The Parkersburg tornado of May 25, 2008 was the second-ever tornado rated EF5 under the Enhanced Fujita Scale (following Greensburg 2007). It struck the small town of Parkersburg, Iowa on Memorial Day weekend afternoon, destroying most of the town, killing 9 people, and continuing 43 miles across northeast Iowa.
The tornado touched down at approximately 4:53 PM CDT in Butler County, Iowa. Within minutes it grew to EF5 intensity as it approached Parkersburg (population ~1,900). It struck the south side of Parkersburg at 4:57 PM — just four minutes after touchdown — with peak winds of approximately 205 mph.
After moving through Parkersburg, the tornado continued northeast, striking the town of New Hartford and continuing into rural Black Hawk County before dissipating after 43 miles. Total time on the ground: approximately 93 minutes.
Parkersburg was the direct hit. Damage included:
Seven people died in Parkersburg; two more died as the tornado crossed New Hartford. Damage in the two towns totaled approximately $75 million.
The National Weather Service in Des Moines issued a tornado warning for the Parkersburg area with approximately 18 minutes of lead time. Local sirens sounded well before the tornado arrived, and residents interviewed after the storm generally reported having enough warning to shelter. That the death toll was contained to 9 — rather than dozens — is largely credited to the effective warning and the availability of basements in most Parkersburg homes.
Parkersburg drew national attention in the months after the tornado because of its high school football team. Aplington-Parkersburg's beloved coach, Ed Thomas, led the community's rebuilding push and reopened the football field within weeks of the storm. The rebuilt Aplington-Parkersburg High School included FEMA-rated storm shelters. In 2009, tragically, Coach Thomas was shot and killed by a former player — a story that became a documentary and book (Coach: The Life of Ed Thomas) chronicling the community's recovery.
Parkersburg was the only EF5 of 2008, but the year overall was one of the deadliest for US tornadoes in the 21st century up to that point. Notable other events:
Total 2008 US tornado deaths: 126. The high toll contributed to Congress and NWS accelerating the deployment of dual-polarization radar upgrades in the years following.
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