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List of Iowa tornadoes

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Aerial imagery of damage in Greenfield after the 2024 Greenfield tornado

The U.S state of Iowa experiences multiple tornadoes every year. There have been at least 3,502 recorded tornadoes since 1876. At least 6,447 people have been injured, and 933 people have died due to these tornadoes.[1]

Climatology

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Although tornadoes can happen at any time of the year, the most popular time for tornadoes to form in Iowa is from April through June. Iowa is in the central plains, where the Rocky Mountains to the west and the Appalachian Mountains to the east meet. This unique geography creates a funnelling effect, channelling warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and cool, dry air from Canada.[2] These are the most ideal conditions for tornadoes to form with Iowa being caught inside of tornado alley, along with other great plains states, greatly increasing the chances of a tornado to form in Iowa.[3]

Most active months for tornadoes in Iowa from 1980-2019[4]
Date Tornadoes
May 2004 57
June 1984 48
June 2008 48
April 2001 40
June 1990 36
August 2014 36
May 1998 34
June 2001 34
June 2014 31
June 2004 28
Most tornadoes in a day in Iowa from 1980-2019[4]
Date Tornadoes
August 31, 2014 35
April 11, 2001 28
June 11, 2004 24
May 8, 1988 22
June 7, 1984 21
July 19, 2018 21
May 22, 2004 20
April 9, 2011 20
Nov 11, 2015 19
June 1, 2001 18
March 6, 2017 18
Map of tornado alley.

Intense tornadoes

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Pre-1900

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FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
11 0 1 67 45 27 4 155
Deaths: >540 Injuries: >2,186

A total of 155 recorded tornadoes touched down in Iowa before 1900. At least 540 people died and 2,186 people were injured due to these tornadoes before 1950. There have been 37 intense tornadoes with a rating of F4+, or 2 or more fatalities, the deadliest of which being on June 3, 1860, in Camanche, killing 92. This time period for tornadoes in Iowa is the deadliest period of tornadoes in Iowa, with each recorded tornado killing on average 3.48 people. The first use of a tornado warning in the United States wasn't until March 25, 1948.[5] This caused tornadoes before the 1950's to be more dangerous because people wouldn't realize a tornado would be headed right towards them.

Camanche Tornado

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On June 3, 1860, an F4 tornado touched down north of Bennett, moving across eastern Iowa, killing 20 people in rural Clinton County. It then ripped through Camanche, destroying almost every building in the town and killing 41.[6] A raft carrying 26 was hit by the tornado and flipped, killing all but 3 men.[7] The tornado had a damage path of 1,000 yds (914,4 m) wide, and 81.2 mi (130,68 km) long.

A brick college in Grinnell after the June 17, 1882 Grinnell tornado

Grinnell Tornado

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On June 17, 1882, an F5 tornado touched down in Cooper. It travelled across central Iowa, killing a total of 68 people. 10 people died near Rippey, 7 people died in Jasper County, 39 in Grinnell and 10 in Malcolm.[8] The tornado had a damage path of 109.4 mi (176.06 km) long and 800 yds (731.52 m) wide.

Pomeroy Tornado

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On July 6, 1893, an F5 tornado touched down Northwest of Quimby, moving towards the town of Pomeroy. With a damage path 500 yards (460 m) wide and 55 miles (89 km) long, the tornado destroyed about 80% of the homes in Pomeroy. The tornado killed 71 people and injured 200.[9]

