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Tornado in Fremont County, Iowa
39 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.
Fremont County, Iowa, has 39 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 25 different years.
April is the busiest month, with 13 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 14 events against 12 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.1% of the 3,501 tornado events recorded in Iowa; its 7.6 per 100 square miles compares with 6.3 statewide.
NCEI attributes 2 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 15 at (E)F0, 8 at (E)F1, 10 at (E)F2, 2 at (E)F3, 1 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 3 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Iowa
| Measure | Fremont County | Iowa | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 39 | 3,501 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 7.6 | 6.3 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 59.4 | 11.0 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 2 | 100 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
13May
9Jun
11Jul
1Aug
4Sep
1Oct
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 39 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Jun 2026 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2026 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2026 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2025 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2023 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2023 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2023 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2017 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2012 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | 4 | County |
| 5 Jun 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2007 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2004 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2002 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2002 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1995 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 1993 | Tornado | F0 | $50 | $50 | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 1993 | Tornado | F0 | $50 | $50 | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 1990 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1990 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 1989 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 21 May 1988 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 1983 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 1983 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | 3 | County |
| 28 Aug 1979 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | 2 | 14 | County |
| 19 Jun 1978 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1976 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 1972 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 1968 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 1968 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 1965 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1964 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1964 | Tornado | F4 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 1964 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 1959 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Fremont County had?
39 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 Fremont County?
11 Jun 2026 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Fremont County?
The tornado of 28 Aug 1979, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M; 2 deaths recorded.
How does Fremont County compare with Iowa for tornado?
7.6 events per 100 square miles against 6.3 statewide; the county holds 39 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.