.

1885: Severe thunderstorms struck portions of northwestern Iowa around midnight on June 14-15, producing at least one destructive tornado, widespread severe straight line wind damage, and flooding in some areas. The storm moved in from the west northwest, striking Sioux City and LeMars around 11 pm. A powerful tornado produced a swath of heavy destruction through LeMars and surrounding areas, resulting in at least a dozen fatalities. Local press reported that “the two elevators, depots, mill and about fifty homes and buildings were destroyed and the lumber yards cover the entire town.” At Sioux City the storm produced very strong straight line winds, inflicting significant damage across the entire city. Dozens of homes and businesses had their roofs torn off or walls blown in. A railroad barge on the Missouri River went to the bottom, with the engineer aboard barely managing to escape in time. Further north and east, around Hospers and over in Cherokee county, the wind damage was not as significant but very heavy rainfall produced widespread flooding and washed out bridges.

14 June 1903 → The “Heppner Disaster” occurred in Oregon and is the state’s deadliest weather catastrophe. Thunderstorms in the hills sent a flood down Willow Creek, and a 40 foot wall of water swept away a third of the town in minutes, killing 247 residents and causing 100 million dollars damage. There are no rainfall data available for this storm because the weather observing station was completely destroyed, drowning the observer and his entire family. 14 June 1957 → An F4 tornado moved across the south and southeast sides of Springfield, IL. The tornado destroyed 25 homes and severely damaged 175 others; property damage was around $3 million. On the north side of town the storms produced a wind gust of 98 mph at Capital Airport, which still stands as Springfield’s record wind speed. Two people died during the storm, with over 50 injured. 14 June 1990 → One of Ohio’s deadliest flash floods struck the valley community ofShadyside when three to five inches of rain fell in less than two hours. Two creeks in the area roared out of their banks and took the lives of 26 people, as well as 80 homes.

Posted under Weather History