Fort Dodge, IA Tornado History — 164 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Fort Dodge, IA had?
Fort Dodge has had 164 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 8 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Fort Dodge?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Fort Dodge was an Unrated on June 4, 2024.
When is tornado season in Fort Dodge?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Fort Dodge, with 52 on record. April through June account for 99 of the 164 tornadoes on record near Fort Dodge.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Fort Dodge
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 67 total, averaging 3.4 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Fort Dodge 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Reports of Tornado on the ground. (DMX)
Multiple trees down upwards of 8 inches in diameter. Time estimated via radar. (DMX)
Within 25 miles of Fort Dodge. 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 Fort Dodge
5 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Fort Dodge since 1950, across 3 events. 80 injuries have been reported across all events. 1979 was the deadliest year on record near Fort Dodge.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on June 28, 1979, which caused 3 fatalities along a 14.9-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Fort Dodge
What the record shows near Fort Dodge
The 2020s are the busiest decade on record so far near Fort Dodge, with 34 of the 164 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles. The Fort Dodge record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Fort Dodge, 113 reached EF0 or EF1 and 36 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Fort Dodge is rated EF4, of which 5 are logged. A further 15 near Fort Dodge are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Fort Dodge has averaged 3.4 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 67 in total. 2021 was the busiest of them with 24, and 4 of those years passed with none at all.