52619 Zip Code Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in 52619 Zip Code is about the same as Iowa average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in 52619 Zip Code is much lower than Iowa average and is higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #226
| 52619 Zip Code | 0.00 |
| Iowa | 0.00 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #1
| 52619 Zip Code | 0.0000 |
| Iowa | 0.0000 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #1034
| 52619 Zip Code | 163.16 |
| Iowa | 236.74 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 3,302 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of 52619 Zip Code were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 21 | Cold: | 36 | Dense Fog: | 25 | Drought: | 26 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 431 | Hail: | 974 | Heat: | 22 | Heavy Snow: | 62 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 33 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 66 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 1,280 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 0 | Winter Storm: | 64 | Winter Weather: | 51 |
| Other: | 211 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near 52619 Zip Code.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near 52619 Zip Code.
No historical earthquake events found in or near 52619 Zip Code.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 68 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near 52619 Zip Code.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 5.2 | 2003-05-10 | 2 | 40°32'N / 91°35'W | 40°38'N / 91°25'W | 11.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 1.0M | 0 | Lee |
| Brief Description: Tornado developed 1.5 miles west of Argyle at 1728 CST and moved northeast for 11.5 miles before dissipating 1.3 miles North of Viele at 1747 CST. A maximum rating of F2 was noted just west of Argyle where a house was turned approximately 120 degrees and moved 25 to 40 feet off its foundation. Three teens ran inside the house and sought shelter, 2 in an interior bathroom and the other under the stairs. Three large trees on the back edge of the property stopped the house and likely prevented the teens from being injured or killed. The remainder of the damage path saw F0 and F1 damage. | |||||||||||
| 9.6 | 1973-05-01 | 3 | 40°25'N / 91°44'W | 40°27'N / 91°40'W | 3.60 Miles | 440 Yards | 2 | 20 | 2.5M | 0 | Clark |
| 11.0 | 1964-04-26 | 2 | 40°36'N / 91°45'W | 2.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Van Buren | |
| 13.3 | 1999-04-08 | 3 | 40°21'N / 91°27'W | 40°25'N / 91°20'W | 7.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 15.0M | 0 | Hancock |
| Brief Description: A tornado developed just west of Warsaw in Hancock County and produced F2 damage to homes in the south part of the community. 2 homes were destroyed while another 30 structures suffered damage, including the high school track and football field and fairgrounds. Trees and branches were blown down in many parts of town. The tornado moved northeast into Hamilton where F3 damage occurred. The tornado destroyed or damaged 144 homes and businesses amounting to 10 million dollars in total damage. 4 people suffered minor injuries. The KHQA-TV tower and KOKX radio tower were destroyed. Governor George Ryan declared Hancock County a state disaster area. The tornado weakened and lifted just northeast of Hamilton. Strong thunderstorms continued over much of Hamilton County in the wake of the tornado producing torrential rain and water over various roads in town. | |||||||||||
| 14.6 | 1954-04-30 | 2 | 40°17'N / 91°44'W | 40°24'N / 91°40'W | 8.30 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Boone |
| 15.4 | 1954-04-30 | 2 | 40°40'N / 91°30'W | 40°48'N / 91°25'W | 9.90 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Lee |
| 16.1 | 1974-04-13 | 3 | 40°16'N / 91°29'W | 40°23'N / 91°20'W | 11.00 Miles | 700 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Hancock |
| 16.5 | 1964-08-20 | 2 | 40°41'N / 91°48'W | 0.30 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Van Buren | |
| 16.5 | 1974-04-13 | 2 | 40°17'N / 91°30'W | 40°19'N / 91°25'W | 4.30 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Clark |
| 16.7 | 1967-04-30 | 2 | 40°38'N / 91°19'W | 40°40'N / 91°16'W | 2.30 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Lee |
| 17.9 | 1977-05-04 | 2 | 40°47'N / 91°36'W | 2.00 Miles | 60 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Lee | |
| 18.5 | 1960-03-29 | 2 | 40°40'N / 91°20'W | 40°46'N / 91°18'W | 6.60 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Lee |
| 18.7 | 1967-01-24 | 3 | 40°40'N / 91°19'W | 40°42'N / 91°14'W | 4.30 Miles | 300 Yards | 1 | 6 | 250K | 0 | Lee |
| 18.7 | 1995-05-13 | 2 | 40°28'N / 92°01'W | 40°30'N / 91°49'W | 8.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 3 | 630K | 0 | Clark |
| Brief Description: A tornado touched down near Arbela damaging at least half a dozen moble homes at a camp ground. As it moved east, just north of Highway 136, several homes, businesses, barns, and outbuildings were destroyed. Two people were slightly injured when the windows in their car shattered as the vehicle was tossed around by the tornado. A woman was injured in the Granger area when the roof of her home was torn off and a 2x6 support beam fell in. The tornado crossed the county line around 1430 CST and leveled a home and nearby farm before dissipating over an open field northeast of Luray. | |||||||||||
