Cedar Falls, IA Tornado History — 121 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Cedar Falls, IA had?
Cedar Falls has had 121 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 9 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Cedar Falls?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Cedar Falls was an Unrated on August 18, 2025.
When is tornado season in Cedar Falls?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Cedar Falls, with 36 on record. April through June account for 71 of the 121 tornadoes on record near Cedar Falls.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Cedar Falls
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 38 total, averaging 1.9 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Cedar Falls 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
A well documented... large spatially... HP supercell... low-level mesocyclone produced an EF2 tornado along its 5 mile path. Most of the damage was EF1 damage to struct (DVN)
Brief touchdown confirmed by a video received via social media. (DMX)
Within 25 miles of Cedar Falls. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
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 Cedar Falls
12 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Cedar Falls since 1950, across 4 events. 158 injuries have been reported across all events. 2008 was the deadliest year on record near Cedar Falls.
The deadliest single event was an EF5 on May 25, 2008, which caused 9 fatalities along a 41.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Cedar Falls
What the record shows near Cedar Falls
The 2000s were the busiest decade near Cedar Falls, with 33 of the 121 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 12 so far. The Cedar Falls record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Cedar Falls, 87 reached EF0 or EF1 and 28 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Cedar Falls is rated EF5, of which 1 is logged. A further 6 near Cedar Falls are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Cedar Falls has averaged 1.9 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 38 in total. 2014 was the busiest of them with 14, and 7 of those years passed with none at all.