Tornado History

Mahaska Tornado History

This county-level tornado history page focuses on Mahaska, Iowa. The records below identify 27 tornadoes from 1953 through 2018, including a highest listed rating of F4 (Devastating damage). NOAA damage estimates in this group total at least $27.2M, with 1 deaths and 36 injuries recorded across the listed events.

Key Tornado Statistics

Total Tornadoes27
Total Deaths1
Total Injuries36
Property Damage$27.2M
Avg Length3.1 mi
Avg Width134 yd

Key Tornado Facts for Mahaska, Iowa

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

Average 0.4 tornadoes per year (0.4/yr in last decade)
May is the peak tornado month with 6 recorded events
Deadliest tornado: F4 in Mahaska, Iowa with 1 deaths
1978 was the most active year with 3 tornadoes
The 2010s had the most tornado activity (8 events)
Longest tornado: 14 miles in Mahaska, Iowa
Widest tornado: 1,250.0 yards in Mahaska, Iowa
Most tornadoes in one day: 3 on Jul 19, 2018

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 Mahaska, Iowa, May is the most active month with 6 tornadoes.

Annual Tornado Trend

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

3210

Summary: 1978 was the most active year with 3 recorded tornadoes.

Tornado Intensity Distribution

Shows the breakdown of tornadoes by EF/F rating.

F0
EF0
F1
EF1
F2
EF2
F4
Unknown

Summary: F1 tornadoes are the most common in this group, with 7 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.

$25.0M$2.5M$250K$0

Summary: The highest reported property damage year in this group is 1984 with at least $25.0M in NOAA-listed property damage.

Historical Track Sketch

F4 June 7, 19841984EF2 September 30, 20072007EF2 July 19, 20182018EF2 November 11, 20152015F2 August 18, 19561956F2 June 27, 19531953F1 May 8, 19881988EF1 June 20, 20112011EF1 April 10, 20082008EF1 May 30, 20082008EF1 April 14, 20122012F1 June 14, 20012001F1 June 17, 19781978F1 August 19, 19791979F1 May 11, 1985F1 May 12, 1970F1 May 10, 2003F0 May 18, 1971EF0 November 11, 2015F0 July 2, 1992EF0 October 2, 2007EF0 October 2, 2007EF0 November 28, 2016EF0 July 19, 2018EF0 July 19, 2018Unknown September 16, 1978Unknown September 16, 1978© OpenStreetMap contributors
This map covers the wider location—not your exact property.Measure the closest recorded track to a street address in or near Mahaska, 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.

DateRatingAreaLengthWidthDeathsInjuriesMin. property damage
June 7, 1984F4Mahaska, Iowa14 mi250 yd130$25.0M
September 30, 2007EF2Mahaska, Iowa3.46 mi1250 yd00$500K
July 19, 2018EF2Mahaska, Iowa4.06 mi500 yd00$80K
November 11, 2015EF2Mahaska, Iowa6.15 mi150 yd00$75K
August 18, 1956F2Mahaska, Iowa11.5 mi33 yd00$25K
June 27, 1953F2Mahaska, Iowa7.8 mi100 yd01$2K
May 8, 1988F1Mahaska, Iowa6 mi40 yd00$250K
June 20, 2011EF1Mahaska, Iowa0.35 mi75 yd00$150K
April 10, 2008EF1Mahaska, Iowa2.97 mi50 yd00$100K
May 30, 2008EF1Mahaska, Iowa6.9 mi250 yd00$75K
April 14, 2012EF1Mahaska, Iowa1.27 mi90 yd00$75K
June 14, 2001F1Mahaska, Iowa0.1 mi100 yd00$40K
Did any of these records occur near a property you care about?Use an exact street address for a property-centered preview around Mahaska, Iowa.
Check a Mahaska, 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.

Terms · Privacy