Iowa Tornadoes
Iowa tornado history: home to Parkersburg 2008 (second-ever EF5), the 1968 Charles City-Oelwein double F5, and consistent central US supercell activity.
Notable Iowa Tornadoes with Full Details
Parkersburg-New Hartford 2008 EF5
- May 25, 2008Second-ever tornado rated EF5. 9 killed on Memorial Day weekend. Read the full story ->
Other Historic Iowa Tornadoes
- Charles City, IA (May 15, 1968) - F5, 13 killed
- Oelwein, IA (May 15, 1968) - F5, same outbreak as Charles City, 5 killed
- Belmond, IA (October 14, 1966) - F5
- Chandler, MN / Iowa border area (June 16, 1992) - F5
- Iowa City (April 13, 2006) - F2 through the university
- Marshalltown, IA (July 19, 2018) - EF3
Key Facts About Iowa Tornado Activity
- Iowa is one of only ~10 US states to have had multiple F5/EF5 tornadoes since 1950
- The 1968 Charles City-Oelwein outbreak produced two F5s in a single afternoon
- Peak tornado month for Iowa is June, later than Great Plains states
Iowa Tornado Season
Peak: May-August. See our tornado season guide -> and tornado safety guide ->.
Try the interactive simulator
Place an EF0–EF5 tornado anywhere in the world and see modeled fatalities, structural damage, and economic loss based on real census data.
Launch simulator →🛡️ Preparedness resources
🚨NOAA weather radio
Midland WR120 — the standard
Storm shelter installation
Local certified installers
Try the interactive simulator
Place an EF0–EF5 tornado anywhere in the world and see modeled fatalities, structural damage, and economic loss based on real census data.
Launch simulator →