Ames, IA Tornado History — 183 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Ames, IA had?
Ames has had 183 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 14 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Ames?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Ames was an Unrated on July 19, 2025.
When is tornado season in Ames?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Ames, with 45 on record. April through June account for 108 of the 183 tornadoes on record near Ames.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Ames
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 55 total, averaging 2.8 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Ames since December 29, 2025
These are 2 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are not counted in the confirmed totals above.
Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.
Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.
Reports of Tornado on the ground. (DMX)
Several reports from local fire department and spotters of tornado on the ground. (DMX)
Within 25 miles of Ames. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Ames
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Ames and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on July 18, 2025 and the most recent on July 18, 2025. It is already counted in the Ames totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.
Radar confirmed tornado with a track evident via satellite imagery. Additional analysis and details will be determined at a later time including rating and path length. (DMX)
Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
Tornadoes by Decade
Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating
F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.
Tornadoes by Month
Casualties on Record Near Ames
10 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Ames since 1950, across 4 events. 234 injuries have been reported across all events. 1978 was the deadliest year on record near Ames.
The deadliest single event was an F3 on September 16, 1978, which caused 6 fatalities along a 31.8-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Ames
What the record shows near Ames
The 2000s were the busiest decade near Ames, with 38 of the 183 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 21 so far. The Ames record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Ames, 134 reached EF0 or EF1 and 44 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Ames is rated EF5, of which 1 is logged. A further 5 near Ames are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Ames has averaged 2.8 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 55 in total. 2014 was the busiest of them with 10, and 4 of those years passed with none at all.