| 22.8 | 1967-01-24 | 2 | 40°42'N / 91°14'W | 40°45'N / 91°12'W | 3.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 4 | 250K | 0 | Lee |
| 23.0 | 1973-04-20 | 3 | 40°26'N / 92°03'W | 40°33'N / 91°57'W | 9.50 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Scotland |
| 25.3 | 2003-05-10 | 2 | 40°08'N / 91°30'W | 40°13'N / 91°21'W | 10.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | Adams |
| Brief Description: The tornado that hit Canton, Missouri crossed the Mississippi River Lock and Dam 20 just southwest of Meyer. The tornado was weak, F0 in intensity, as it moved east northeast across the Illinois flood plain causing only sporadic tree damage. The tornado began to strengthen as it moved off the flood plain and severely damaged a home and garage along County Road 603 about 1 mile southwest of Lima. The tornado reached its maximum strength just southwest of Lima where it caused major damage. The tornado cut a 200-300 yard wide path of damage across the north side of Lima. About 40-50 structures were damaged by the tornado. Several barns and similar type buildings were destroyed as were 2 mobile homes. One frame house lost its entire roof with several others suffering major roof damage. There were only 4 injuries as everyone took shelter in basements or interior rooms. | |||||||||||
| 26.9 | 2003-05-10 | 2 | 40°12'N / 91°20'W | 40°27'N / 90°55'W | 28.40 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 400K | 0 | Hancock |
| Brief Description: Tornado developed in Adams County (WFO LSX) and moved northeast, entering Hancock county 1.2 miles southeast of Tioga at 1749 CST. The tornado moved in a northeast direction for 10.7 miles, passing 2.5 miles south of Basco where F2 damage was noted, and then turned slightly right. The tornado continued northeast for 17.7 miles, passing 1.2 miles south of Bentley and exited into McDonough County 3.9 miles SE of Fountain Green at 1830 CST. Most damage along the path in Hancock County was F0 and F1. The tornado was on the ground for a total of 28.4 miles in Hancock County. | |||||||||||
| 27.1 | 1959-05-09 | 3 | 40°52'N / 91°47'W | 40°54'N / 91°46'W | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Van Buren | ||
| 27.2 | 2006-04-02 | 2 | 40°45'N / 92°00'W | 40°47'N / 91°57'W | 3.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 30K | 0 | Van Buren |
| Brief Description: Rated F2. Tornado touched down about 0.5 miles west of Pittsburg near a cemetery and continued northeast for 3 miles just along the west edge of the Des Moines River. Along this path, 2 homes were unroofed and 4 outbuildings were destroyed. Many trees were snapped or uprooted and power poles were blown down. | |||||||||||
| 27.3 | 1965-08-25 | 3 | 40°52'N / 91°18'W | 3.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Des Moines | |
| 27.3 | 1977-05-04 | 2 | 40°52'N / 91°18'W | 2.00 Miles | 10 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Des Moines | |
| 27.8 | 1957-05-21 | 2 | 40°07'N / 91°43'W | 40°09'N / 91°39'W | 3.60 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Lewis |
| 28.1 | 1999-04-08 | 2 | 40°06'N / 91°55'W | 40°14'N / 91°43'W | 16.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.1M | 0 | Lewis |
| Brief Description: A tornado tore a 16 mile path of destruction across Lewis County causing an estimated $2.1 million in damage. The tornado first formed near LaBelle, where it destroyed a modular home and seriously damaged another home. Several barns were destroyed as were numerous sheds and other farm outbuildings. Several homes in town also sustained roof and siding damage. A pickup truck was picked up and moved about 100 yards. The woman occupant suffered minor injuries. The tornado moved northeast and reached its maximum strength in the Midway area, near the intersection of Highway H and Y. In this area 2 homes were considered destroyed as were 3 barns and numerous sheds and outbuildings. The tornado caused more damage as it moved northeast between Monticello and Williamstown. A couple of barns were destroyed as were several outbuildings. Two homes suffered roof damage. There was 1 injury in this area. A man suffered a cut on his head when hit by flying debris. | |||||||||||
| 28.4 | 1967-04-16 | 3 | 40°42'N / 92°06'W | 40°54'N / 91°50'W | 19.40 Miles | 500 Yards | 2 | 16 | 2.5M | 0 | Van Buren |
| 29.6 | 2008-04-10 | 2 | 40°43'N / 92°03'W | 40°45'N / 92°04'W | 2.00 Miles | 220 Yards | 0 | 0 | 150K | 0K | Van Buren |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: An EF2 tornado moved northeast from just southeast of Lebanon to just northeast of Lebanon during the early evening of April 10th. A wine shed and mobile home were destroyed. The top was ripped off of a silo and the second story of a winery was damaged. A house sustained minor structural damage and several large trees were topped off. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Heavy rain-producing thunderstorms moved across Northeast Missouri, Eastern Iowa, and west central & northwest Illinois during the late afternoon and evening hours of April 10th. Some of the storms produced tornadoes ranging in intensity from EF0 to EF2. | |||||||||||
| 30.9 | 1970-05-13 | 2 | 40°11'N / 92°03'W | 40°16'N / 91°57'W | 7.60 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Knox |
| 31.0 | 1957-05-21 | 2 | 40°05'N / 91°47'W | 40°07'N / 91°43'W | 3.80 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Lewis |
