Fayette County, IA Tornadoes

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Background Information	Statistics (1850-Present)	Records (1850-Present)

Fayette County (IA) Tornadoes*
1850-2020

Date			Time	Location	Other Counties Affected	Length (miles)	Width (yards)	Deaths**	Injuries**	EF-Scale
Month	Day	Year	Time	Location	Other Counties Affected	Length (miles)	Width (yards)	Deaths**	Injuries**	EF-Scale
3	28	2020	1740-1742 CST	Maynard 2SE to Maynard 2NE	None					EF0
			Several farms sustained damage.
3	28	2020	1730-1736 CST	Oelwein 2SSW to Oelwein 2N	None					EF1
			Damage to trees, farm buildings, and several apartment buildings. Went through west side of Oelwein city limits.
6	22	2015	0721-0723 CST	Maynard 3.3 ESE to Maynard 4.7 ESE	None	1.52	50	0	2	EF1
			The tornado started about 4 miles southeast of Maynard and ended approximately 5 miles southeast of Maynard. The tornado destroyed a farmhouse by moving it off its foundation and it then fell into the basement. Two people inside the house sustained non-life threatening injuries. The tornado also damaged crops, trees and farm buildings. This tornaado caused $100,00 in property damage and $100,000 in crop damage.
5	24	2012	1556-1558 CST	2.9 NNW Hawkeye to 2.7 SSW Douglas	None	2.99	30	0	0	EF1
			A brief tornado, along a line of storms, damaged numerous barns, grain buildings, outbuildings, and some homes along and just northeast of US Highway 18 north of Hawkeye. Most of the damage was EF0, but peak wind speeds and described damage briefly reached EF1.
5	22	2011	1501-1503 CST	5 E West Union to 2 SW Claremont	None	1.38	50	0	0	EF0
			This was the second of 2 tornadoes to occur in Fayette County on this date. This tornado was only in the ground for a couple of minutes as it crossed over County Road B64 between West Union and Elgin. For the short time the tornado was on the ground, it caused some roofing damage to a home and barn and snapped off several trees. This tornado caused $10,000 in damage. This was the third of 6 tornadoes to occur in La Crosse County Warning Area on this afternoon. More on these tornadoes can be found at the following web site: https://www.crh.noaa.gov/arx/?n=may2211
5	22	2011	1437-1445 CST	3E Sumner to 2 NW Fayette	None	7.87	70	0	0	EF1
			This was the first of 2 tornadoes to occur in Fayette County on this date. This tornado tracked east-northeast across the western part of the county. The tornado snapped off or uprooted numerous trees and damaged several homes, barns and grain bins. This tornado caused $180,000 in damage. This was the second of 6 tornadoes to occur in La Crosse County Warning Area on this afternoon. More on these tornadoes can be found at the following web site: https://www.crh.noaa.gov/arx/?n=may2211
8	19	2009	1450-1500 CST	Donnan 2.5 N to West Union 2.2 W	None	3.53	40	0	0	EF0
			A tornado 2 miles west of West Union caused tree damage at a residence and roof damage to an empty poultry barn. Several corn fields also received damage. This tornado caused $22,000 in property damage and $10,000 in agricultural damage. Three other tornaodes touched down in northeast Iowa (Chickasaw, Howard, and Winneshiek counties) during this afternoon.
3	31	2007	1558-1559 CST	Oelwein 2 NW	None	0.25	75	0	0	EF0
			A tornado touched down briefly on a farm near Oelwein, destroying a 100 year old barn. A garage, machine shed, windmill and a few trees were damaged. No injuries were reported, although upstairs windows in the farm house were blown out. The property damage was estimated at $10,000.
7	5	2004	1735-40 CST	Arlington 1N to Arlington 2N	None	0.2	20	0	0	F0
			This tornado touched down in a corn field just north of Arlington. It caused an estimated $3,500 in crop damage.
9	6	2001	1721-1735 CST	Arlington 7SW to Arlington 2NE	None	6	100	0	0	F1
			A tornado touched down near the Fayette-Buchanan county line southwest of Arlington, then skipped along before lifting near the community of Taylorsville. The storm damaged a school near the intersection of Highways 187 and 3 southwest of Arlington. A dairy barn was also damaged just north of Arlington. There were no injuries reported.
4	11	2001	1650-1655 CST	West Union 3W to West Union 3 NW	None	2	?	0	1	F1
			Law enforcement officials and storm spotters reported a tornado touched down just south of Highway 18, about 2.5 miles west of West Union (Fayette County). A farm was hit hard, with several barns, sheds and outbuildings damaged or destroyed. A 69 year old woman was trapped in one of the barns that collapsed and suffered injuries that put her in critical care. The tornado continued north-northeast toward the Douglas area, but lifted about 2.5 miles northwest of West Union.
