Cherokee County, Iowa
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1952 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
33
Tornado reports
168
Hail reports
67
Floods since 1996
708
All events
0
Deaths
$15.0M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Cherokee County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 33 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 Cherokee County from June 20-22 ranged from around a quarter of an inch across southern areas to around 2 inches across northern areas. Farther north and upstream, 5 to 10 inches of rain fell across portions of northwest Iowa. This rainfall resulted in mod…
Flooding resulted in extensive damage to public infrastructure including numerous county and township roads, culverts, and some bridges.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index readings reached afternoon peaks as high as 110 degrees near Marcus, 107 degrees at Cleghorn, and 105 degrees at Cherokee.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Tornado EFU Tornado
A trained spotter observed a brief tornado in an open field around 7 miles south of Marcus. The tornado was estimated to touch down around one-half mile northwest of the intersection of 540th Street and C Avenue. The tornado tracked northeast for less than two minutes across open…
Tornado EFU Tornado
A very brief tornado was observed in an open field around 8 miles south of Cleghorn. The tornado was estimated to touch down just east of G Avenue one-half mile south of 570th Street. The tornado tracked northeast over open fields for less than one minute before it lifted. There …
Tornado EFU Tornado
Several social media videos documeted a very brief tornado around 5 miles west of Cherokee. The tornado was estimated to touch down near the intersection of 530th Street and K Avenue. The tornado tracked northeast across open fields for less than one minute before it lifted near …
Tornado EFU Tornado
A brief tornado was observed in an open field by a storm chaser around 3 miles northeast of Meriden. The tornado was estimated to touch down just southeast of the intersection of N Avenue and 480th Street. The tornado tracked northeast for around two minutes before it lifted east…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gust measured by a personal weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gust measured by a personal weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gust measured by AWOS station KCKP at the Cherokee Municipal Airport.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
An outbuilding was destroyed with considerable tree damage west of Washta.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought conditions improved to moderate (D1) early in the month.
Drought Drought
Moderate (D1) drought conditions worsened to severe (D2) very late month.
Blizzard Blizzard
Northerly winds gusted as high as 49 mph at Cherokee. During and after a period of snowfall which totaled 1.5 inches at Cherokee, visibility was reduced to less than a quarter mile at times with blowing snow. Travel was not recommended during the height of the blizzard.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Sustained winds reached around 30 mph at times at an Automated Weather Observing System site in Cherokee.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Intermittent short duration near-blizzard conditions occurred, divided by a longer improvement in conditions as falling snow ended for a time during the late afternoon and evening. Gusty northwest winds from 35 to 50 mph were concurrent with light snowfall, which totaled 1.8 inch…
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Sustained northwest winds occasionally reached 30 to 36 mph with a gust as high as 54 mph at Cherokee.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chills reached as low as -32 degrees at Cherokee and Marcus.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 4.0 inches at Cherokee and 2.3 inches 7 miles south of Cherokee.
High Wind High Wind
Synoptic northwest winds were occasionally sustained from 40 to 50 mph at a personal weather station near Marcus.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snowfall totaled 9.0 inches 5.1 miles south of Cherokee and 5.0 inches at Cherokee.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
A long-duration snowfall totaled 11.0 inches at Cherokee.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Sustained winds reached 30 to 32 mph at times with a peak gust of 46 mph at an Automated Weather Observing System site at Cherokee.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 4.1 inches 5 miles north-northwest of Cherokee and 3.0 inches at Cherokee.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index values peaked as high as 113 degrees near Marcus on August 17, and 114 degrees at Cleghorn, 113 degrees 4 miles south of Marcus, and 106 degrees at Cherokee on August 16.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Pictures showed significant street flooding in lower areas on the southeast side of Cherokee.
Hail Hail
Heat Heat
Heat index values peaked as high as 104 degrees at Cleghorn, 103 degrees at Cherokee and 6 miles south of Marcus, and 100 degrees 2 miles east of Marcus.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds downed large trees on a farmstead.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Large trees were snapped and uprooted by thunderstorm wind gusts.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index readings reached an afternoon peak as high as 116 degrees near Marcus and Cleghorn, and 109 degrees at Cherokee.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index readings reached afternoon peaks as high as 108 degrees at Cleghorn and 5 miles east-southeast of Marcus, and 106 degrees 5 miles south of Marcus on July 23.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by a personal weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts removed numerous 6 inch diameter tree limbs as well as knocked down several trees around town.
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 in Marcus on June 21 and 107 degrees at Cherokee on June 20.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Winds were measured by a personal weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts brought several large limbs down. As a result of limbs coming down on powerlines around Cherokee, up to 1800 electrical customers were without power.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Winds were measured by a personal weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds peeled off portions of the roof of a building.
Hail Hail
There was a brief period of pea to nickel size hail.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Sustained easterly winds reached 30 to 33 mph at Marcus.
High Wind High Wind
An extended period of gusty winds reached speeds as high as 72 mph 6 miles north of Cleghorn.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 18 | 4 |
| 2025 | 40 | 0 |
| 2024 | 31 | 0 |
| 2023 | 24 | 0 |
| 2022 | 24 | 0 |
| 2021 | 35 | 3 |
| 2020 | 18 | 0 |
| 2019 | 16 | 0 |
| 2018 | 34 | 0 |
| 2017 | 12 | 1 |
| 2016 | 21 | 0 |
| 2015 | 18 | 1 |
| 2014 | 17 | 0 |
| 2013 | 18 | 4 |
| 2012 | 30 | 0 |
| 2011 | 23 | 1 |
| 2010 | 34 | 1 |
| 2009 | 8 | 0 |
| 2008 | 26 | 0 |
| 2007 | 16 | 0 |
| 2006 | 14 | 0 |
| 2005 | 15 | 0 |
| 2004 | 38 | 0 |
| 2003 | 21 | 0 |
| 2002 | 10 | 0 |
| 2001 | 22 | 2 |
| 2000 | 18 | 0 |
| 1999 | 15 | 0 |
| 1998 | 7 | 0 |
| 1997 | 8 | 1 |
| 1996 | 12 | 0 |
| 1994 | 10 | 0 |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 | 4 | 1 |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 |
| 1988 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | 3 | 1 |
| 1986 | 3 | 0 |
| 1985 | 6 | 1 |
| 1984 | 3 | 2 |
| 1983 | 2 | 1 |
| 1982 | 2 | 0 |
| 1981 | 4 | 0 |
| 1980 | 2 | 1 |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 | 2 | 1 |
| 1974 | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 | 1 | 0 |
| 1970 | 2 | 0 |
| 1969 | 1 | 0 |
| 1968 | 2 | 1 |
| 1966 | 1 | 1 |
| 1963 | 1 | 1 |
| 1961 | 1 | 0 |
| 1960 | 1 | 1 |
| 1959 | 1 | 0 |
| 1958 | 2 | 2 |
| 1957 | 5 | 0 |
| 1952 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Cherokee County, measured to its path.
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