Buena Vista County, Iowa
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1957 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
29
Tornado reports
154
Hail reports
70
Floods since 1996
712
All events
0
Deaths
$12.6M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Buena Vista County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 29 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.
Rainfall amounts across Buena Vista County from June 20-22 ranged from around a quarter of an inch across southern areas to nearly 3 inches across northern areas. Farther north and upstream, 3 to 7 inches of rain fell across portions of northwest Iowa. This rainfall resulted in m…
Flooding resulted in extensive damage to public infrastructure including numerous county and township roads, culverts, and some bridges.
A tornado destroyed a garage and damaged several other buildings and farm equipment on a farm, and damaged trees and power lines. The tornado also damaged a metal building system. The tornado also severely damaged the roof and air conditioning units at a school near Alta, and des…
Heat Heat
Dangerous heat index readings reached a brief afternoon peak as high as 102 degrees near Truesdale and 100 degrees 3 miles south-southwest of Storm Lake.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gust measured by the Iowa Road Weather Information System site 2 miles northeast of Truesdale.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gust measured by AWOS station KSLB near Storm Lake.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gust measured by Iowa Road Weather Information System site 2 miles northeast of Truesdale.
Tornado EFU Tornado
Copernicus Sentinel satellite imagery revealed a brief tornado track in an open field around 8 miles southwest of Albert City. The tornado was estimated to touch down near the intersection of 570th Street and 180th Avenue. The tornado tracked northeast across open fields for less…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gust measured by the AWOS station KSLB at the Storm Lake Airport.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gust measured by a personal weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gust measured by a personal weather station.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
In addition to quarter sized hail, there were also some 1 to 2 inch diameter tree branches knocked down by gusty winds.
Hail Hail
Blizzard Blizzard
Northerly winds gusted as high as 58 mph near Storm Lake and 53 mph near Rembrandt. An initial period of freezing rain resulted in around one-third inch ice accumulation at Sioux Rapids. After a change to snowfall which totaled 2.2 inches at Sioux Rapids and 2.1 inches in Storm L…
High Wind High Wind
The Automated Weather Observing System site near Storm Lake had frequent sustained winds from 40 to 48 mph with gusts as high as 58 mph.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds were between 40 and 47 mph at times, with gusts as high as 59 mph at the Iowa Department of Transportation site near Storm Lake.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds were between 40 and 47 mph at times, with gusts as high as 59 mph at an Iowa Department of Transportation site near Storm Lake.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds reached 40 to 48 mph with gusts as high as 63 mph 2 miles south of Storm Lake.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Sustained winds reached 30 to 39 mph at times with gusts as high as 52 mph at an Automated Weather Observing System site 2 miles south of Storm Lake and 48 mph at an Iowa Road Weather Information System site 2 miles northeast of Rembrandt.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Intermittent short duration blizzard or near-blizzard conditions occurred, divided by a longer improvement in conditions as falling snow ended for a time during the late afternoon and evening. When gusty northwest winds from 35 to 55 mph were concurrent with light snowfall, which…
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds reached around 40 to 48 mph with a gust as high as 60 mph 3 miles southwest of Storm Lake.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 3.2 inches at Sioux Rapids and 2.6 inches at Storm Lake.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chills reached as low as -33 degrees 3 miles southwest of Storm Lake.
High Wind High Wind
Synoptic northwest winds were occasionally sustained from 40 to 47 mph with gusts as high as 61 mph at an Automated Weather Observing System site 3 miles southwest of Storm Lake.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snowfall totaled 6.5 inches at Marathon and 5.3 inches at Storm Lake.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
A long-duration snowfall totaled 9.8 inches at Storm Lake and 8.6 inches in Sioux Rapids.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds reached 40 to 44 mph at times with a peak gust of 58 mph at an Automated Weather Observing System site 2 miles southwest of Storm Lake.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 3.6 inches at Sioux Rapids.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index values peaked as high as 109 degrees at Storm Lake and 2 miles northeast of Truesdale, and 106 degrees 3 miles southwest of Storm Lake on August 16.
Heat Heat
Heat index values peaked as high as 104 degrees 2 miles northeast of Alta and 102 degrees 2 miles northeast of Truesdale.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A 60 mph thunderstorm wind gust was measured at Storm Lake Municipal Airport (KSLB).