| 31.3 | 1967-04-21 | 2 | 40°53'N / 91°56'W | 41°04'N / 91°21'W | 32.80 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Van Buren |
| 31.7 | 1977-05-04 | 2 | 40°58'N / 91°33'W | 41°00'N / 91°31'W | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Henry | ||
| 33.8 | 2003-05-10 | 2 | 39°56'N / 91°50'W | 40°09'N / 91°30'W | 20.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 6 | 5.0M | 0 | Lewis |
| Brief Description: A tornado formed just north of the Marion Lewis County line and continued northeast for 20 miles, eventually causing major damage in the city of Canton. The tornado first formed southeast of Steffenville where it damaged a barn and other outbuildings. Six homes suffered varying degrees of roof damage as the tornado crossed Highway N south of Ewing. The tornado crossed Highway 6 southeast of Ewing and damaged an electric substation. From Highway CC north to Highway P, about 20 homes and farm buildings suffered varying degrees of roof, siding and window damage. Numerous large trees were either uprooted or snapped off near the ground as well. The tornado crossed Highway 61 just southeast of Canton where it blew two tractor trailers off the road. Two men suffered minor injuries. The tornado then entered Canton about 630 pm. Information from Emergency Management personnel and city officials in Canton revealed 75-100 structures damaged with at least 40 receiving major damage. At Culver-Stockton College on the southeast side of town, the field house was flattened and another two story building lost its roof. Several very large trees on the campus were uprooted or snapped off near the ground. Four mobile homes on the north side of town were destroyed with four others suffering major damage. There were only 4 minor injuries reported in Canton. | |||||||||||
| 34.0 | 2003-05-10 | 2 | 40°13'N / 92°12'W | 40°18'N / 92°01'W | 7.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Knox |
| Brief Description: A damage survey completed by National Weather Service personnel of Knox County Missouri revealed a 7 mile long tornado path just north of Edina northeast to the Knox Scotland County line. The tornado first started about 4 miles north of Edina along Highway EE. Three power poles were snapped off and a couple of trees damaged. The tornado strengthened as it moved northeast causing damage along County Road 44, Highway K, and County Road 48. Numerous trees were mangled, farm outbuildings destroyed and power lines downed. A home along County Road 48 suffered major damage losing its roof and one wall. The damage at this point was rated F2, the strongest along the tornado path. The width of the damage at this point was about 200 yards wide. The damage path continued northeast downing trees and power lines. It crossed Highway V just west of County Road 76. Along Highway V, 2 grains bins were destroyed , an old abandoned house was destroyed, and a home lost its garage and part of the roof. The tornado continued northeast and crossed into Scotland County near the North Fabius River. | |||||||||||
| 35.4 | 1959-05-09 | 3 | 40°54'N / 91°46'W | 41°09'N / 91°40'W | 17.80 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Jefferson |
| 36.0 | 1967-01-24 | 3 | 40°52'N / 92°05'W | 25.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Van Buren | |
| 36.7 | 1967-01-24 | 4 | 40°35'N / 92°16'W | 40°41'N / 92°14'W | 6.80 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Davis |
| 37.2 | 1970-06-12 | 2 | 39°59'N / 91°47'W | 40°01'N / 91°40'W | 6.20 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Lewis |
| 37.6 | 1974-05-30 | 2 | 40°04'N / 91°22'W | 40°02'N / 91°04'W | 15.80 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 12 | 2.5M | 0 | Adams |
| 37.7 | 1974-04-13 | 2 | 40°14'N / 90°57'W | 40°18'N / 90°55'W | 4.30 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 10 | 2.5M | 0 | Hancock |
| 38.0 | 1989-04-27 | 2 | 40°48'N / 92°16'W | 40°44'N / 92°10'W | 6.00 Miles | 60 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Davis |
| 38.0 | 1967-04-21 | 3 | 41°00'N / 91°56'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Jefferson | |||
| 38.1 | 1975-11-09 | 2 | 40°53'N / 92°07'W | 40°54'N / 92°06'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Van Buren | ||
| 38.5 | 1975-11-09 | 2 | 40°54'N / 92°06'W | 41°00'N / 91°59'W | 8.80 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Jefferson |
| 38.8 | 1966-05-23 | 2 | 40°58'N / 91°11'W | 41°01'N / 91°07'W | 4.10 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Des Moines |
| 38.8 | 1973-09-30 | 3 | 40°14'N / 90°56'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Hancock | |||
| 39.3 | 1974-05-13 | 2 | 41°00'N / 91°09'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Des Moines | |
| 40.4 | 1955-05-26 | 2 | 40°02'N / 91°09'W | 1.50 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Adams | |
| 40.4 | 1990-03-08 | 2 | 40°12'N / 90°57'W | 40°12'N / 90°54'W | 2.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Hancock |
| 40.8 | 1988-05-08 | 2 | 40°54'N / 92°10'W | 40°55'N / 92°09'W | 3.00 Miles | 60 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | Wapello |
| 41.0 | 1982-09-13 | 2 | 40°59'N / 92°11'W | 41°01'N / 91°53'W | 13.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Jefferson |
| 41.6 | 1974-04-13 | 2 | 40°18'N / 90°55'W | 40°26'N / 90°41'W | 15.20 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Mcdonough |
| 41.9 | 1988-05-08 | 2 | 40°55'N / 92°09'W | 41°10'N / 91°49'W | 27.00 Miles | 60 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | Jefferson |
