Clinton, IA Tornado History — 122 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Clinton, IA had?
Clinton has had 122 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 6 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Clinton?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Clinton was an EF0 on July 11, 2025.
When is tornado season in Clinton?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Clinton, with 28 on record. April through June account for 62 of the 122 tornadoes on record near Clinton.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Clinton
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 57 total, averaging 2.9 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Clinton since December 29, 2025
These are 5 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
An EF0 tornado... with max wind speeds of 85 MPH... caused damage to trees and houses along its half-mile path. The tornado first caused some minor shingle damage to a (DVN)
A short lived EF1 tornado with max winds around 100 mph impacted a farmstead in far northern Henry County Illinois... with max width around 50 yards. Damage was largely (DVN)
An EF1 tornado passed through northern portions of Sterling... with estimated maximum wind speeds around 90 mph. Along the path... damage was done to trees (including s (DVN)
A brief EF1 tornado developed northeast of Savanna with maximum winds near 90 mph. The tornado caused tree damage... with tree fall indicative of a convergent path... a (DVN)
An NWS Storm Damage Survey Team confirmed an EF1 tornado with peak winds of 105 mph and maximum estimated width of 250 yards. Damage included over ten snapped power pol (DVN)
Within 25 miles of Clinton. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Clinton
4 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Clinton and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 20, 2025 and the most recent on July 11, 2025. They are already counted in the Clinton totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
This short-lived tornado peeled a ~45 x 40 sheet metal section of an outbuilding roof and threw it over 100 yards into a corn field. There were also crop and minor tree (DVN)
[Landspout] Brief landspout tornado persisted for one minute between Park View and Eldridge. (DVN)
EF-0 tornado with maximum winds of 85 mph and a maximum width of 50 yards resulted in several trees being snapped and uprooted throughout the Cordova Cemetery... with m (DVN)
Tornado sighted crossing Wolf Road. Trees snapped and over the road... power lines down. (DVN)
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 Clinton
1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Clinton since 1950, across 1 event. 58 injuries have been reported across all events. 1974 was the deadliest year on record near Clinton.
The deadliest single event was an F3 on June 20, 1974, which caused 1 fatality along a 10.6-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Clinton
What the record shows near Clinton
The 2010s were the busiest decade near Clinton, with 34 of the 122 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 20 so far. The Clinton record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Clinton, 100 reached EF0 or EF1 and 19 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Clinton is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged. A further 3 near Clinton are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Clinton has averaged 2.9 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 57 in total. 2017 was the busiest of them with 10, and 6 of those years passed with none at all.