 Deadliest in Iowa history at time of event
 Tornado crossed state lines in or out of Iowa
Intense (F4+ or 2 or more fatalities) tornadoes in Iowa, pre–1900[10]
F# Date Deaths Injuries Start Location County Path length Max width
F4‡† June 3, 1860 92 200 N of Bennett Cedar 81.2 mi (130.68 km) 1000 yds (914.4 m)
F4 June 18, 1871 0 5 S of Superior Dickinson Unknown Unknown
F3 June 18, 1871 2 20 Glidden Carroll 11.6 mi (18.67 km) Unknown
F4 May 22, 1873 8 30 S of Hayesville Keokuk 41.7 mi (67.1 km) 800 yds (731.52 m)
F3 April 11, 1876 3 30 SE of Eagle Grove Wright 27.5 mi (44.26 km) Unknown
F4 April 18, 1878 1 2 W of Atlantic Cass Unknown Unknown
F4 April 21, 1878 17 29 S of Charter Oak Crawford 69.1 mi (111.21 km) 800 yds (731.52 m)
F4 April 21, 1878 10 40 SW of Battle Creek Ida 32.5 mi (52.3 km) 200 yds (182.88 m)
F3 June 1, 1878 2 7 SW of Adair Adair, Guthrie 12.1 mi (19.47 km) Unknown
F3 June 1, 1878 2 7 E of Marble Rock Floyd Unknown 400 yds (365.76 m)
F4 June 1, 1878 3 Unknown Rockwell Cerro Gordo Unknown Unknown
F4 July 2, 1879 2 0 S of Carnes Sioux 4.6 mi (7.4 km) Unknown
F4 June 9, 1880 7 20 SW of Macedonia Pottawattamie 15.1 mi (24.3 km) 500 yds (457.2 m)
F4 June 11, 1881 2 6 S of Norwalk Warren 30.1 mi (48.44 km) 300 yds (274.32 m)
F4 June 28, 1881 3 20 N of Quimby Cherokee 10 mi (16.09 km) 400 yds (365.76 m)
F4 June 17, 1882 1 5 W of Ogden Boone 33 mi (53.1 km) 200 yds (182.88 m)
F5 June 17, 1882 68 300 Cooper Greene 109.4 mi (176.06 km) 800 yds (731.52 m)
F4 June 21, 1882 5 50 NW of Primghar O'Brien 21.4 mi (34.44 km) 800 yds (731.52 m)
F4 April 21, 1883 2 10 N of Woodbine Harrison 10.1 mi (16.25 km) 150 yds (137.16 m)
F4 June 12, 1885 3 10 S of Bloomfield Davis 10.1 mi (16.25 km) 200 yds (182.88 m)
F4 April 14, 1886 3 18 S of Griswold Cass 54.5 mi (87.71 km) 400 yds (365.76 m)
F5 July 6, 1893 71 200 NW of Quimby Cherokee 57.6 mi (92.7 km) 500 yds (457.2 m)
F4 May 5, 1894 1 5 N of Walnut City Appanoose 32.7 mi (52.6 km) 200 yds (182.88 m)
F3 September 21, 1894 3 Unknown S of Emmetsburg Palo Alto 12.6 mi (20.28 km) Unknown
F4 September 21, 1894 25 60 N of Wesley Kossuth 39.6 mi (63.73 km) 1000 yds (914.4 m)
F4 September 21, 1894 5 20 Osage Mitchell 25.3 mi (40.72 km) Unknown
F4‡ September 21, 1894 17 60 SW of Rock Falls Cerro Gordo 59.9 mi (96.4 km) 800 yds (731.52 m)
F5 September 21, 1894 14 100 N of Whittemore Kossuth 50.6 mi (81.43 km) 1500 yds (1371.6 m)
F5 May 3, 1895 9 35 N of Ireton Sioux 13.1 mi (21.08 km) 1000 yds (914.4 m)
F4 May 24, 1896 21 60 SE of Polk City Polk 28.1 mi (45.22 km) 500 yds (457.2 m)
F4 April 30, 1898 2 1 NW of Granville Sioux 15 mi (24.14 km) 300 yds (274.32 m)
F3 April 30, 1898 2 Unknown NW of Laurens Pocahontas 7.9 mi (12.71 km) Unknown
F4‡ May 18, 1898 28 150 Stanwood Cedar 86.7 mi (139.53 km) 1000 yds (914.4 m)
F4 July 27, 1898 2 5 NW of Hastings Mills 15.2 mi (24.46 km) 150 yds (137.16 m)
F4 April 26, 1899 1 10 S of Soldier Monona 11 mi (17.7 km) 400 yds (365.76 m)
F4 May 16, 1899 4 14 S of Edgewood Clayton, Delaware 10.8 mi (17.38 km) 200 yds (182.88 m)
F4‡ June 11, 1899 5 2 NE of Homer, Nebraska Woodbury 13.1 mi (21.08 km) 200 yds (182.88 m)

1900-1949

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FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
0 0 1 262 54 33 1 352
Deaths: >292 Injuries: >1,861

A total of 352 tornadoes touched down in Iowa between 1900 and 1949. At least 292 people died and 1,861 people were injured. There were 43 intense F4+, or 2 or more fatalities, tornadoes, the deadliest of these tornadoes would be the 1913 Easter tornado that hit Omaha, Nebraska, making its way over the border into Iowa, killing a total of 103 people, and injuring 350 others.

