Cedar Rapids, Iowa tornadoes

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32confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cedar Rapids since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: June 25, 2024, EF0.

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Map

Every tornado path within 10 miles

Tornado paths, 1950 to 2025
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(E)F0(E)F1(E)F2(E)F3(E)F4(E)F5Unrated

Each path is a straight line from where the tornado started to where it ended, which is all most NOAA records hold. Tap a path for its details.

Recent warnings

Recent warnings near Cedar Rapids

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The record

At a glance

Total32within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.4average since 1950
Peak monthJune7 of 32
StrongestF3May 20, 1953
Deaths0whole paths, see note
Injuries26whole paths, see note

Deaths and injuries are NOAA's totals for each tornado's whole path, which can run well beyond Cedar Rapids.

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

70 Jan: 1Feb: 0Mar: 0Apr: 4May: 6Jun: 7Jul: 4Aug: 4Sep: 2Oct: 3Nov: 0Dec: 1JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

June is the peak month, with 7 of 32 tornadoes.

By time of day

50 12 AM: 0: 0: 03 AM: 0: 2: 16 AM: 0: 0: 09 AM: 0: 0: 312 PM: 2: 1: 13 PM: 5: 5: 16 PM: 2: 2: 19 PM: 4: 2: 012 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 3:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

20 1950: 0: 0: 0: 2: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01960: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 2: 0: 0: 01970: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 11980: 0: 0: 1: 1: 0: 1: 0: 1: 0: 01990: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 2: 12000: 0: 2: 1: 2: 2: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02010: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 1: 1: 0: 1: 02020: 1: 1: 0: 1: 1: 019501960197019801990200020102020

The line is the five-year average. Tornadoes before about 1953 were under-reported, and better radar since the 1990s finds more weak ones.

By rating

EF0
13
EF1
7
EF2
7
EF3
3
Unknown
2

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.

The record

Notable tornadoes

Strongest

F3, May 20, 1953

38.6 mile path Longest path

116 miles, F2

June 7, 1953, whole path Widest

400 yards, F3

May 20, 1953
Every tornado

All 32 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Jun 25, 2024EF00.54 mi50 yd00
Jan 16, 2023EFU0.85 mi10 yd00
Apr 7, 2021EF00.65 mi40 yd01
Aug 10, 2020EFU0.92 mi40 yd00
Sep 3, 2018EF12.18 mi30 yd00
Jul 17, 2016EF23.99 mi75 yd04
Dec 23, 2015EF12.25 mi50 yd00
Jun 16, 2014EF00.07 mi30 yd00
Aug 26, 2004F1n/a40 yd00
May 21, 2004F33 mi200 yd00
Jul 20, 2003F20.3 mi200 yd00
Jul 20, 2003F21 mi300 yd00
Jun 12, 2002F00.1 mi10 yd00
Apr 11, 2001F00.1 mi10 yd00
Apr 11, 2001F00.1 mi10 yd00
Jun 10, 1999F00.1 mi10 yd00
May 28, 1998F00.1 mi30 yd00
May 8, 1998F00.1 mi30 yd00
Jul 27, 1995F00.1 mi23 yd00
Sep 12, 1991F00.1 mi20 yd00
Aug 18, 1987F00.3 mi13 yd00
Aug 14, 1985F10.1 mi10 yd00
Jun 29, 1983F131 mi40 yd00
Oct 6, 1982F00.3 mi30 yd00
Jun 9, 1979F18 mi30 yd00
Nearby

Cedar Rapids and its county

Cedar Rapids is in Linn County, where NOAA has recorded 66 tornadoes since 1950. A county's record counts every tornado inside its borders, while this page counts every path within 10 miles of the city, so the two overlap without matching.

Nearby cities

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Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025. City point and population: US Census Bureau, 2024. Each path is a straight line between NOAA's start and end points.