Urbandale, IA Tornado History — 196 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Urbandale, IA had?
Urbandale has had 196 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 11 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Urbandale?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Urbandale was an EF1 on July 15, 2024.
When is tornado season in Urbandale?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Urbandale, with 68 on record. April through June account for 140 of the 196 tornadoes on record near Urbandale.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Urbandale
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 67 total, averaging 3.4 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Urbandale 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Trained spotter reports tornado on the ground. (DMX)
Several reports from local fire department and spotters of tornado on the ground. (DMX)
Within 25 miles of Urbandale. 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 Urbandale
8 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Urbandale since 1950, across 2 events. 188 injuries have been reported across all events. 2022 was the deadliest year on record near Urbandale.
The deadliest single event was an EF4 on March 5, 2022, which caused 6 fatalities along a 70.6-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Urbandale
What the record shows near Urbandale
The 2000s were the busiest decade near Urbandale, with 45 of the 196 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 27 so far. The Urbandale record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Urbandale, 151 reached EF0 or EF1 and 35 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Urbandale is rated EF5, of which 1 is logged. A further 10 near Urbandale are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Urbandale has averaged 3.4 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 67 in total. 2024 was the busiest of them with 18, and 5 of those years passed with none at all.