Omaha Easter Sunday Tornado

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An F4 tornado touched down in La Vista, Nebraska, a suburb of Omaha, traveling through the city of Omaha and crossing the border into Iowa. In total, 103 people died, 9 of which being in Iowa.[11] The tornado had a damage path of 40.3 mi (64.86 km) long and 400 yds (365.76 m) wide.

Crawford County Tornado

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On May 21, 1918, an F5 tornado touched down in Crawford County, moving across the county and into Greene County as well. According to witnesses, twenty or more farms were destroyed and a couple riding in a buggy north of Churdan got caught by the tornado and died. Mattresses were carried two miles away and farms and homes were wiped completely off their foundations.[12]

Intense (F4+ or 2 or more fatalities) tornadoes in Iowa, 1900-1949[10]
F# Date Deaths Injuries Start Location County Path length Max width
F3 September 25, 1900 2 11 SW of Haverhill Marshall 7.5 mi (12.07 km) 70 yds (64 km)
F2 May 26, 1903 2 11 W of Eddyville Mahaska, Monroe, Wapello 1.7 mi (2.74 km) 100 yds (91.44 m)
F3 May 26, 1903 2 Unknown Des Moines Polk 4.6 mi (7.4 km) Unknown
F4‡ March 28, 1907 0 5 NE of Elmo, Missouri Page 15.5 mi (24.94 km) 400 yds (365.76 m)
F4 August 6, 1907 3 10 W of Lake Mills Winnebago 12.2 mi (19.63 km) 200 yds (182.88 m)
F4‡ May 12, 1908 0 20 Watson, Missouri Page 33.9 mi (54.56 km) 400 yds (365.76 m)
F4‡ March 23, 1913 25 75 Bellevue, Nebraska Pottawattamie 48.4 mi (77.89 km) 400 yds (365.76 m)
F4‡† March 23, 1913 103 350 La Vista, Nebraska Pottawattamie 40.3 mi (64.86 km) 400 yds (365.76 m)
F4‡ March 23, 1913 22 50 SE of Mead, Nebraska Harrison 56.6 mi (91.09 km) 800 yds (731.52 m)
F4‡ March 23, 1913 18 100 S of Douglas, Nebraska Mills 67.7 mi (108.95 km) 800 yds (731.52 m)
F3 June 5, 1914 3 20 E of Archer O"Brien 11.1 mi (17.86 km) 200 yds (182.88 m)
F4 June 12, 1915 0 1 S of West Union Fayette 13.5 mi (21.73 km) 100 yds (91.44 m)
F4‡ June 12, 1915 9 50 S of Elon Allamakee 30.4 mi (48.92 km) 400 yds (365.76 m)
F4 May 9, 1918 7 15 SW of Nashua Chickasaw, Floyd 50 mi (80.47 km) 800 yds (731.52 m)
F2 May 19, 1918 2 2 Davenport Scott 2.2 mi ( 3.54 km) Unknown
F3 May 21, 1918 2 15 S of Glidden Carroll 31.9 mi (51.34 km) 500 yds (457.2 m)
F4‡ May 21, 1918 9 70 N of Berkley Boone 29.5 mi (47.48 km) 1600 yds (1463.04 m)
F4 May 21, 1918 8 100 N of Wood Clayton 80.1 mi (128.9 km) 400 yds (365.76 m)
F5 May 21, 1918 4 30 E of Denison Crawford 42 mi (67.59 km) 800 yds (731.52 m)
F4 July 1, 1920 0 4 SW of Carbon Adams 19.8 mi (31.87 km) 500 yds (457.2 m)
F4 June 2, 1925 3 5 NW of Anita Cass 13.8 mi (22.2 km) 250 yds (228.6 m)
F4 June 2, 1925 0 3 W of Ticonic Monona 27.6 mi (44.42 km) 400 yds (365.76 m)
F4 June 3, 1925 1 20 N of Neola Pottawattamie 9.7 mi (15.61 km) 1500 yds (1371.6 m)
F4 June 3, 1925 0 10 N of Neola Pottawattamie 6.9 mi (11.1 km) Unknown
F4 June 16, 1926 2 24 SW of Clarinda Page 7.9 mi (12.71 km) 200 yds (182.88 m)
F3 August 20, 1928 2 20 W of Twin Lakes Calhoun 6.2 mi (9.98 km) 400 yds (365.76 m)
F4 August 20, 1928 1 8 SW of Jewell Hamilton 10.8 mi (17.38 km) 400 yds (365.76 m)
F4‡ August 20, 1928 6 60 SW of Vinje Winnebago 40.3 mi (64.86 km) Unknown
F3 August 26, 1928 4 20 Red Oak Montgomery 15 mi (21.14 km) 100 yds (91.44 m)
F4 May 1, 1930 1 15 E of Millerton Wayne 17.2 mi (27.68 km) 100 yds (91.44 m)
F4‡ May 1, 1930 4 40 W of Craig, Nebraska Harrison 15.5 mi (24.94 km) 600 yds (548.64 m)
F2 September 25, 1930 2 1 NW of Keokuk Lee 2.1 mi (3.38 km) Unknown
F4 September 21, 1931 2 8 NW of Birmingham Van Buren 45.9 mi (73.87 km) 100 yds (91.44 m)
F4 April 30, 1936 2 15 NE of Hartley O"Brien 14.8 mi (23.82 km) 100 yds (91.44 m)
F4‡ April 30, 1936 2 61 Estherville Emmet 40.2 mi (64.7 km) 800 yds (731.52 m)
F3 May 18, 1944 2 12 White Oak Polk 14.9 mi (23.98 km) 880 yds (804.67 m)
F4 May 19, 1944 1 9 W of Fort Dodge Webster 6.2 mi (9.98 km) 400 yds (365.76 m)
F4 June 16, 1944 0 1 Lebanon Sioux 8.1 mi (13.04 km) Unknown
F4 June 16, 1944 0 2 Newkirk Sioux 10 mi (16.09 km) Unknown
F4‡ June 9, 1947 1 2 SE of Elk Point, South Dakota Sioux 34.8 mi (56 km) 200 yds (182.88 m)
F4 April 23, 1948 5 25 S of Chickasaw Chickasaw 7.8 mi (12.55 km) 100 yds (91.44 m)
F4‡ June 22, 1948 1 5 S of Cook, Nebraska Fremont 51 mi (82.08 km) 300 yds (274.32 m)
F4 June 1, 1949 0 4 E of Shenandoah Page, Fremont 9.8 mi (15.77 km) 150 yds (137.16 m)

