Dubuque, IA Tornado History — 113 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Dubuque, IA had?
Dubuque has had 113 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 5 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Dubuque?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Dubuque was an EF1 on July 11, 2025.
When is tornado season in Dubuque?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Dubuque, with 35 on record. April through June account for 63 of the 113 tornadoes on record near Dubuque.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Dubuque
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 46 total, averaging 2.3 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Dubuque 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
EF-0... Est. Peak Winds-85mph. Tornado appeared to start near Penny Benton Rd and County Road I... where six trees were either uprooted... had limbs topped. One tree wa (MKX)
EF1 tornado with max winds speed of 90-95 mph begun just east of the Galena Territories causing damage to the awning of house and sporadic tree damage along its 3.7 mil (DVN)
An EF1 tornado began just northwest of the Dubuque Regional Airport. Max winds of 100 to 105 mph was observed. The tornado caused damage to trees... snapping and uproot (DVN)
Within 25 miles of Dubuque. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Dubuque
3 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Dubuque and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on July 10, 2025 and the most recent on July 11, 2025. They are already counted in the Dubuque totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
Evidence of a multiple vortex tornado EF2 tornado occurred across northern Jackson County. The tornado started north of La Motte where it damaged the roof of an agricul (DVN)
EF1 tornado with a maximum wind of 95mph identified by satellite data and confirmed by aerial survey. This tornado affected mainly crops across its 3.4 mile long path. (DVN)
Corrects previous tornado report from 1 NW Ironhills. Video of a brief touchdown... no damage observed. (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 Dubuque
1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Dubuque since 1950, across 1 event. 28 injuries have been reported across all events. 1965 was the deadliest year on record near Dubuque.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 11, 1965, which caused 1 fatality along a 91.5-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Dubuque
What the record shows near Dubuque
The 1990s were the busiest decade near Dubuque, with 20 of the 113 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 19 so far. The Dubuque record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Dubuque, 81 reached EF0 or EF1 and 29 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Dubuque is rated EF4, of which 2 are logged. A further 3 near Dubuque are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Dubuque has averaged 2.3 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 46 in total. 2007 was the busiest of them with 9, and 5 of those years passed with none at all.