Council Bluffs, IA Tornado History — 124 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Council Bluffs, IA had?
Council Bluffs has had 124 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 12 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Council Bluffs?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Council Bluffs was an EF3 on April 17, 2025.
When is tornado season in Council Bluffs?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Council Bluffs, with 36 on record. April through June account for 95 of the 124 tornadoes on record near Council Bluffs.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Council Bluffs
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 55 total, averaging 2.8 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Council Bluffs since December 29, 2025
These are 3 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
At approximately 5:33 AM... a brief tornado developed north of Tabor... Iowa... and moved east. The tornado produced sporadic tree damage near 235th Street and Pathfiel (OAX)
Trained spotter report supported by a photograph of a brief tornado touching down near Murrary... Nebraska. (OAX)
Report of damage to homes south of Plattsmouth from possible tornado. Additional chaser photo of possible tornado in the same area. Time is estimated. (OAX)
Within 25 miles of Council Bluffs. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Council Bluffs
3 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Council Bluffs and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 17, 2025 and the most recent on April 24, 2025. They are already counted in the Council Bluffs totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
Brief tornado crossed I-80. (OAX)
Report of damage via Omaha Scanner on Social Media. (OAX)
(OAX)
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 Council Bluffs
11 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Council Bluffs since 1950, across 6 events. 309 injuries have been reported across all events. 1975 was the deadliest year on record near Council Bluffs.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on May 6, 1975, which caused 3 fatalities along a 8.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Council Bluffs
What the record shows near Council Bluffs
The 2000s were the busiest decade near Council Bluffs, with 24 of the 124 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 23 so far. The Council Bluffs record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Council Bluffs, 92 reached EF0 or EF1 and 32 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Council Bluffs is rated EF4, of which 4 are logged.
Across the last 20 years Council Bluffs has averaged 2.8 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 55 in total. 2024 was the busiest of them with 14, and 5 of those years passed with none at all.