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.

Want to check tornado history for a specific address?Use the address lookup to see nearby historical tornado tracks, dates, ratings, and distance from the location.

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3,253recorded tornadoes
F5 (Incredible damage)highest rating
$2.8Bminimum property damage
August 18, 2025latest tornado
80.4 milongest listed path
2640 ydwidest listed path

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

Rating Breakdown

  • F5 (Incredible damage)4
  • EF5 (Incredible damage)1
  • F4 (Devastating damage)71
  • EF4 (Devastating damage)6
  • F3 (Severe damage)107
  • EF3 (Severe damage)23
  • F2 (Considerable damage)413
  • EF2 (Considerable damage)126
  • F1 (Moderate damage)572
  • EF1 (Moderate damage)387
  • F0 (Light damage)727
  • EF0 (Light damage)560
  • Unknown rating86
  • Unknown rating170

Most Active Years

  • 2024155
  • 2021146
  • 2004118
  • 2008115
  • 2014113
  • 2001110
  • 202384
  • 198481

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

Want to check a home, business, or exact property?Search any address to compare nearby historical tornado tracks against that specific location.

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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.