Which years have the most tornadoes in Iowa history?

The state's annual tornado count has topped 100 just five times since 1950.

The state's annual tornado count has topped 100 just five times since 1950.

Sir. Yeah. Yeah. Can you hear me? Ok, so we are. Ok. So we are, you're seeing, you're seeing this tornado here right now? That's just off to the, uh, ok. I gotta check my location. I'm sorry, northwest of Prescott. So we're *** little ways north of Prescott. That's, I mean, in front of you here, folks, I think we're probably three or four, maybe five miles straight north of town. So Lake Ikaria would be just off to the west and southwest. That's the tornado right now. It's gonna kind of pass by us just to the north and west. It can't be more than maybe *** mile or two away. So this is northern Adams County, kind of north central Adams County. That's the tornado you're seeing on the ground, folks. It's, it's *** pretty viol looking one. There's, it's not fully condensed the ground at all times. You see it's kind of grungy looking, you can sort of see through it at times, but it is definitely *** circulation all the way to the ground. There's some rain wrapping around it *** little bit. We still have winds blowing into the storm right now. Uh, from So we're looking basically straight west off of, uh, what county road are we on here? Let me check my location quick. Ok. We're on County Road. Uh, N 61 or Quincy Avenue would be what it would be called. We are about four or five miles straight north of Prescott. The tornado is just passing by us to the west northwest. Maybe I would say less than *** mile. It's gonna kind of pass by this, uh little substation here that you can see just past our stop sign. So it's continuing to try off to the north and east. This is going to head up towards about William, the little town Williamson there on the uh northeastern side, northeastern part of Adams County. So it's headed that direction right now. We're gonna, yeah, Robbie Brian's moving the cameras. You can see it right behind that power line substation, really some gusty winds coming too. If you can see *** little bit of the grass blowing in the ditches behind us as well. That's your tornado. It's definitely on the ground and it's continuing off to the north and east. We're probably gonna have to reposition here now. So our shots, you're probably gonna lose our shot here shortly. Um Yeah, because we want to keep up with this tornado as it continues off to the north and east again, north central northeastern Adams County, uh basically *** few miles north of Prescott is where this tornado is right now.

Which years have the most tornadoes in Iowa history?

The state's annual tornado count has topped 100 just five times since 1950.

A total of 125 tornadoes struck Iowa in 2024. That breaks the 2004 record of 120, and is the most tornadoes in a year since records began.On average, Iowa experiences about 50 tornadoes per year, although there is significant variation around that mark. Here are the last 10 years' worth of tornadoes in the state:2024 – 1252023 – 722022 – 422021 – 1142020 – 282019 – 542018 – 692017 – 552016 – 432015 – 58Tornado records date back to 1950. Since then, Iowa's annual tornado count has topped 100 just five times.Most Tornadoes in Iowa History2024 – 1252004 – 1202021 – 1142008 – 105 (tie)2001 – 105 (tie)2014 – 881998 – 721990 – 712018 – 691984 – 61 Why so many tornadoes in recent history?While the tornado record book goes back more than 70 years, seven of the 10 busiest years have come since 2000. What has caused this?Technological improvements explain much of the increase in confirmed tornadoes during recent decades.Long ago, many weak tornadoes went unnoticed. High-resolution Doppler radar has made these small, often short-lived circulations easier to detect in real-time. The rise of storm chasing has had an impact as well.After storms are gone, meteorologists can now use tools like detailed satellite imagery and drones to find and document these tornadoes' paths.This has led to an increased number of tornadoes rated EF-Unknown, EF-0, or EF-1.Prior to 1990, these lower-end tornadoes accounted for 58 percent of Iowa's total. Since 1990, that share has shot up to 86 percent. In short, the frequency of strong tornadoes has not really increased. We're just much better at finding the weak ones.This makes it hard to compare the number of tornadoes in recent years to decades ago.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

A total of 125 tornadoes struck Iowa in 2024. That breaks the 2004 record of 120, and is the most tornadoes in a year since records began.

On average, Iowa experiences about 50 tornadoes per year, although there is significant variation around that mark.

Here are the last 10 years' worth of tornadoes in the state:

2024 – 125
2023 – 72
2022 – 42
2021 – 114
2020 – 28
2019 – 54
2018 – 69
2017 – 55
2016 – 43
2015 – 58

Tornado records date back to 1950. Since then, Iowa's annual tornado count has topped 100 just five times.

Most Tornadoes in Iowa History

2024 – 125
2004 – 120
2021 – 114
2008 – 105 (tie)
2001 – 105 (tie)
2014 – 88
1998 – 72
1990 – 71
2018 – 69
1984 – 61

Why so many tornadoes in recent history?

While the tornado record book goes back more than 70 years, seven of the 10 busiest years have come since 2000.

What has caused this?

Technological improvements explain much of the increase in confirmed tornadoes during recent decades.

Long ago, many weak tornadoes went unnoticed. High-resolution Doppler radar has made these small, often short-lived circulations easier to detect in real-time. The rise of storm chasing has had an impact as well.

After storms are gone, meteorologists can now use tools like detailed satellite imagery and drones to find and document these tornadoes' paths.

This has led to an increased number of tornadoes rated EF-Unknown, EF-0, or EF-1.

Prior to 1990, these lower-end tornadoes accounted for 58 percent of Iowa's total. Since 1990, that share has shot up to 86 percent.

In short, the frequency of strong tornadoes has not really increased. We're just much better at finding the weak ones.

This makes it hard to compare the number of tornadoes in recent years to decades ago.

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