Tornado History
Washington Tornado History
This county-level tornado history page focuses on Washington, Iowa. The records below identify 26 tornadoes from 1965 through 2026, including a highest listed rating of F3 (Severe damage). NOAA damage estimates in this group total at least $40.5M, with 0 deaths and 29 injuries recorded across the listed events.
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Key Tornado Statistics
Key Tornado Facts for Washington, Iowa
Top local patterns from the historical tornado records in this group.
Average 0.4 tornadoes per year (0.7/yr in last decade)
May is the peak tornado month with 10 recorded events
Deadliest tornado: Unknown in Washington, Iowa with 0 deaths
2006 was the most active year with 3 tornadoes
The 2000s had the most tornado activity (6 events)
Longest tornado: 23.5 miles in Washington, Iowa
Widest tornado: 700.0 yards in Washington, Iowa
Most tornadoes in one day: 2 on May 8, 1988
Monthly Distribution
Shows tornado frequency across months of the year, highlighting seasonal patterns and peak tornado periods.
Summary: In Washington, Iowa, May is the most active month with 10 tornadoes.
Annual Tornado Trend
Shows year-by-year tornado counts, making active years and quiet stretches easier to spot.
Summary: 2006 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 $27.5M 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 Washington, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 1998 | F3 | Washington, Iowa | 18 mi | 400 yd | 0 | 28 | $9.0M |
| March 31, 2023 | EF3 | Washington, Iowa | 10.19 mi | 700 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| May 8, 1988 | F2 | Washington, Iowa | 19 mi | 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $25.0M |
| June 7, 1984 | F2 | Washington, Iowa | 8 mi | 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M |
| May 8, 1988 | F2 | Washington, Iowa | 11 mi | 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M |
| May 3, 2012 | EF2 | Washington, Iowa | 3.53 mi | 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $500K |
| May 9, 1970 | F2 | Washington, Iowa | 2 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| November 9, 1975 | F2 | Washington, Iowa | 0 mi | 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| April 2, 2006 | F2 | Washington, Iowa | 1 mi | 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| May 20, 1987 | F1 | Washington, Iowa | 1.5 mi | 27 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| July 16, 2007 | EF1 | Washington, Iowa | 0.5 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| June 20, 2015 | EF1 | Washington, Iowa | 1.38 mi | 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $50K |
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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.