| 42.1 | 1954-04-30 | 2 | 39°39'N / 92°02'W | 40°17'N / 91°44'W | 46.40 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Boone |
| 42.9 | 1958-06-08 | 2 | 40°55'N / 92°12'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Wapello | |||
| 43.0 | 1967-01-24 | 2 | 40°51'N / 90°56'W | 40°55'N / 90°51'W | 5.70 Miles | 77 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Henderson |
| 44.0 | 1967-01-24 | 4 | 40°24'N / 92°32'W | 40°35'N / 92°16'W | 18.90 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | Schuyler |
| 44.9 | 1988-05-08 | 2 | 40°45'N / 92°29'W | 40°54'N / 92°10'W | 15.00 Miles | 60 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | Davis |
| 45.2 | 1999-04-08 | 3 | 40°45'N / 92°25'W | 40°52'N / 92°16'W | 11.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 550K | 0 | Davis |
| Brief Description: As mentioned in the narrative above, an intense low pressure formed to the southwest of Iowa. The low tracked northeast and lifted into eastern Nebraska. Ahead of the low, a strong low level jet of around 60 knots continued through the day. A nearly stationary frontal boundary extended east from the low. It lifted into southeast Nebraska during the day, but made little progress into southern Iowa. Lines of thunderstorms formed along the boundary through the day and lifted north rapidly. These storms were elevated in nature and as a result produced most of their severe weather in the form of hail. As the day unfolded, a sharp dry line was clearly evident on the satellite as early as 1600 UTC across Kansas. This line raced east during the day. By afternoon, a speed max had rotated around the upper low to the southwest with wind speeds measured by the Lathrop wind profiler at 100 knots at 500 mb by mid afternoon. Jet stream winds were in excess of 120 knots at the same time. Combined with the dynamic situation mentioned above, considerable moisture convergence took place near the triple point between the warm front and the dry line. Surface dew points pooled into to the mid 60s to even a few 70 degree F. dew point readings over northwest Missouri, southeast Nebraska, and southwest Iowa. Meanwhile, dew points fell into the upper 20s over northeast Kansas and south central Nebraska behind the dry line, with teens over central and south central Kansas. Thunderstorms erupted along the dry line by mid day and advanced east through the afternoon. Low level helicity values topped out between 500 and 600 (m/s)**2 just before the first tornadoes formed. Most of the storms in the warm sector became tornadic quickly. The northern limit of the tornado tracks extended about 10 miles or so north of the warm front. Tracks became intermittent very quickly as soon as the storms crossed the surface warm front due to the layer of very cold air just north of the front. Surface temperatures on the cold side of the front were only in the upper 40s to mid 50s. The entire day was very active. Initially, warm air advection thunderstorms produced hail at many locations of central and northern Iowa. Most of is was just below severe levels however. The activity that developed during the afternoon was a combination of warm air advection and the approach of the dryline. At the beginning of the event, the main weather feature was in the form of hail. There were numerous reports of hail three quarters to one and three quarters inch in diameter. The largest hail fell in Guthrie and Dallas Counties with reports of golf ball size hail. One of the storms in the initial wave of afternoon activity became stronger as it moved into southern Story County. Initially, high winds of 60 MPH or more swept through Sheldahl area of Boone County. Greene County was also affected by high winds from the storms. A tornado dropped out of the storm as it moved into the Slater area and was on the ground for about 2 miles. Initial estimates showed 44 homes and businesses damaged in Story County, one was destroyed with major damage to another. Thirty six homes and four businesses were damaged in the town of Slater. Two people were injured during the passage of the tornado. One of the injuries involved a 70 year old man who was picked up by the tornadoes winds and thrown about 10 feet before he latched on to something. His shoulder was dislocated and he required 6 stitches due to his injuries in his hand. High winds northeast of Slater knocked several cars of a Burlington Northern freight train off the tracks after they were blown more than one quarter mile down the track. It was not possible to determine of the cars were knocked off by the tornado or high winds however. This band of storms continue to race and develop northeast through the afternoon. Damage became more sporadic, however high winds occurred as far northeast as Hardin County, with 70 MPH winds reported near New Providence. Hail reports came in from as far northeast as Grundy and Black Hawk Counties, though it was only three quarters of an inch in diameter. Attention then shifted to the tornadic storms that formed near the dry line. During the afternoon, six more tornadoes touched down in Iowa, several of which were long track tornadoes. The first touched down in Taylor County and tracked through Adams, Cass, and Adair Counties. This tornado had was an F4 intensity tornado in parts of Adair and Adams Counties. Damage was extensive with $1,000,000 damage reported in both Adams and Adair Counties. Entire farmsteads were swept clean by the tornado. At one time this tornado was a