Ottumwa, IA Tornado History — 87 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Ottumwa, IA had?
Ottumwa has had 87 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 5 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Ottumwa?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Ottumwa was an EF0 on November 5, 2024.
When is tornado season in Ottumwa?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Ottumwa, with 20 on record. April through June account for 58 of the 87 tornadoes on record near Ottumwa.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Ottumwa
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 21 total, averaging 1.1 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Ottumwa 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
A brief EF1 tornado... with peak winds of 90 mph... developed just south of Pekin... IA... impacting areas from Pekin Community Schools east-southeast towards Linby... (DVN)
Within 25 miles of Ottumwa. 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 Ottumwa
7 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Ottumwa since 1950, across 3 events. 95 injuries have been reported across all events. 1984 was the deadliest year on record near Ottumwa.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on June 7, 1984, which caused 3 fatalities along a 134.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Ottumwa
What the record shows near Ottumwa
The 2000s were the busiest decade near Ottumwa, with 20 of the 87 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 3 so far. The Ottumwa record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Ottumwa, 66 reached EF0 or EF1 and 21 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Ottumwa is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged.
Across the last 20 years Ottumwa has averaged 1.1 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 21 in total. 2008 was the busiest of them with 4, and 10 of those years passed with none at all.