2014 Iowa Tornadoes

Above is a map of the tornadoes that occurred across Iowa in 2014. Mouse over each icon to view more information on that tornado, which will appear in the box to the right. A season summary and table of the tornadoes are provided below. Detailed KMZ files for many of the tracks can be downloaded and viewed in Google Earth by clicking on the appropriate icon in the table below. To download the full year map shown above, click the download button below.

Please note: Track lines and contours are often interpolated and may not encompass the full extent of the damage. Surveying procedures vary between NWS offices. Downloadable tracks may not be available for weak tornadoes that were not surveyed.

     The year 2014 saw a substantial rebound in Iowa's tornado activity after two quiet years that set records for the earliest ending to the tornado season (2012) and longest stretch of time between tornadoes (359 days from 2012 - 2013). In fact, the 55 tornadoes recorded thus far in 2014 is more than 2012 (16) and 2013 (28) combined and above the 46 tornadoes that Iowa sees in a typical tornado season (averaged over the years 1980-2013). Over half of the tornadoes this year were weak EF0s that were generally very short-lived. All but three of remaining tornadoes were rated EF1, and the three EF2 tornadoes caused limited damage at this magnitude. The monthly breakdown of tornado activity was fairly close to climatology as well, with June seeing the most tornadoes of any month of the year (31), followed by nine in July, eight in May, and three in August and April. The autumn months typically see minimal tornado activity, but late season outbreaks can be rather prolific as was shown on October 4, 2013.

     The first tornado of the season caused some minor house damage near Osceola on March 27 and was followed by a weak tornado near Lone Tree on April 13. On April 27, a squall line produced a broad, intermittent tornado track along a 46 mile stretch from Wapello to Johnson County that unfortunately killed two people. Widespread straight-line wind damage also occurred in SE Iowa with this complex. All of May's tornadoes occurred on May 11, with three in NW Iowa and another four touching down in west central Iowa. Two of these tornadoes damaged trees, homes, and power lines along Lake Panorama.

     The latter half of June witnessed multiple tornado events, starting on June 16 with 12 tornadoes skipping across the northern half of Iowa. Most of the tornadoes were rain-wrapped and embedded within a larger straight-line wind storm, but several isolated storms on the southern flank of the complex produced two highly visible tornadoes. Five tornadoes struck Iowa on June 29 and eight on June 30, one of which struck the town of Traer with damage up to EF2. Traer would just dodge a bullet a week later when a very photogenic tornado tracked just to the north and east of town on July 6. This tornado was one of nine tornadoes to touch down during that afternoon. One tornado skirted the town of Reinbeck while other highly visible tornadoes were reported in Hamilton, Butler, Jasper, Guthrie, and Benton counties. A brief tornado touched down in Emmet County on August 17 and caused no damage, followed by two touchdowns in Carroll and Webster counties on August 31 on the leading edge of a powerful squall line.