mile wide wedge with a damage path nearly two miles wide due to the circulation around the tornado. Eyewitness reports indicated that the tornado split into two distinct tornadoes at times, similar to what occurred with the intense F4 tornado in Adair County of 27 May 1995. One of the farmsteads hit near Nodaway was levelled. Reports indicated that a check was blown from the house nearly 100 miles and was found in the town of Jefferson in Greene County. Other checks and papers were found strewn along the path, stretching from Jefferson all the way back to northwest Taylor County. In Adair County, one account indicated pieces of sheet metal from one farm was lifted and deposited six miles away from the farm. Two people were injured by this tornado, one in Adams County with the other in Adair County. One of the injuries Adair County was serious as a man suffered a broken back when the tornado lifted his semi-tractortrailer truck from the Interstate and threw it into a nearby field. The other injuries from this tornado were minor enough that the people were taken to the hospital, treated, and released. There was one account of a horse being picked up by the tornado. It was lifted into the air and thrown through a stand of pine trees 40 feet high. The horse suffered serious injuries and required significant medical attention do to lacerations. The horse amazingly did survive against all odds, though was said would likely lose sight in one eye. The next tornado touched down in Union County and tracked across Madison and Dallas Counties. This tornado had an F4 strength in Union and decreased to a strong F2 in Madison Counties before intensifying again to near F3 strength as it headed into Dallas County. Damage in Union County was around $2,000,000, and around $350,000 in Madison County. There was one person injured by this tornado in Union County. In an amazing account, the Union County Sheriff reported watching as the tornado lifted the car in front of him 35 feet in the air and throwing it 250 feet. The driver was inside during this time and came out of the situation uninjured. Five coal cars were knocked off the tracks in Union County by the tornado as well. This tornado also had a double structure. From eye witness accounts, which also can be shown on Doppler radar imagery, suggest a small rope like tornado passed through the Twelve Mile Lake area shortly before the passage of the main tornado. The next tornado was a weak tornado which touched down about 4 miles west of downtown Des Moines. The tornado did little damage, but did affect one house and several trees. The tornado was seen by a local television sky camera. A short time later, an F2 tornado touched down in Warren County and tracked into southeast Polk County. The track was over rural areas and damage from it was relatively minor. A more significant F3 tornado tracked from northern Lucas County, and weakened to an F2 as it moved across Warren, part of marion, and into Jasper County. One house was destroyed in Lucas County with the four people inside sustaining minor injuries. Once again, this tornado tracked across mostly rural areas, though it did hit a business and two homes in Jasper County and did $1,000,000 in damage. One person was injured in Jasper County. The last tornado touched down in Davis County at Bloomfield and tracked northeast into Wapello County with a maximum strength of F3. Damage in Davis County was over $500,000 as 64 homes and businesses were damaged in the Bloomfield area. To the northeast, the area of the tornado track was mostly rural and damage was limited to outbuildings for the most part. One farmstead reported severe damage near Floris in Davis County. The house was nearly levelled and several outbuildings were completely destroyed. Parts of the house and outbuildings were found as far as 5 miles away from the farmstead. As the storms moved north, high winds were produced over Story County east of Story City. High winds toppled a tractor semi-trailer truck east of Story City on Interstate 35, injuring the driver. Two cars and a truck were also blown off Interstate 35 in Hamilton County. Four people were injured. Two were taken to the hospital, treated, and released. Two were listed in serious condition, one with a neck fracture, the other with a shoulder fracture. The later incident appeared to be from the rear flank downdraft behind the storm and not the initial gust front. From the preliminary data, 178 homes and business were damaged or destroyed by the tornadic storms as well as countless outbuildings. There were several reports of livestock loss as well. It is truly amazing that there was no loss of life during this event and even more amazing is the fact that the injuries that did occur were all minor. Twenty counties in Iowa experienced serious damage from the storms of the day. Iowa Governor Vilsack declared several counties in Iowa disaster areas. These included Taylor, Union, Adams, and Adair Counties. High winds accompanied the storms as the moved through Appanoose County. A local gas station recorded an 81 MPH wind gust as the storms cut a half mile wide swath of destruction west of Moravia. There were numerous reports of cattle killed by the storms. Some were killed by the tornadoes and flying debris, others by lightning. Reports in Adair County, northwest of Fontanelle indicated about 25 head of cattle were struck by lightning shortly before a tornado moved through that area. As the area of storms that produced the high winds north of Ames in central Iowa moved north, they lost their punch. A few of the storms did remain quite strong however. As the area of thunderstorms moved through Cerro Gordo County, high winds blew down a 60 foot corn crib and did some other damage on a farm near Rockwell. | |||||||||||
