Benton County, Iowa
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1961 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
46
Tornado reports
275
Hail reports
44
Floods since 1996
989
All events
3
Deaths
$24.7M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Benton County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 46 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated
Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
Tornado F3 Tornado
Tornado F3 Tornado
Tornado F3 Tornado
A semi-trailer was blown over during severe thunderstorm winds. The driver was thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.
A trained spotter measured 7.5 inches of snow at Mount Auburn. According to Radio Iowa, an indirect fatality occurred on snow covered I-380 near the Urbana exit in Benton county at around 10 pm. A 82 year old male was killed in a multi-vehicle accident.
The record crest on the Cedar River at Vinton occurred on June 12, 2008 at 24.60 feet. Flood stage is 15 feet.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Tree snapped due to strong wind gusts.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Snapped tree branches took out a power line. Time estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
The time was estimated from radar data.
Hail Hail
Report was received from Mping.
Hail Hail
Report received from Mping.
Hail Hail
Blizzard Blizzard
Trained spotter reports ranged from 1.2 inches near Vinton to 3.2 inches 3 miles south southeast of Atkins. Wind gusts were between 45 to 55 MPH significantly reducing whiteout visibilities in falling and blowing snow.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
COOP Observer snowfall reports ranged from 12.4 inches in Belle Plaine to 14.5 inches in Vinton. Trained spotter reports ranged from 9.0 inches in Watkins to 11.5 inches 1 mile southwest of Vinton.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Car stalled on Iowa Highway 150 on north side of Vinton. Video from news reports shows significant standing water near homes. Time estimated.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Personal weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Personal weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Personal weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Personal weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Report of 60 mph winds.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A personal weather station recorded a 53 knot gust.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
The Emergency Manager reports that water had been over area roads as creeks rose out of their banks. The time of the event was estimated using radar.
Hail Hail
A trained spotter reported dime to nickel size hail occurring right now.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The Emergency Manager reported half of a maple tree down in the city.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A public report of a 62 knot thunderstorm wind gusts measured with a personal weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Tornado EF1 Tornado
An EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 105 mph hit a farm outbuilding around 320 PM. The path continued through corn hitting a house, snapping some trees and destroying a garage at the end of its 3.8 mile long and 20 yard wide path. The peak estimated winds were 105 MPH.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
This tornado touched down in rural Benton County. The tornado was on the ground for about 0.8 miles in Benton County before moving into Linn County. The tornado caused mainly damage to trees.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
A trained spotter reported street flooding in Vinton.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Report of estimated 60 MPH winds.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A lot of tree litter was blowing around at the time of maximum gusts.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Estimated 60 MPH gust blew over lawn furniture.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Estimated 60 MPH gust blew over lawn furniture.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Recorded at the Iowa AWOS station at the Vinton airport.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A few trees snapped and a couple power poles were leaning. Damage consistent with gusts greater than 70 mph based on damage.
Hail Hail
A trained spotter reported pea to nickel size hail.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Station RVHI4 located at Highway 30 and US 218.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Trained spotters reported 6 to 8 inches of snow, with widespread snow covered roads.
Ice Storm Ice Storm
Trained spotters and DOT reported widespread slick conditions with a 0.2 to 0.4 of an inch of ice accumulation on the ground and elevated surfaces.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The Benton County Emergency Manager measured a peak thunderstorm wind gust of 70 MPH.
Hail Hail
Emergency Manager relayed a public report of 1.25 inch hail.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 14 | 0 |
| 2025 | 25 | 2 |
| 2024 | 15 | 0 |
| 2023 | 34 | 5 |
| 2022 | 10 | 1 |
| 2021 | 19 | 5 |
| 2020 | 30 | 0 |
| 2019 | 15 | 0 |
| 2018 | 15 | 3 |
| 2017 | 20 | 1 |
| 2016 | 8 | 3 |
| 2015 | 13 | 0 |
| 2014 | 31 | 3 |
| 2013 | 34 | 0 |
| 2012 | 35 | 0 |
| 2011 | 47 | 0 |
| 2010 | 33 | 0 |
| 2009 | 48 | 0 |
| 2008 | 85 | 1 |
| 2007 | 59 | 0 |
| 2006 | 54 | 1 |
| 2005 | 27 | 0 |
| 2004 | 33 | 5 |
| 2003 | 28 | 1 |
| 2002 | 9 | 1 |
| 2001 | 33 | 2 |
| 2000 | 41 | 0 |
| 1999 | 15 | 0 |
| 1998 | 22 | 0 |
| 1997 | 21 | 0 |
| 1996 | 12 | 1 |
| 1995 | 16 | 0 |
| 1994 | 12 | 1 |
| 1992 | 6 | 0 |
| 1991 | 3 | 0 |
| 1990 | 1 | 1 |
| 1989 | 3 | 0 |
| 1988 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | 8 | 0 |
| 1986 | 2 | 0 |
| 1984 | 9 | 1 |
| 1983 | 2 | 0 |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 | 1 | 0 |
| 1976 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 | 2 | 1 |
| 1974 | 9 | 0 |
| 1973 | 1 | 0 |
| 1972 | 1 | 1 |
| 1971 | 10 | 2 |
| 1970 | 2 | 1 |
| 1968 | 2 | 0 |
| 1966 | 2 | 1 |
| 1965 | 4 | 2 |
| 1964 | 1 | 0 |
| 1963 | 2 | 0 |
| 1961 | 1 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Benton County, measured to its path.
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