Iowa City, IA Tornado History — 129 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Iowa City, IA had?
Iowa City has had 129 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 5 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Iowa City?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Iowa City was an EF0 on June 25, 2024.
When is tornado season in Iowa City?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Iowa City, with 40 on record. April through June account for 87 of the 129 tornadoes on record near Iowa City.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Iowa City
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 40 total, averaging 2.0 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Iowa City since December 29, 2025
These are 5 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Long lived funnel cloud associated with a storm southwest of Cedar Rapids resulted in a brief touchdown just north of the Eastern Iowa Airport. This was an EFU tornado. (DVN)
Two videos of a very narrow needle-like tornado north of Ainsworth in a field. The mesocyclone appeared to be very small as well. With no known damage... this is rated (DVN)
An EF1 tornado with estimated max winds of 100-105 mph begun roughly 4 miles east-northeast of West Chester... IA. Along its 5.3 mile path... it snapped several power p (DVN)
Rope tornado on the ground near X40 east of West Branch. (DVN)
This tornado snapped/uprooted trees... bent power poles... and damaged several outbuildings along its path. The roofs on 1 machine shed and 3 hog confinement buildings (DVN)
Within 25 miles of Iowa City. 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 Iowa City
7 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Iowa City since 1950, across 4 events. 203 injuries have been reported across all events. 1984 was the deadliest year on record near Iowa City.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on June 7, 1984, which caused 3 fatalities along a 134.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Iowa City
What the record shows near Iowa City
The 1980s were the busiest decade near Iowa City, with 26 of the 129 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 23 so far. The Iowa City record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Iowa City, 92 reached EF0 or EF1 and 34 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Iowa City is rated EF4, of which 2 are logged. A further 3 near Iowa City are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Iowa City has averaged 2.0 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 40 in total. 2023 was the busiest of them with 12, and 8 of those years passed with none at all.