| 45.5 | 1999-04-05 | 2 | 40°32'N / 90°43'W | 40°37'N / 90°41'W | 6.40 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 6K | 0 | Mcdonough |
| Brief Description: The tornado first touched down along Highway 9 southwest of Good Hope snapping several trees. From there the tornado moved northeast across Town Fork Creek damaging several trees in a densely wooded area and snapping two large trees along a county road. Damage along this path was rated F0. As the tornado continued northeast it moved through plowed farmland and approached a homestead along north-south county road west of Good Hope. The house sustained no structural damage, but several outbuildings suffered substantial damage. An older concrete block hog house was destroyed while the roof and sides of a new machine shed were torn off. A grain bin was blown about 500 yards from the home site into a neighboring field. Damage along this path was rated F2. For the next several miles the tornado tracked through plowed farmland snapping a few trees and blowing over several fences. The tornado then approached US Highway 67 just south of the McDonough-Warren County line. The tornado snapped two very large oak trees at a homestead with one landing on the house. It continued on a northeast track snapping several trees and damaging a roof on a homestead just south of the county line. Damage along this path was rated F1. The tornado then crossed from McDonough county into Warren county just east of highway 67. As the tornado continued northeast it hit a group of farm buildings north of the county line. Three of the buildings sustained major damage. A corn crib was blown on it's side while the roof of a barn and shed were destroyed. Damage along this path was rated F1. The tornado tracked into the south side of Swan Creek destroying a grain elevator. Just northeast of the elevator the walls of a concrete block machine shop were blown in and the building was completely destroyed. As is continued northeast it toppled several trees and antennae. Other damage in Swan Creek included two porches torn off homesteads and two roofs lifted, but not pulled off homesteads. Damage along this path was rated F2. The tornado continued northeast and lifted just north of town. | |||||||||||
| 45.8 | 1957-05-21 | 3 | 40°30'N / 90°48'W | 40°37'N / 90°35'W | 13.70 Miles | 120 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Mcdonough |
| 46.0 | 1999-04-08 | 2 | 40°53'N / 92°22'W | 40°56'N / 92°12'W | 5.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 100K | 0 | Wapello |
| Brief Description: As mentioned in the narrative above, an intense low pressure formed to the southwest of Iowa. The low tracked northeast and lifted into eastern Nebraska. Ahead of the low, a strong low level jet of around 60 knots continued through the day. A nearly stationary frontal boundary extended east from the low. It lifted into southeast Nebraska during the day, but made little progress into southern Iowa. Lines of thunderstorms formed along the boundary through the day and lifted north rapidly. These storms were elevated in nature and as a result produced most of their severe weather in the form of hail. As the day unfolded, a sharp dry line was clearly evident on the satellite as early as 1600 UTC across Kansas. This line raced east during the day. By afternoon, a speed max had rotated around the upper low to the southwest with wind speeds measured by the Lathrop wind profiler at 100 knots at 500 mb by mid afternoon. Jet stream winds were in excess of 120 knots at the same time. Combined with the dynamic situation mentioned above, considerable moisture convergence took place near the triple point between the warm front and the dry line. Surface dew points pooled into to the mid 60s to even a few 70 degree F. dew point readings over northwest Missouri, southeast Nebraska, and southwest Iowa. Meanwhile, dew points fell into the upper 20s over northeast Kansas and south central Nebraska behind the dry line, with teens over central and south central Kansas. Thunderstorms erupted along the dry line by mid day and advanced east through the afternoon. Low level helicity values topped out between 500 and 600 (m/s)**2 just before the first tornadoes formed. Most of the storms in the warm sector became tornadic quickly. The northern limit of the tornado tracks extended about 10 miles or so north of the warm front. Tracks became intermittent very quickly as soon as the storms crossed the surface warm front due to the layer of very cold air just north of the front. Surface temperatures on the cold side of the front were only in the upper 40s to mid 50s. The entire day was very active. Initially, warm air advection thunderstorms produced hail at many locations of central and northern Iowa. Most of is was just below severe levels however. The activity that developed during the afternoon was a combination of warm air advection and the approach of the dryline. At the beginning of the event, the main weather feature was in the form of hail. There were numerous reports of hail three quarters to one and three quarters inch in diameter. The largest hail fell in Guthrie and Dallas Counties with reports of