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Tornado in Hancock County, Iowa
28 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.
Hancock County, Iowa, has 28 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 20 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 11 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 4 events against 11 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.8% of the 3,501 tornado events recorded in Iowa; its 4.9 per 100 square miles compares with 6.3 statewide.
By rating: 10 at (E)F0, 7 at (E)F1, 8 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 1 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 1 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Iowa
| Measure | Hancock County | Iowa | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 28 | 3,501 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.9 | 6.3 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 26.3 | 11.0 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 100 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | June | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
3May
5Jun
11Jul
4Aug
1Sep
3Oct
0Nov
0Dec
1
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 28 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Jul 2025 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 2022 | Tornado | EF0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Tornado | EF0 | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | $1K | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2002 | Tornado | F0 | — | $500 | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1997 | Tornado | F1 | $50K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1994 | Tornado | F3 | $500K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1994 | Tornado | F1 | $500K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1994 | Tornado | F0 | $500 | $50 | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1994 | Tornado | F0 | $500 | $50 | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 1990 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1984 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1984 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1984 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 1982 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 1980 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1980 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Sep 1973 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Sep 1973 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 1967 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 1963 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 1957 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 1953 | Tornado | F4 | $250K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 25 Jun 1951 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | 8 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Hancock County had?
28 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 Hancock County?
28 Jul 2025 (Tornado, EF unrated). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Hancock County?
The tornado of 30 Apr 1967, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M.
How does Hancock County compare with Iowa for tornado?
4.9 events per 100 square miles against 6.3 statewide; the county holds 28 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.