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Tornado in Wayne 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 Wayne County, Iowa, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 22 years.
April is the busiest month, with 9 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 10 events against 8 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 6.3 per 100 square miles compares with 6.3 statewide.
By rating: 9 at (E)F0, 8 at (E)F1, 11 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 4 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 1 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Iowa
| Measure | Wayne County | Iowa | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 33 | 3,501 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 6.3 | 6.3 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 50.7 | 11.0 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 100 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
6Apr
9May
5Jun
8Jul
1Aug
0Sep
1Oct
1Nov
2Dec
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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Apr 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 2022 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 2022 | Tornado | EF2 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 2022 | Tornado | EF2 | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2017 | Tornado | EF2 | $2.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Nov 2015 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Oct 2007 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Mar 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2000 | Tornado | F0 | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1991 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1991 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | 2 | County |
| 19 Jul 1990 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 1989 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 1988 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1988 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1988 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 1985 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1984 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1984 | Tornado | F4 | $25M | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1981 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1981 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1980 | Tornado | F4 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1980 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 1975 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Mar 1975 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 1970 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 1961 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 1960 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 1959 | Tornado | F4 | $250K | — | — | 5 | County |
| 10 May 1953 | Tornado | F4 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Wayne 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 Wayne County?
30 Apr 2024 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Wayne County?
The tornado of 7 Jun 1984, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25M.
How does Wayne County compare with Iowa for tornado?
6.3 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.