1950-present

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FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
126 1,318 971 499 121 49 6 3,117
Deaths: >101 Injuries: >2,400

A total of 3,117 recorded tornadoes have touched down in Iowa since 1950 causing 101 deaths and injuring 2,400 others. There has been 20 (E)F5 tornadoes, or 2 or more fatalities, the deadliest being the 1968 Hansell-Charles City tornado, killing 13 and injuring 462 others.

1968 Hansell-Charles City tornado

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A house completely swept off its foundation in Parkersburg after the 2008 Parkersburg-New Hartford tornado.

On May 15, 1968, a multi-vortex tornado hit the communities of Hansell, Hampton, Charles City, Elma and Aredale, all located in the state of Iowa. It killed 13, injured 462, and hundreds of buildings were destroyed, primarily in the town of Charles City. Damage estimates were of more than $20 million. All the deaths occurred in Charles City.[13]

2008 Parkersburg-New Hartford tornado

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On the afternoon of May 25, 2008, as part of a large tornado outbreak across the central plains, a large and extremely powerful EF5 wedge tornado devastated the towns of Parkersburg and New Hartford, Iowa. The tornado killed nine people and caused about $75 million in damages across in its approximately 43 mile path across northeast Iowa. The tornado killed 7 in Parkersburg, and 2 in New Hartford.[14]

2024 Greenfield tornado

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On the afternoon of May 21, 2024, a violent tornado tracked across southwestern Iowa, devastating the city of Greenfield. The tornado destroyed many structures and wind turbines across its path that stretched through Page, Taylor, Adams, and Adair counties, while also causing more than $31 million in property damage, killing five people and injuring 35 more. All the fatalities happened in the town of Greenfield.[15] A doppler on wheels estimated wind speeds of 309–318 mph (497–512 km/h), making it the third highest winds recorded in a tornado in the United States, before the El Reno tornado, and the Bridge Creek tornado.[16]

