Tornado History

Palo Alto Tornado History

This county-level tornado history page focuses on Palo Alto, Iowa. The records below identify 19 tornadoes from 1953 through 2021, including a highest listed rating of F2 (Considerable damage). NOAA damage estimates in this group total at least $5.7M, with 0 deaths and 1 injuries recorded across the listed events.

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19recorded tornadoes
F2 (Considerable damage)highest rating
$5.7Mminimum property damage
December 15, 2021latest tornado
24.4 milongest listed path
500 ydwidest listed path

Historical Track Sketch

F2 July 19, 19801980F2 June 7, 19841984F2 April 30, 19671967F2 May 28, 19591959F2 June 14, 19761976F2 June 7, 19531953F1 July 26, 19971997EF1 December 15, 20212021F1 October 13, 20002000F1 July 14, 19781978F1 July 14, 19781978F1 June 11, 20042004F0 August 3, 19611961F0 June 28, 19791979F0 June 21, 1975F0 September 13, 2000EF0 June 16, 2014Unknown June 10, 1977Unknown April 5, 1958© OpenStreetMap contributors

Rating Breakdown

  • F2 (Considerable damage)6
  • F1 (Moderate damage)5
  • EF1 (Moderate damage)1
  • F0 (Light damage)4
  • EF0 (Light damage)1
  • Unknown rating2

Most Active Years

  • 19782
  • 20002
  • 19531
  • 19581
  • 19591
  • 19611
  • 19671
  • 19751

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
July 19, 1980F2Palo Alto, Iowa24.4 mi80 yd00$2.5M
June 7, 1984F2Palo Alto, Iowa15 mi100 yd01$2.5M
April 30, 1967F2Palo Alto, Iowa14 mi300 yd00$250K
May 28, 1959F2Palo Alto, Iowa2.3 mi100 yd00$25K
June 14, 1976F2Palo Alto, Iowa8.6 mi33 yd00$2K
June 7, 1953F2Palo Alto, Iowa15.2 mi500 yd00N/A
July 26, 1997F1Palo Alto, Iowa1 mi40 yd00$220K
December 15, 2021EF1Palo Alto, Iowa11.16 mi90 yd00$60K
October 13, 2000F1Palo Alto, Iowa6 mi50 yd00$30K
July 14, 1978F1Palo Alto, Iowa7.7 mi100 yd00$25K
July 14, 1978F1Palo Alto, Iowa7.7 mi100 yd00$25K
June 11, 2004F1Palo Alto, Iowa9 mi450 yd00$10K

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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.