From NWS
2003: A complex of severe thunderstorms produced widespread straight line wind damage across central, eastern, and southeastern Iowa during the afternoon and evening hours. The most severe winds struck areas around Davenport, where the National Weather Service forecast office experienced wind gusts estimated in excess of 90 mph which peeled back about a third of the roof of the building. There were also numerous reports of power lines and trees down along with some damage to homes and other structures.

1950: Unseasonably cool weather sent the temperature plummeting down to 30 F at Britt and Sibley tying the all-time Iowa August record which in previous years had been set a full ten days later on the 30th. At Des Moines the temperature reached 40 F tying the August record at that location. Other low temperatures around the state included 31 F at Decorah, 32 F at Clarion and Saratoga, and 33 F at Atlantic, Inwood, Sheldon, and Waterloo.

20 August 1886 → A hurricane completely destroyed the town of Indianola, TX. After being wiped out, the town was not rebuilt. 20 August 1971 → Heavy rains caused severe flooding in North Vietnam, killing 100,000.

Posted under Weather History