Intense (F5 or 2 or more fatalities) tornadoes in Iowa, 1950–present[10][17]
F# Date Deaths Injuries Start Location County Path length Max width
F5 June 27, 1953 1 2 W of Anita Cass 0.1 mi (0.16 km) 100 yds (91.44 m)
F5 October 14, 1966 6 172 SW of Belmond Wright 9.7 mi (15.61 km) 1000 yds (914.4 m)
F3 April 16, 1967 2 16 N of Cantril Van Buren 19.4 mi (31.22 km) 500 yds (457.2 m)
F5 May 15, 1968 13 462 NW of Hansell Franklin 62.1 mi (99.94 km) 600 yds (548.64 m)
F5 May 15, 1968 5 156 Oelwein Fayette 13.1 mi (21.08 km) 500 yds (457.2 m)
F2 June 17, 1973 2 10 Moville Woodbury 2 mi (3.22 km) 400 yds (365.76 m)
F4 June 18, 1974 2 50 Ankeny Polk 15.3 mi (24.62 km) 400 yds (365.76 m)
F5 June 13, 1976 0 9 SW of Luther Boone 21.3 mi (34.28 km) 880 yds (804.67 m)
F3 September 16, 1978 6 45 N of Rhodes Marshall 31.8 mi (51.18 km) 200 yds (182.88 m)
F3 June 28, 1979 2 34 SW of Bancroft Kossuth 15.9 mi (25.59 km) 300 yds (274.32 m)
F4 June 28, 1979 3 26 Palmer Pocahontas 14.9 mi (23.98 km) 33 yds (30.18 m)
F3‡ August 28, 1979 2 14 NE of Bartlett Fremont 38.3 mi (61.64 km) 533 yds (487.38 m)
F4‡ June 7, 1984 3 64 S of Eagleville, Missouri Harrison 134 mi (215.65 km) 250 yds (228.6 m)
F3 May 30, 1985 2 27 N of Volga Clayton 34 mi (54,72 km) 1500 yds (1371.6 m)
F3 May 16, 1999 2 16 N of Missouri Valley Harrison 7.5 mi (12.07 km) 440 yds (404.34 m)
F2 April 11, 2001 2 3 S of Ottumwa Wapello 8.4 mi (13.52 km) 100 yds (91.44 m)
EF5 May 25, 2008 9 70 S of Aplington Butler 41 mi (65.98 km) 2100 yds (1920.24 m)
EF3‡ June 11, 2008 4 48 E of Tekamah, Nebraska Burt 14.2 mi (22.85 km) 440 yds (404.34 m)
EF1 April 27, 2014 2 0 SW of Hedrick Keokuk 45.7 mi (73.55 km) 1600 yds (1463.04 m)
EF4 March 5, 2022 6 5 NW of Macksburg Madison 70.57 mi (113.57 km) 900 yds (822.96 km)
EF4 May 21, 2024 5 35 S of Villisca Montgomery 44 mi (70.81 km) 1000 yds (914.4 m)

References

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  1. ^ "Tornado Archive Data Explorer - Tornado Archive". tornadoarchive.com. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  2. ^ "Story map: Inside Tornado Alley | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration". www.noaa.gov. July 8, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2025.
  3. ^ "Why is Tornado Alley So Prone to Tornadoes?". WorldAtlas. January 8, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Cogil, Craig (2019). "Iowa Tornado Climatology 1980-2019" (PDF). Retrieved February 22, 2025.
  5. ^ US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "March 25, 1948 - The First Tornado Forecast". www.weather.gov. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  6. ^ Reyna-Rodriguez, Victoria. "How do the most recent Iowa tornadoes compare to the state's deadliest storms?". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
  7. ^ Flynn, Rachel Morey. "This Town In Iowa Was Hit By A Devastating Storm In 1860". OnlyInYourState®. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
  8. ^ Reyna-Rodriguez, Victoria. "How do the most recent Iowa tornadoes compare to the state's deadliest storms?". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  9. ^ "July 6, 1893 — Pomeroy, Iowa". Stormstalker. March 10, 2013. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
  10. ^ a b c "Tornado Archive - The Ultimate Tornado Data Viewer". tornadoarchive.com. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  11. ^ York, American Geographical Society of New (1914). Bulletin of the American Geographical Society. American Geographical Society.
  12. ^ (July 1993). Significant Tornadoes 1680–1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. ISBN 1-879362-03-1.
  13. ^ US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "May 15 1968 Iowa Tornado Summary". www.weather.gov. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  14. ^ Marshall, Timothy; Jungbluth, Karl; Baca, Abigail (March 3, 2016). "The Parkersburg, IA Tornado: 25 May 2008" (PDF). Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  15. ^ Mendiola, José. "Greenfield tornado damaged, destroyed at least 153 Iowa homes in roughly one minute". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  16. ^ Satre, Zane (June 26, 2024). "300+ mph: Greenfield, Iowa tornado had some of the strongest winds ever recorded, radar data shows". KCCI. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  17. ^ US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "2024 Iowa Tornadoes". www.weather.gov. Retrieved February 21, 2025.