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Tornado History

Iowa Tornado History

This page summarizes tornado history for Iowa. The local dataset contains 3,253 tornado records from 1950 through 2025, with a strongest listed rating of F5 (Incredible damage) and at least $2.8B in reported property damage. The latest tornado record in this group is August 18, 2025. Across these records, NOAA lists 80 deaths and 1,663 injuries.

Key Tornado Statistics

Total Tornadoes3,253
Total Deaths80
Total Injuries1,663
Property Damage$2.8B
Avg Length4.1 mi
Avg Width116 yd

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Key Tornado Facts for Iowa

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

Average 42.8 tornadoes per year (75.9/yr in last decade)
June is the peak tornado month with 779 recorded events
Deadliest tornado: EF5 in Iowa with 9 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, June is the most active month with 779 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 727 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
Scott
Linn
Dallas
Story
Pottawattamie
Hamilton
Boone
Woodbury
Buchanan
Hardin
Clinton
Plymouth
Tama
Marion
Pocahontas
Jones
Johnson
Sioux

Summary: Polk County has the highest count in this state group with 67 tornado records.

Historical Track Sketch

EF5 May 25, 20082008F5 October 14, 19661966F5 June 13, 19761976F5 June 27, 19531953F5 June 13, 19761976F4 July 28, 19861986F4 July 28, 19861986EF4 March 5, 20222022EF4 May 21, 20242024F4 June 18, 19741974F4 June 28, 19791979F4 June 7, 19841984F4 June 7, 19841984F4 June 7, 19841984F4 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 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, 1965F4 May 5, 1965F4 May 5, 1965F4 May 5, 1965F4 May 5, 1965F4 January 24, 1967F4 June 28, 1979F4 May 10, 1953F4 April 30, 1954© OpenStreetMap contributors

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
October 14, 1966F5Wright, Iowa9.7 mi1000 yd6172$25.0M
June 13, 1976F5Boone, Iowa14 mi880 yd09$25.0M
June 27, 1953F5Adair, Iowa0 mi100 yd12$250K
June 13, 1976F5Story, Iowa7.3 mi880 yd00$250
July 28, 1986F4Woodbury, Iowa11.5 mi73 yd01$250.0M
July 28, 1986F4Monona, Iowa1 mi73 yd00$250.0M
March 5, 2022EF4Madison, Iowa24.86 mi900 yd65$75.0M
May 21, 2024EF4Adair, Iowa15.74 mi1100 yd435$30.0M
June 28, 1979F4Calhoun, Iowa10.8 mi333 yd326$25.0M
June 18, 1974F4Polk, Iowa15.3 mi400 yd250$25.0M
June 7, 1984F4Mahaska, Iowa14 mi250 yd130$25.0M

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Top County Pages

Top Location Pages

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Source And Limits

Data source: NOAA/NCEI. TornadoTrace summarizes historical records for screening and research. Coordinates, damage estimates, narratives, and event details can be approximate, incomplete, revised, or missing. Do not use this page as legal, insurance, engineering, real estate, emergency management, or safety advice.