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index readings reached an afternoon peak on July 27 as high as 116 degrees near Alta, 109 degrees in Storm Lake, and 108 degrees near Rembrandt.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index readings reached afternoon peaks as high as 109 degrees near Larrabee and 106 degrees in Storm Lake on July 23.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Daily afternoon and evening heat indices ranged from 105 to 113 degrees with a maximum heat index of 113 degrees at a personal weather station near Alta on June 21 and 109 degrees near Storm Lake on June 20.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees and power lines were downed in residential areas south of downtown Storm Lake.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Tree, power line, and roof damage occurred along business Highway 71. Most roof damage was to metal roofing and building soffits, with one building suffering the collapse of an unsupported cinder block wall. Several semi-trucks were tipped over. A large hardwood tree trunk was sn…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Winds were measured by a personal weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Blizzard Blizzard
Snowfall totaled 8.0 inches in Sioux Rapids and Storm Lake. Northwest winds gusted between 40 and 55 mph with a peak gust of 63 mph reported by the AWOS at Storm Lake Municipal Airport (KSLB). The combination of snow and wind resulted in widespread white-out conditions, especiall…
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds occasionally reached 40 to 46 mph during the morning and early afternoon hours. A peak wind gust of 63 mph was recorded at 1215 CST by the AWOS at Storm Lake Municipal Airport (KSLB) and a 59 mph gust was recorded at 0720 CST by a private weather station near Alta…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A 58 mph thunderstorm wind gust was measured by a personal weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A 61 mph thunderstorm wind gust was measured by a personal weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A 58 mph thunderstorm wind gust was measured by the Iowa Department of Transportation mesonet site near Truesdale.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds reached from 40 to 47 mph at times with gusts as high as 59 mph near Storm Lake and Truesdale.
Blizzard Blizzard
Snowfall totaled 4.0 inches at Storm Lake and 3.0 inches at Sioux Rapids, and northwest winds were sustained from 40 to 47 mph at times with gusts up to 59 mph near Storm Lake and Truesdale. Wind and snowfall combined to result in widespread white-out conditions at times, especia…
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Winds were sustained from 30 to 36 mph with a peak gust of 53 mph near Rembrandt and 49 mph near Storm Lake.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 18 | 1 |
| 2025 | 31 | 0 |
| 2024 | 30 | 1 |
| 2023 | 37 | 3 |
| 2022 | 23 | 0 |
| 2021 | 33 | 4 |
| 2020 | 17 | 0 |
| 2019 | 14 | 0 |
| 2018 | 39 | 1 |
| 2017 | 16 | 0 |
| 2016 | 19 | 0 |
| 2015 | 15 | 0 |
| 2014 | 15 | 0 |
| 2013 | 16 | 1 |
| 2012 | 25 | 0 |
| 2011 | 27 | 6 |
| 2010 | 34 | 0 |
| 2009 | 11 | 0 |
| 2008 | 32 | 0 |
| 2007 | 26 | 0 |
| 2006 | 20 | 0 |
| 2005 | 15 | 0 |
| 2004 | 23 | 1 |
| 2003 | 14 | 0 |
| 2002 | 10 | 0 |
| 2001 | 28 | 0 |
| 2000 | 15 | 0 |
| 1999 | 7 | 0 |
| 1998 | 13 | 2 |
| 1997 | 11 | 0 |
| 1996 | 11 | 0 |
| 1995 | 2 | 0 |
| 1994 | 9 | 1 |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 | 4 | 0 |
| 1990 | 2 | 1 |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | 4 | 0 |
| 1986 | 4 | 0 |
| 1985 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | 1 | 1 |
| 1983 | 6 | 0 |
| 1981 | 2 | 0 |
| 1980 | 5 | 1 |
| 1978 | 1 | 1 |
| 1975 | 2 | 0 |
| 1974 | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 | 5 | 0 |
| 1970 | 3 | 0 |
| 1969 | 4 | 1 |
| 1968 | 2 | 0 |
| 1967 | 1 | 0 |
| 1966 | 1 | 0 |
| 1964 | 1 | 1 |
| 1960 | 2 | 1 |
| 1958 | 1 | 1 |
| 1957 | 1 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Buena Vista County, measured to its path.
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