Tornado History
Des Moines Tornado History
This county-level tornado history page focuses on Des Moines, Iowa. The records below identify 24 tornadoes from 1954 through 2024, including a highest listed rating of F3 (Severe damage). NOAA damage estimates in this group total at least $4.8M, with 0 deaths and 28 injuries recorded across the listed events.
Free address preview
Were any of these tornadoes close to your property?
Enter a street address in or near Des Moines, Iowa to see the number of recorded tornadoes within 5 miles, the nearest track distance, and a property-centered preview.
No account or email required. Full detailed report: $15 one time.
Key Tornado Statistics
Key Tornado Facts for Des Moines, Iowa
Top local patterns from the historical tornado records in this group.
Average 0.3 tornadoes per year (0.6/yr in last decade)
May is the peak tornado month with 9 recorded events
Deadliest tornado: F2 in Des Moines, Iowa with 0 deaths
2019 was the most active year with 4 tornadoes
The 2010s had the most tornado activity (7 events)
Longest tornado: 75.3 miles in Des Moines, Iowa
Widest tornado: 600.0 yards in Des Moines, Iowa
Most tornadoes in one day: 3 on Jul 5, 1980
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 9 tornadoes.
Annual Tornado Trend
Shows year-by-year tornado counts, making active years and quiet stretches easier to spot.
Summary: 2019 was the most active year with 4 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 1983 with at least $2.5M 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.
Measure distance free
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 25, 1965 | F3 | Des Moines, Iowa | 3 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $250K |
| May 23, 1966 | F2 | Des Moines, Iowa | 4.1 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| May 13, 1974 | F2 | Des Moines, Iowa | 1 mi | 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| April 30, 1954 | F2 | Des Moines, Iowa | 75.3 mi | 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| May 4, 1977 | F2 | Des Moines, Iowa | 2 mi | 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| June 15, 2019 | EF2 | Des Moines, Iowa | 1.82 mi | 260 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| June 15, 2019 | EF2 | Des Moines, Iowa | 1.3 mi | 300 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| March 31, 2023 | EF2 | Des Moines, Iowa | 0.95 mi | 150 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| April 16, 2024 | EF2 | Des Moines, Iowa | 11.52 mi | 600 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| June 29, 1983 | F1 | Des Moines, Iowa | 13 mi | 40 yd | 0 | 27 | $2.5M |
| June 20, 2015 | EF1 | Des Moines, Iowa | 2.92 mi | 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $300K |
| April 18, 1963 | F1 | Des Moines, Iowa | 14.4 mi | 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K |
Did any of these records occur near a property you care about?Use an exact street address for a property-centered preview around Des Moines, Iowa.
Check a Des Moines, Iowa address
Related Location Pages
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.