Des Moines, IA Tornado History — 197 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Des Moines, IA had?
Des Moines has had 197 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 9 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Des Moines?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Des Moines was an EF1 on July 15, 2024.
When is tornado season in Des Moines?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Des Moines, with 69 on record. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Des Moines
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 73 total, averaging 3.6 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Des Moines 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Within 25 miles of Des Moines. 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 Des Moines
8 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Des Moines since 1950, across 2 events. 177 injuries have been reported across all events. 2022 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was an EF4 on March 5, 2022, which caused 6 fatalities along a 70.6-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Des Moines
About Tornadoes in Des Moines
This overview was written July 24, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Des Moines lies in the heart of central Iowa, in the rolling farmland of the Corn Belt. Its position near the center of the continent places it well within the swath of the central United States that experiences frequent severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, and the flat-to-gently-rolling terrain does little to weaken passing storm systems.
The region's tornadoes are a product of geography and season. Through spring and summer, warm and humid air drawn up from the Gulf of Mexico meets cooler air arriving from the north and west, and the boundary between them — often energized by a fast-moving jet stream — becomes a focus for rotating thunderstorms. Activity is generally greatest from late spring into the summer months, when heat and moisture make the atmosphere most volatile, but the threat is not confined to any single time of year.
Tornado strength is described using the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, which assigns a rating from EF0 to EF5 by surveying the damage a tornado leaves behind. The great majority of tornadoes are relatively weak, while the strongest and rarest cause the most severe destruction. For the specific history near Des Moines — the total number of recorded tornadoes, the breakdown by decade and rating, and the deadliest, costliest, and most recent events — see the figures compiled from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center record and presented elsewhere on this page.