Indianola, IA Tornado History — 164 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Indianola, IA had?
Indianola has had 164 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 7 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Indianola?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Indianola was an EF1 on July 15, 2024.
When is tornado season in Indianola?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Indianola, with 52 on record. April through June account for 124 of the 164 tornadoes on record near Indianola.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Indianola
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 66 total, averaging 3.3 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Indianola since December 29, 2025
This is a preliminary report, not confirmed tornadoes. It has not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and is 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Trained spotter reports tornado on the ground. (DMX)
Within 25 miles of Indianola. 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 Indianola
8 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Indianola since 1950, across 2 events. 170 injuries have been reported across all events. 2022 was the deadliest year on record near Indianola.
The deadliest single event was an EF4 on March 5, 2022, which caused 6 fatalities along a 70.6-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Indianola
What the record shows near Indianola
The 2000s were the busiest decade near Indianola, with 32 of the 164 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 25 so far. The Indianola record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Indianola, 125 reached EF0 or EF1 and 32 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Indianola is rated EF4, of which 2 are logged. A further 7 near Indianola are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Indianola has averaged 3.3 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 66 in total. 2024 was the busiest of them with 17, and 5 of those years passed with none at all.