golf ball size hail. One of the storms in the initial wave of afternoon activity became stronger as it moved into southern Story County. Initially, high winds of 60 MPH or more swept through Sheldahl area of Boone County. Greene County was also affected by high winds from the storms. A tornado dropped out of the storm as it moved into the Slater area and was on the ground for about 2 miles. Initial estimates showed 44 homes and businesses damaged in Story County, one was destroyed with major damage to another. Thirty six homes and four businesses were damaged in the town of Slater. Two people were injured during the passage of the tornado. One of the injuries involved a 70 year old man who was picked up by the tornadoes winds and thrown about 10 feet before he latched on to something. His shoulder was dislocated and he required 6 stitches due to his injuries in his hand. High winds northeast of Slater knocked several cars of a Burlington Northern freight train off the tracks after they were blown more than one quarter mile down the track. It was not possible to determine of the cars were knocked off by the tornado or high winds however. This band of storms continue to race and develop northeast through the afternoon. Damage became more sporadic, however high winds occurred as far northeast as Hardin County, with 70 MPH winds reported near New Providence. Hail reports came in from as far northeast as Grundy and Black Hawk Counties, though it was only three quarters of an inch in diameter. Attention then shifted to the tornadic storms that formed near the dry line. During the afternoon, six more tornadoes touched down in Iowa, several of which were long track tornadoes. The first touched down in Taylor County and tracked through Adams, Cass, and Adair Counties. This tornado had was an F4 intensity tornado in parts of Adair and Adams Counties. Damage was extensive with $1,000,000 damage reported in both Adams and Adair Counties. Entire farmsteads were swept clean by the tornado. At one time this tornado was a mile wide wedge with a damage path nearly two miles wide due to the circulation around the tornado. Eyewitness reports indicated that the tornado split into two distinct tornadoes at times, similar to what occurred with the intense F4 tornado in Adair County of 27 May 1995. One of the farmsteads hit near Nodaway was levelled. Reports indicated that a check was blown from the house nearly 100 miles and was found in the town of Jefferson in Greene County. Other checks and papers were found strewn along the path, stretching from Jefferson all the way back to northwest Taylor County. In Adair County, one account indicated pieces of sheet metal from one farm was lifted and deposited six miles away from the farm. Two people were injured by this tornado, one in Adams County with the other in Adair County. One of the injuries Adair County was serious as a man suffered a broken back when the tornado lifted his semi-tractortrailer truck from the Interstate and threw it into a nearby field. The other injuries from this tornado were minor enough that the people were taken to the hospital, treated, and released. There was one account of a horse being picked up by the tornado. It was lifted into the air and thrown through a stand of pine trees 40 feet high. The horse suffered serious injuries and required significant medical attention do to lacerations. The horse amazingly did survive against all odds, though was said would likely lose sight in one eye. The next tornado touched down in Union County and tracked across Madison and Dallas Counties. This tornado had an F4 strength in Union and decreased to a strong F2 in Madison Counties before intensifying again to near F3 strength as it headed into Dallas County. Damage in Union County was around $2,000,000, and around $350,000 in Madison County. There was one person injured by this tornado in Union County. In an amazing account, the Union County Sheriff reported watching as the tornado lifted the car in front of him 35 feet in the air and throwing it 250 feet. The driver was inside during this time and came out of the situation uninjured. Five coal cars were knocked off the tracks in Union County by the tornado as well. This tornado also had a double structure. From eye witness accounts, which also can be shown on Doppler radar imagery, suggest a small rope like tornado passed through the Twelve Mile Lake area shortly before the passage of the main tornado. The next tornado was a weak tornado which touched down about 4 miles west of downtown Des Moines. The tornado did little damage, but did affect one house and several trees. The tornado was seen by a local television sky camera. A short time later, an F2 tornado touched down in Warren County and tracked into southeast Polk County. The track was over rural areas and damage from it was relatively minor. A more significant F3 tornado tracked from northern Lucas County, and weakened to an F2 as it moved across Warren, part of marion, and into Jasper County. One house was destroyed in Lucas County with the four people inside sustaining minor injuries. Once again, this tornado tracked across mostly rural areas, though it did hit a business and two homes in Jasper County and did $1,000,000 in damage. One person was injured in Jasper County. The last tornado touched down in Davis County at Bloomfield and tracked northeast into Wapello County with a maximum strength of F3. Damage in Davis County was over $500,000 as 64 homes