Tornado History

Iowa Tornado History

This page summarizes tornado history for Iowa. The local dataset contains 3,447 tornado records from 1950 through 2026, with a strongest listed rating of F5 (Incredible damage) and at least $2.9B in reported property damage. The latest tornado record in this group is May 22, 2026. Across these records, NOAA lists 99 deaths and 2,338 injuries.

Key Tornado Statistics

Total Tornadoes3,447
Total Deaths99
Total Injuries2,338
Property Damage$2.9B
Avg Length4.1 mi
Avg Width120 yd

Key Tornado Facts for Iowa

Top local patterns from the historical tornado records in this group.

Average 44.8 tornadoes per year (79.8/yr in last decade)
May is the peak tornado month with 840 recorded events
Deadliest tornado: F5 in Iowa with 13 deaths
2024 was the most active year with 155 tornadoes
The 2000s had the most tornado activity (625 events)
Longest tornado: 80.4 miles in Iowa
Widest tornado: 2,640.0 yards in Iowa
Most tornadoes in one day: 90 on Dec 15, 2021

Monthly Distribution

Shows tornado frequency across months of the year, highlighting seasonal patterns and peak tornado periods.

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Summary: In Iowa, May is the most active month with 840 tornadoes.

Annual Tornado Trend

Shows year-by-year tornado counts, making active years and quiet stretches easier to spot.

155104520

Summary: 2024 was the most active year with 155 recorded tornadoes.

Tornado Intensity Distribution

Shows the breakdown of tornadoes by EF/F rating.

F0
EF0
F1
EF1
F2
EF2
F3
EF3
F4
EF4
F5
EF5
Unknown
EFU

Summary: F0 tornadoes are the most common in this group, with 755 recorded events.

Property Damage Trends

Visualizes reported property damage over time. Bars use a log-like scale so very large damage years do not flatten the rest of the chart.

$517.5M$51.7M$5.2M$0

Summary: The highest reported property damage year in this group is 1986 with at least $517.5M in NOAA-listed property damage.

Tornado Count By County

Compares the counties with the most tornado records in this state dataset.

Polk
Webster
Linn
Scott
Story
Woodbury
Dallas
Pottawattamie
Hamilton
Plymouth
Boone
Clinton
Hardin
Buchanan
Warren
Tama
Marion
Sioux
Jones
Johnson

Summary: Polk County has the highest count in this state group with 68 tornado records.

Historical Track Sketch

EF5 May 25, 20082008F5 October 14, 19661966F5 May 15, 19681968F5 May 15, 19681968F5 June 13, 19761976F5 June 27, 19531953F5 May 15, 19681968F5 June 13, 19761976F5 May 15, 19681968F5 May 15, 19681968F4 July 28, 19861986F4 July 28, 19861986EF4 March 5, 20222022EF4 May 21, 20242024F4 June 18, 1974F4 June 28, 1979F4 June 7, 1984F4 June 7, 1984F4 June 7, 1984F4 June 7, 1984F4 June 7, 1984F4 June 7, 1984F4 June 7, 1984F4 May 24, 1989F4 May 24, 1989F4 May 24, 1989F4 May 24, 1989F4 May 24, 1989F4 May 24, 1989F4 May 24, 1989F4 May 24, 1989F4 May 24, 1989F4 March 13, 1990F4 March 13, 1990F4 March 13, 1990F4 March 13, 1990F4 May 27, 1995F4 May 27, 1995EF4 June 25, 2010F4 June 23, 1952F4 May 10, 1959F4 September 1, 1961F4 September 1, 1961F4 April 12, 1964F4 April 11, 1965F4 April 11, 1965F4 August 26, 1965F4 August 26, 1965F4 April 30, 1967F4 July 12, 1971F4 July 12, 1971F4 July 12, 1971F4 August 12, 1974F4 June 26, 1976F4 March 29, 1979F4 June 2, 1980F4 June 2, 1980F4 September 28, 1986F4 September 28, 1986F4 May 30, 1989F4 May 30, 1989EF4 April 9, 2011F4 May 27, 1995F4 April 8, 1999EF4 October 4, 2013F4 April 8, 1999F4 April 8, 1999F4 May 10, 1953F4 May 10, 1953F4 June 9, 1954F4 May 20, 1959F4 June 22, 1964F4 August 29, 1964F4 April 30, 1967F4 August 12, 1974F4 May 4, 1977F4 May 10, 1953F4 April 5, 1954F4 May 5, 1965F4 May 5, 1965© OpenStreetMap contributors
This map covers the wider location—not your exact property.Measure the closest recorded track to a street address in or near Iowa.
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Notable Tornado Records

The table highlights the strongest and most damaging records in this page's local dataset. Damage totals are NOAA-reported minimum estimates where available.

DateRatingAreaLengthWidthDeathsInjuriesMin. property damage
May 25, 2008EF5Butler, Iowa15.64 mi1235 yd950$75.0M
May 15, 1968F5Floyd, Iowa24.7 mi600 yd13450$25.0M
October 14, 1966F5Wright, Iowa9.7 mi1000 yd6172$25.0M
May 15, 1968F5Fayette, Iowa13.1 mi500 yd5156$25.0M
June 13, 1976F5Boone, Iowa14 mi880 yd09$25.0M
June 27, 1953F5Adair, Iowa0 mi100 yd12$250K
May 15, 1968F5Howard, Iowa18.6 mi600 yd012$2K
June 13, 1976F5Story, Iowa7.3 mi880 yd00$250
May 15, 1968F5Franklin, Iowa14.7 mi600 yd00$30
May 15, 1968F5Chickasaw, Iowa4.1 mi600 yd00$30
July 28, 1986F4Woodbury, Iowa11.5 mi73 yd01$250.0M
July 28, 1986F4Monona, Iowa1 mi73 yd00$250.0M
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Source And Limits

Data sourced from NOAA Storm Prediction Center and the NCEI Storm Events Database. TornadoTrace summarizes reported weather events for screening and research; it is not a damage assessment, inspection, or insurance determination. Coordinates and records can be approximate, incomplete, revised, or missing. No warranty of completeness or accuracy.

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