Iowa tornadoes

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3,099 confirmed tornadoes since 1950. Most recent: August 18, 2025, EFU. 2026 so far: 81 preliminary reports preliminary

Counties with the most tornadoes

CountyTornadoes since 1950Per 1,000 sq mi
Polk County70122
Scott County68148
Linn County6692
Story County66115
Webster County6388
Dallas County60102
Boone County58102
Woodbury County5765
Hamilton County5697
Pottawattamie County5659
Clinton County5579
Plymouth County5260
Sioux County5065
Warren County5088
Buchanan County4986

When tornadoes hit here

By month

7830 Jan: 15Feb: 2Mar: 166Apr: 402May: 743Jun: 783Jul: 388Aug: 268Sep: 126Oct: 71Nov: 62Dec: 73JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

June is the peak month, with 783 of 3099 tornadoes.

By time of day

4070 12 AM: 34: 33: 163 AM: 24: 21: 236 AM: 27: 7: 79 AM: 18: 17: 5712 PM: 90: 153: 2473 PM: 325: 407: 4016 PM: 385: 333: 2079 PM: 123: 83: 6112 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 4:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

1260 1950: 4: 5: 6: 23: 18: 7: 7: 17: 14: 251960: 27: 13: 12: 15: 54: 46: 39: 53: 25: 281970: 22: 33: 24: 32: 27: 37: 18: 36: 23: 521980: 40: 30: 34: 30: 61: 27: 42: 37: 49: 291990: 71: 53: 29: 51: 49: 43: 22: 25: 72: 592000: 45: 105: 31: 28: 120: 44: 38: 44: 105: 252010: 33: 51: 16: 28: 89: 58: 45: 55: 69: 562020: 28: 119: 42: 72: 126: 3219501960197019801990200020102020

The line is the five-year average. Tornadoes before about 1953 were under-reported, and better radar since the 1990s finds more weak ones. This year so far: 81 preliminary reports.

By rating

EF0
1311
EF1
966
EF2
500
EF3
121
EF4
49
EF5
6
Unknown
146

Ratings before February 2007 use the original F scale; the numbers line up with today's EF scale. Unknown means NOAA could not assign a rating.

Notable tornadoes

Deadliest

F5, May 15, 1968

13 deaths Longest path

162 miles, F4

May 10, 1953

Most recent tornadoes

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Aug 18, 2025EFU0.62 mi35 yd00
Aug 18, 2025EFU4.53 mi50 yd00
Aug 18, 2025EFU1.39 mi50 yd00
Aug 17, 2025EFU0.4 mi35 yd00
Aug 11, 2025EFU2.21 mi10 yd00
Aug 10, 2025EFU0.1 mi10 yd00
Aug 10, 2025EFU0.03 mi10 yd00
Jul 28, 2025EF01.64 mi15 yd00
Jul 28, 2025EFU1.21 mi20 yd00
Jul 28, 2025EFU0.21 mi50 yd00
Jul 28, 2025EF12.06 mi250 yd00
Jul 19, 2025EFU4.45 mi40 yd00
Jul 11, 2025EF03.9 mi75 yd00
Jul 11, 2025EF27.6 mi500 yd00
Jul 11, 2025EF22.9 mi250 yd00
Jul 11, 2025EF10.86 mi25 yd00
Jul 11, 2025EF03.4 mi50 yd00
Jul 11, 2025EF110.1 mi150 yd00
Jul 11, 2025EF01.68 mi40 yd00
Jul 11, 2025EF112.45 mi150 yd00

Every Iowa county

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Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025. A tornado that crossed a state line counts in each state it touched.