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Tornado in Adams County, Iowa
26 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
NCEI records 26 tornado events in Adams County, Iowa, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 16 years.
June is the busiest month, with 7 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 17 events against 5 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.7% of the 3,501 tornado events recorded in Iowa; its 6.1 per 100 square miles compares with 6.3 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 10 at (E)F0, 8 at (E)F1, 1 at (E)F2, 4 at (E)F3, 2 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 1 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Iowa
| Measure | Adams County | Iowa | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 26 | 3,501 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 6.1 | 6.3 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 71.4 | 11.0 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 100 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | June | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
4Apr
5May
6Jun
7Jul
2Aug
2Sep
0Oct
0Nov
0Dec
0
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 26 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 May 2024 | Tornado | EF3 | $1.8M | — | 1 | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Tornado | EF3 | $1.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2024 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2024 | Tornado | EF0 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 2022 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 2022 | Tornado | EF0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Mar 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | $10K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | $1K | $2K | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2015 | Tornado | EF1 | $200K | $20K | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2012 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Mar 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | $15K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | $25K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 2001 | Tornado | F1 | $100K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 16 Jul 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 1999 | Tornado | F4 | $1.0M | — | — | 1 | County |
| 24 May 1989 | Tornado | F4 | $25M | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 1988 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1984 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 1981 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1959 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1958 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Adams County had?
26 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Adams County?
21 May 2024 (Tornado, EF3). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Adams County?
The tornado of 24 May 1989, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25M.
How does Adams County compare with Iowa for tornado?
6.1 events per 100 square miles against 6.3 statewide; the county holds 26 of the state's 3,501 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.