and businesses were damaged in the Bloomfield area. To the northeast, the area of the tornado track was mostly rural and damage was limited to outbuildings for the most part. One farmstead reported severe damage near Floris in Davis County. The house was nearly levelled and several outbuildings were completely destroyed. Parts of the house and outbuildings were found as far as 5 miles away from the farmstead. As the storms moved north, high winds were produced over Story County east of Story City. High winds toppled a tractor semi-trailer truck east of Story City on Interstate 35, injuring the driver. Two cars and a truck were also blown off Interstate 35 in Hamilton County. Four people were injured. Two were taken to the hospital, treated, and released. Two were listed in serious condition, one with a neck fracture, the other with a shoulder fracture. The later incident appeared to be from the rear flank downdraft behind the storm and not the initial gust front. From the preliminary data, 178 homes and business were damaged or destroyed by the tornadic storms as well as countless outbuildings. There were several reports of livestock loss as well. It is truly amazing that there was no loss of life during this event and even more amazing is the fact that the injuries that did occur were all minor. Twenty counties in Iowa experienced serious damage from the storms of the day. Iowa Governor Vilsack declared several counties in Iowa disaster areas. These included Taylor, Union, Adams, and Adair Counties. High winds accompanied the storms as the moved through Appanoose County. A local gas station recorded an 81 MPH wind gust as the storms cut a half mile wide swath of destruction west of Moravia. There were numerous reports of cattle killed by the storms. Some were killed by the tornadoes and flying debris, others by lightning. Reports in Adair County, northwest of Fontanelle indicated about 25 head of cattle were struck by lightning shortly before a tornado moved through that area. As the area of storms that produced the high winds north of Ames in central Iowa moved north, they lost their punch. A few of the storms did remain quite strong however. As the area of thunderstorms moved through Cerro Gordo County, high winds blew down a 60 foot corn crib and did some other damage on a farm near Rockwell. | |||||||||||
| 47.4 | 1961-05-14 | 3 | 39°43'N / 91°18'W | 40°43'N / 90°13'W | 89.60 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Pike |
| 47.9 | 1977-09-23 | 2 | 39°50'N / 91°26'W | 39°51'N / 91°23'W | 2.70 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Adams |
| 47.9 | 1999-04-05 | 2 | 40°38'N / 90°41'W | 40°41'N / 90°39'W | 3.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Warren |
| Brief Description: The tornado first touched down along Highway 9 southwest of Good Hope snapping several trees. From there the tornado moved northeast across Town Fork Creek damaging several trees in a densely wooded area and snapping two large trees along a county road. Damage along this path was rated F0. As the tornado continued northeast it moved through plowed farmland and approached a homestead along north-south county road west of Good Hope. The house sustained no structural damage, but several outbuildings suffered substantial damage. An older concrete block hog house was destroyed while the roof and sides of a new machine shed were torn off. A grain bin was blown about 500 yards from the home site into a neighboring field. Damage along this path was rated F2. For the next several miles the tornado tracked through plowed farmland snapping a few trees and blowing over several fences. The tornado then approached US Highway 67 just south of the McDonough-Warren County line. The tornado snapped two very large oak trees at a homestead with one landing on the house. It continued on a northeast track snapping several trees and damaging a roof on a homestead just south of the county line. Damage along this path was rated F1. The tornado then crossed from McDonough county into Warren county just east of highway 67. As the tornado continued northeast it hit a group of farm buildings north of the county line. Three of the buildings sustained major damage. A corn crib was blown on it's side while the roof of a barn and shed were destroyed. Damage along this path was rated F1. The tornado tracked into the south side of Swan Creek destroying a grain elevator. Just northeast of the elevator the walls of a concrete block machine shop were blown in and the building was completely destroyed. As is continued northeast it toppled several trees and antennae. Other damage in Swan Creek included two porches torn off homesteads and two roofs lifted, but not pulled off homesteads. Damage along this path was rated F2. The tornado continued northeast and lifted just north of town. | |||||||||||
| 48.1 | 1982-03-12 | 2 | 40°20'N / 90°41'W | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Mcdonough | |||
| 48.8 | 1967-01-24 | 2 | 41°12'N / 91°17'W | 2.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Louisa | |
| 49.3 | 1960-05-16 | 2 | 40°16'N / 92°27'W | 40°17'N / 92°26'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Adair | ||
| 49.8 | 1982-09-13 | 2 | 40°57'N / 92°27'W | 40°59'N / 92°11'W | 13.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Wapello |
| 49.9 | 1970-05-09 | 2 | 41°13'N / 91°17'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Louisa | |
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.