States › Iowa › Cherokee County › Tornado
Tornado in Cherokee County, Iowa
33 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 33 tornado events in Cherokee County, Iowa, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 22 years.
August is the busiest month, with 6 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 15 events against 5 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.9% of the 3,501 tornado events recorded in Iowa; its 5.7 per 100 square miles compares with 6.3 statewide.
By rating: 13 at (E)F0, 8 at (E)F1, 4 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 1 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 7 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Iowa
| Measure | Cherokee County | Iowa | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 33 | 3,501 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 5.7 | 6.3 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 28.7 | 11.0 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 100 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | August | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
1Apr
3May
5Jun
5Jul
3Aug
6Sep
2Oct
5Nov
0Dec
3
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 33 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 May 2026 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2026 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2026 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2026 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Tornado | EF1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Tornado | EF1 | $1.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Oct 2015 | Tornado | EF0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Oct 2013 | Tornado | EF1 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Oct 2013 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Oct 2013 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Oct 2013 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2001 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2001 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1997 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 1991 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 1987 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 1985 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 1984 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1984 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Sep 1983 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 1980 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Sep 1977 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1968 | Tornado | F1 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 1966 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Mar 1963 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 1960 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1958 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 1958 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 1952 | Tornado | F4 | $2.5M | — | — | 4 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Cherokee County had?
33 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 Cherokee County?
17 May 2026 (Tornado, EF unrated). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Cherokee County?
The tornado of 23 Jun 1952, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M.
How does Cherokee County compare with Iowa for tornado?
5.7 events per 100 square miles against 6.3 statewide; the county holds 33 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.