Tornado History
Wapello Tornado History
This county-level tornado history page focuses on Wapello, Iowa. The records below identify 26 tornadoes from 1958 through 2023, including a highest listed rating of F2 (Considerable damage). NOAA damage estimates in this group total at least $31.3M, with 2 deaths and 3 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 Wapello, 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 Wapello, Iowa
Top local patterns from the historical tornado records in this group.
Average 0.4 tornadoes per year (0.2/yr in last decade)
June is the peak tornado month with 8 recorded events
Deadliest tornado: F2 in Wapello, Iowa with 2 deaths
1988 was the most active year with 3 tornadoes
The 1980s had the most tornado activity (6 events)
Longest tornado: 13 miles in Wapello, Iowa
Widest tornado: 400.0 yards in Wapello, Iowa
Most tornadoes in one day: 3 on Jun 16, 1990
Monthly Distribution
Shows tornado frequency across months of the year, highlighting seasonal patterns and peak tornado periods.
Summary: In Wapello, Iowa, June is the most active month with 8 tornadoes.
Annual Tornado Trend
Shows year-by-year tornado counts, making active years and quiet stretches easier to spot.
Summary: 1988 was the most active year with 3 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 1988 with at least $25.5M 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 Wapello, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 1988 | F2 | Wapello, Iowa | 3 mi | 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $25.0M |
| September 13, 1982 | F2 | Wapello, Iowa | 13 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M |
| March 31, 2023 | EF2 | Wapello, Iowa | 8.71 mi | 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.0M |
| April 11, 2001 | F2 | Wapello, Iowa | 8.4 mi | 100 yd | 2 | 3 | $400K |
| May 8, 1988 | F2 | Wapello, Iowa | 11 mi | 43 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| November 15, 1988 | F2 | Wapello, Iowa | 6 mi | 63 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| June 16, 1990 | F2 | Wapello, Iowa | 6.5 mi | 53 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| April 8, 1999 | F2 | Wapello, Iowa | 5 mi | 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| June 8, 1958 | F2 | Wapello, Iowa | 0 mi | 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| June 8, 2008 | EF1 | Wapello, Iowa | 2.08 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $75K |
| June 20, 2015 | EF1 | Wapello, Iowa | 3 mi | 175 yd | 0 | 0 | $75K |
| May 18, 1971 | F1 | Wapello, Iowa | 0 mi | 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
Did any of these records occur near a property you care about?Use an exact street address for a property-centered preview around Wapello, Iowa.
Check a Wapello, 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.