Strong Wind — Pottawattamie, Iowa

2026-01-16 · Pottawattamie, Iowa

Event narrative

A semi truck traveling southwest on Interstate 80 lost control in the wind and was blown over, resulting in one indirect fatality. The highest measured wind gust in the county was 51 mph measured by the KCBF AWOS at 1435 CST.

Wider weather episode

On January 16, 2026, gusty winds and snow squalls impacted southwest Iowa. A shortwave trough pivoting across the Northern Plains drove an initial cold front and strong cold air advection (CAA) into the region. Behind a secondary cold front, enhanced atmospheric mixing tapped into higher winds aloft, transferring them to the surface. Transient snow showers also pushed across the area throughout the late morning and afternoon. At approximately 12:00 PM CST, law enforcement reported that a semi-truck traveling southwest on Interstate 80 in Pottawattamie County lost control in the high winds and overturned, resulting in one indirect fatality. Peak measured wind gusts in the county reached 51 mph.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1311555. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.