6	16	1996	1721-1726 CST	Oelwein 6N to Arlington 5W	None	6	20	0	0	F0
			The tornado did not do much damage as it was only on the ground intermittently and over open farm land.
7	7	1994	1900 CST	Clermont 5N	None	0.3	25	0	0	F0
			This tornado touched down in a open field.
7	6	1994	1543 CST	Hawkeye	None	0.2	20	0	0	F0
			This tornado touched down in a field and did minimal damage.
6	23	1992	1459 CST	St. Lucas	None	0.2	20	0	0	F0
			This tornado touched down in a rural area, but large hail did damage a lot of crops between St.Lucas and Fayette.
6	12	1990	2109 CST	West Union 3W	None	0.2	20	0	0	F0
6	12	1990	1715-1719 CST	Eldorado 2W to Eldorado	None	2	25	0	0	F1
			Two farmsteads sustained major damage.
3	24	1988	1715 CST	Waucoma to Calmar 2W	Winneshiek	9	100	0	0	F2
			Considerable damage to farm buildings in the path of the tornado was reported; some were almost completely destroyed.
7	3	1983	1725 CST	West Union 8NW	None	0.1	20	0	0	F1
			A tornado took the roof of a shed on a farmstead. A chopper box was moved and damaged and a strip of corn in a field was flattened.
7	12	1971	1830 CST	Sumner 4NE	None	6	100	0	0	F2
			A funnel with "six fingers" was observed. Eight barns were destroyed, but no homes were fully unroofed.
7	12	1971	1715-1758 CST	Elma 2W to Waucoma 1 SW	Chickasaw Howard	30	400	0	8	F4
			This tornado moved southeast, passing through Lawler, and hit 50 farms. Three homes and barns were swept away. Damage estimates were $1.5 million. Both Fayette and Howard counties reported 4 injuries apiece.
6	24	1971	1800 CST	?	None	?	?	1	0	F3
5	15	1968	1558 CST	?	None	?	?	0	0	F1
5	15	1968	1557 CST	Oelwein 1SW to Randalia 2E	None	15	500	5	156	F5
			A significant tornado moved north-northeast from southwest of Oelwein to Maynard and east of Randalia. Homes were leveled and swept away in both Oelwein and Maynard. The warning sirens sounded for only 15 seconds before power failed in Oelwein. Nearly 1000 homes were damaged or destroyed along the path, and 34 people had to be hospitalized. Almost 1000 families were affected. Damage was $21 million.
10	14	1966	1825 CST	?	None	?	?	0	0	F1
6	27	1966	1915 CST	?	None	?	?	0	0	F1
6	27	1966	1910 CST	?	None	?	?	0	0	F1
5	7	1965	1255 CST	?	None	?	?	0	0	F1
4	11	1965	1315 CST- ?	Fredericksburg 4NW to Waukon 8E	Allamakee Chickasaw Winneshiek	110	300	0	0	F1
			Apparently discontinuous path. Major damage near Ossian.
5	7	1964	1728 CST	?	None	?	?	0	0	F2
4	30	1954	1930 CST	Lamont 4N	None	10	200	0	0	F2
			This tornado destroyed all buildings, except the house, on a farm north of Lamont (Buchanan Co.). Livestock was killed and 7 other farms were hit.
7	14	1935	1800 CST	Sumner 2W to Fairbank	Bremer	10	50	0	0	F3
			This tornado tracked south-southeast across southwest parts of the county, crossing about 6 miles west of Oelwein. At least one barn was destroyed. Total tornado and wind damage was estimated at $100,000.
7	10	1934	0200 CST	West Union to Elkader 3S	Clayton	25	??	0	1	F2
			Most of the damage from this tornado occurred at West Union (Fayette County) where a dozen homes were unroofedor torn apart. The tornado then moved southeast and lifted south of Elkader (Clayton County), where a man was electrocuted after the storm passed. Damage estimates totalled $80,000.
9	14	1928	0315 CST	Oran	Bremer	16	200	0	0	F2
			This tornado moved northeast from southeast Bremer County, then curved due north along the county line, mostly in Fayette County. Barns were destroyed and livestock was killed on at least two farms. A dozen farms had at least minor damage. Damage estimates totalled $40,000.
6	12	1915	1615 CST	West Union 3S to Postville 2S	Clayton	12	100	0	1	F4
			This tornado was watched by hundreds of people in town. One farm was "devastated", the house and barn leveled. Heavy machinery was thrown 300 yards. Clothing was carried two miles. A man was injured in a barn near the end of the path.
8	16	1898	1500 CST	Fairfield 1.5NE to East of Fairbank	Buchanan	6	200	0	0	F2
			The tornado moved from 1.5 miles northeast of Fairfield and east of Fairbank. Tow barns were "blown to pieces" and seven homes were damaged.
9	26	1881	1635 CST	Moved northeast near Postville	Allamakee Clayton	6	200	1 (?)	7	F3
			Moved northeast near Postville. Three homes and several barns were destroyed on at least two farms. Only a foundation was left of a home in Post Township. A girl may have died.
* The data in this table came from Storm Data and *Significant Tornadoes--1680-1991* by Thomas P. Grazulis. ** Injuries and Deaths are for the entire tornado track.

Last Updated Friday, April 24, 2020 - Jeff Boyne

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