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Complete tornado information for Iowa - from real-time warnings to historical data and comprehensive statistics dating back to 1950.
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Real-time tornado warning information for Iowa with up-to-the-minute updates from the National Weather Service.
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Tornado SafetySafetyActive and expired tornado warnings in Iowa for 2025
Live tornado warnings currently in effect for Iowa
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Explore tornado data for specific counties in Iowa. Click on any county to view detailed tornado statistics, active alerts, and historical events at the county level.
Comprehensive database of tornado events in Iowa recorded since 1950 through the end of 2024(3417 total records)
Total Tornados
3417
Total Deaths
100
Total Injuries
2340
Property Damage
$2.9B
Avg Length
3.8 mi
Avg Width
119 yd
Detailed charts and visualizations revealing tornado patterns by intensity, seasonality, and impact. These analytics show historical trends and unique characteristics of tornado activity in this region.
Shows tornado frequency across different months of the year, highlighting seasonal patterns. This information helps identify peak tornado seasons and periods of heightened risk.
Identifies the counties most frequently affected by tornadoes in this region. This geographical breakdown helps pinpoint tornado hotspots and vulnerable areas.
Summary: POLK has experienced the highest number of tornadoes (68) in Iowa, accounting for 2.0% of all tornado events in this state. The top three most tornado-prone counties (POLK, SCOTT, and WEBSTER) account for 6% of all tornado activity.
Tracks tornado occurrences and fatalities over time, revealing long-term patterns and significant events. Toggle the injuries data to see additional impact metrics.
Visualizes the financial impact of tornadoes across years using a square root scale. This approach ensures both major damage events and smaller impacts are visible on the same chart.
Shows the breakdown of tornadoes by intensity rating (EF/F scale). This distribution helps understand the prevalence of different tornado strengths and their relative frequency.
Summary: In Iowa, Rating 0 tornadoes are the most common, comprising 42.0% of all recorded events. Weak tornadoes (Rating 0-1) account for 74% of all events, while strong tornadoes (Rating 2-3) make up 22%. Violent tornadoes (Rating 4-5) are relatively rare at only 2.8% of all events, but cause disproportionate damage and casualties.
Interactive map showing the paths and touchdowns of all recorded tornado events. Explore the spatial patterns and identify frequently affected areas.
Click on a tornado path to view detailed information. Paths are colored by intensity:
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Comprehensive chronological list of all tornado events with detailed information on each occurrence. View specifics about intensity, damage, casualties, and timing for individual tornado events.
Tornado intensity is measured on two scales (learn more about tornado intensity scales):
| Rating | F Scale (1971-2007) | EF Scale (2007-Present) | Wind Speed Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | F0: 40-72 mph | EF0: 65-85 mph | EF0 has higher minimum speed (+25 mph) |
| 1 | F1: 73-112 mph | EF1: 86-110 mph | EF1 has higher minimum (+13 mph), lower maximum (-2 mph) |
| 2 | F2: 113-157 mph | EF2: 111-135 mph | EF2 has lower maximum speed (-22 mph) |
| 3 | F3: 158-206 mph | EF3: 136-165 mph | EF3 has significantly lower speeds (-22 to -41 mph) |
| 4 | F4: 207-260 mph | EF4: 166-200 mph | EF4 has drastically lower speeds (-41 to -60 mph) |
| 5 | F5: 261-318 mph | EF5: >200 mph | EF5 has significantly lower threshold (-61 mph) |
Why the Wind Speed Differences? Research showed the original F-Scale overestimated wind speeds needed to cause specific damage.
Key Improvements in the EF Scale:
For historical consistency, this website groups equivalent ratings together (e.g., both F3 and EF3 tornadoes are considered in the same intensity category despite their significant wind speed differences).