Des Moines, Iowa tornadoes

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49confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Des Moines since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: July 15, 2024, EF1.

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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 Des Moines

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The record

At a glance

Total49within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.6average since 1950
Peak monthJune19 of 49
StrongestEF4Mar 5, 2022
Deaths8whole paths, see note
Injuries142whole paths, see note

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

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

190 Jan: 0Feb: 0Mar: 2Apr: 8May: 12Jun: 19Jul: 4Aug: 0Sep: 1Oct: 2Nov: 1Dec: 0JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

June is the peak month, with 19 of 49 tornadoes.

By time of day

80 12 AM: 0: 1: 03 AM: 1: 0: 16 AM: 0: 0: 09 AM: 0: 0: 012 PM: 4: 1: 33 PM: 8: 6: 86 PM: 4: 6: 19 PM: 3: 1: 112 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

50 1950: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 21960: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 2: 1: 0: 11970: 0: 0: 0: 0: 2: 1: 1: 0: 0: 01980: 1: 1: 1: 2: 3: 0: 3: 0: 0: 01990: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 5: 22000: 2: 3: 2: 0: 0: 0: 0: 3: 0: 02010: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 02020: 1: 0: 1: 0: 3: 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
21
EF1
15
EF2
11
EF4
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

Deadliest

EF4, March 5, 2022

6 deaths, 5 injuries Strongest

EF4, March 5, 2022

70.57 mile path Longest path

116 miles, F2

June 7, 1953, whole path Widest

900 yards, EF4

March 5, 2022
Every tornado

All 49 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Jul 15, 2024EF16.88 mi300 yd00
May 24, 2024EF03.2 mi100 yd00
Apr 26, 2024EF27.61 mi150 yd01
Mar 5, 2022EF470.57 mi900 yd65
May 25, 2020EF11.56 mi50 yd00
Nov 11, 2015EF02.59 mi150 yd00
Oct 2, 2007EF10.44 mi20 yd00
Jun 22, 2007EF13 mi150 yd00
Jun 22, 2007EF26.36 mi150 yd00
Apr 18, 2002F18.5 mi60 yd00
Apr 18, 2002F00.3 mi30 yd00
Sep 6, 2001F12.8 mi50 yd01
Jul 24, 2001F00.2 mi25 yd00
Apr 11, 2001F00.5 mi35 yd00
May 30, 2000F00.1 mi20 yd00
May 30, 2000F18 mi40 yd00
Apr 8, 1999F232 min/a00
Apr 8, 1999F00.2 mi30 yd00
Jun 29, 1998F00.2 mi30 yd00
Jun 29, 1998F00.1 mi30 yd00
Jun 29, 1998F234.1 mi100 yd085
Jun 18, 1998F113 mi40 yd00
May 19, 1998F00.2 mi30 yd00
May 12, 1997F06.7 mi13 yd00
Jun 16, 1990F00.1 mi17 yd00
Nearby

Des Moines and its county

Des Moines spans 2 counties, each with its own record since 1950: Polk County (70 tornadoes) and Warren County (50). 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.