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Tornado in Fayette County, Iowa
30 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 30 tornado events in Fayette County, Iowa, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 20 years.
June is the busiest month, with 8 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 9 events against 10 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 4.1 per 100 square miles compares with 6.3 statewide.
NCEI attributes 6 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 11 at (E)F0, 9 at (E)F1, 3 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 1 at (E)F4, 1 at (E)F5 and 4 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Iowa
| Measure | Fayette County | Iowa | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 30 | 3,501 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.1 | 6.3 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 15.6 | 11.0 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 6 | 100 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | June | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
4Apr
1May
7Jun
8Jul
7Aug
1Sep
1Oct
1Nov
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 30 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Jul 2021 | Tornado | EF0 | $275K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 28 Mar 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Mar 2020 | Tornado | EF1 | $165K | $5K | — | 1 | County |
| 22 Jun 2015 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | $100K | — | 2 | County |
| 24 May 2012 | Tornado | EF1 | $30K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $175K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | $22K | $45K | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | $4K | — | — | County |
| 6 Sep 2001 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | $15K | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 2001 | Tornado | F1 | $40K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 16 Jun 1996 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1994 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | $50 | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1994 | Tornado | F0 | $500 | $50 | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 1992 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 1990 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 1990 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Mar 1988 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 1983 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 1971 | Tornado | F4 | $2.5M | — | — | 4 | County |
| 12 Jul 1971 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 1971 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | 1 | — | County |
| 15 May 1968 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1968 | Tornado | F5 | $25M | — | 5 | 156 | County |
| 14 Oct 1966 | Tornado | — | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1966 | Tornado | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1966 | Tornado | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 1965 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 1964 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Fayette County had?
30 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 Fayette County?
14 Jul 2021 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Fayette County?
The tornado of 15 May 1968, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25M; 5 deaths recorded.
How does Fayette County compare with Iowa for tornado?
4.1 events per 100 square miles against 6.3 statewide; the county holds 30 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.