Tornado History
Des Moines Tornado History
This location page summarizes tornado records that list Des Moines, Iowa as a begin or end location. The dataset includes 6 matching records from 1998 through 2024. The strongest matching rating is F2 (Considerable damage), the latest matching tornado is July 15, 2024, and minimum reported property damage totals $10.7M.
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Key Tornado Statistics
Key Tornado Facts for Des Moines, Iowa
Top local patterns from the historical tornado records in this group.
Average 0.2 tornadoes per year (0.1/yr in last decade)
May is the peak tornado month with 2 recorded events
Deadliest tornado: F2 in Des Moines, Iowa with 0 deaths
2000 was the most active year with 2 tornadoes
The 2000s had the most tornado activity (3 events)
Longest tornado: 18.3 miles in Des Moines, Iowa
Widest tornado: 300.0 yards in Des Moines, Iowa
Most tornadoes in one day: 2 on May 30, 2000
Monthly Distribution
Shows tornado frequency across months of the year, highlighting seasonal patterns and peak tornado periods.
Summary: In Des Moines, Iowa, May is the most active month with 2 tornadoes.
Annual Tornado Trend
Shows year-by-year tornado counts, making active years and quiet stretches easier to spot.
Summary: 2000 was the most active year with 2 recorded tornadoes.
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.
Summary: The highest reported property damage year in this group is 1998 with at least $10.0M in NOAA-listed property damage.
Historical Track Sketch
This map covers the wider location—not your exact property.Measure the closest recorded track to a street address in or near Des Moines, 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.
| Date | Rating | Area | Length | Width | Deaths | Injuries | Min. property damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 29, 1998 | F2 | Polk, Iowa | 18.3 mi | 150 yd | 0 | 83 | $10.0M |
| July 15, 2024 | EF1 | Polk, Iowa | 6.88 mi | 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $500K |
| May 30, 2000 | F1 | Polk, Iowa | 8 mi | 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| October 2, 2007 | EF1 | Polk, Iowa | 0.44 mi | 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $75K |
| April 8, 1999 | F0 | Polk, Iowa | 0.2 mi | 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $43K |
| May 30, 2000 | F0 | Polk, Iowa | 0.1 mi | 20 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
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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.