Clarke County, Iowa
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1959 and 2025, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
20
Tornado reports
125
Hail reports
63
Floods since 1996
549
All events
1
Deaths
$23.4M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Clarke County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 20 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.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Iowa DOT instrument reported a gust of 61 mph. Also received public reports of strong winds in Osceola.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Delayed report. A few trees and large branches downed on Hwy 152 north of Osceola.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Event total rainfall of 3.3 inches from personal weather station.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Delayed report. Water over roadways and culverts being washed out SE of Osceola.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Storm total precipitation of 3.5 inches. Still raining.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Delayed report, time estimated by radar.
Hail Hail
Report relayed by broadcast media. Delayed report, time estimated by radar.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Dime to quarter sized hail.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Tree down blocking the roadway.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Measured by a personal weather station.
Blizzard Blizzard
High Wind High Wind
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Damage to grain bin, old barn destroyed, farm equipment shifted, tin lofted and transported. Pictures from emergency manager. Time estimated by radar.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Measured wind gust of 62mph, with 1 to 2 inch limbs broken off trees. Nearly an inch of rain in 30 minutes.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Tower blown down at dispatch office in Clarke county. Numerous trees in Osceola of 14-16 diameter also damaged. Estimated winds of 60 to 70 mph.
Hail Hail
Public mping report of penny sized hail.
Hail Hail
Public mping report of quarter sized hail.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public mping report of 3 inch tree limbs broken, power pole damage.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
Clarke County EMA identified a path of damage to the south of Osceola from a QLCS tornado. This tornado began just south of Freedom Street and west of 200th Avenue. The tornado damaged an outbuilding at a farmstead along Freedom Street continued northeast crossing Interstate 35 w…
Tornado EF0 Tornado
This path was relayed by the Clarke County EMA with the tornado starting southwest of Woodburn just west of 310th Avenue. The tornado produced mainly tree damage southwest of Woodburn. Upon entering Woodburn near the intersection of Maple Street and Sigler Street, the tornado beg…
Drought Drought
Severe drought ended across Clarke County as generous spring-time rainfall continued into early May.
Hail Hail
Spotter relayed copious amounts of hail, up to quarter size. Just west of Osceola and Truro. Time estimated by radar.
Hail Hail
Spotter relayed hail up to 1 inch in size just west of I-35 between Osceola and Truro. Copious amounts of hail overall. Time estimated via radar.
Tornado EF2 Tornado
The emergency manager provided several reports of damage along the path of this tornado. The tornado began just southeast of the Osceola Rest Area along Interstate 35 and travelled northeast through the town of Osceola. EF2 damage was done just southwest of town where a roof was …
Drought Drought
Despite an increase in rainfall, the long duration of the drought kept severe drought conditions over Clarke County through the end of April.
Drought Drought
Precipitation during the month of March did increase across Clarke county with amounts near normal. There was some minor improvement in drought conditions but severe drought continued through the end of the month.
Drought Drought
Above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation allowed severe drought conditions to persist across much of Clarke county.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Blizzard Blizzard
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Drought Drought
Severe drought persisted in Clarke county during January with near normal temperatures and above normal precipitation. Extreme drought was no longer observed in Clarke county by the end of January. Longer term dryness kept from any further improvements.
Drought Drought
Severe to extreme drought conditions remained across Clarke county in December with above normal temperatures. Rainfall was above normal but did little to alleviate drought conditions, particularly longer term deficits.
Drought Drought
Severe to Extreme drought conditions persisted across much of Union county for the duration of November given lack of rain and above normal temperatures. Water shortages were becoming a concern for the town of Osceola as rainfall deficits increased.
Drought Drought
Severe drought conditons maintained a presence in Clarke county during the month of October. Temperatures remained above normal during the month with below normal rainfall.
Drought Drought
Severe drought persisted in much of Clarke county during September given the above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation.
Drought Drought
Severe Drought expanded back into Clarke county as hot temperatures and low precipitation persisted late in August.
Funnel Cloud Funnel Cloud
Brief funnel cloud reported by spotter.
Drought Drought
Several rainfall events helped to improve drought and hydrologic conditions across Clarke County in early August.
Drought Drought
Despite a few different periods of rain during the month, severe drought conditions persisted in Clarke County during July.
Hail Hail
Trained spotter reported quarter sized hail. Also estimated wind gusts to around 40 mph at the time.
Drought Drought
Severe drought conditions expanded into Clarke County by the end of June with dry and very warm weather later in June.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Estimated severe straight line winds with minor flying debris near the I-35 and Highway 34 interchange.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | 0 |
| 2024 | 21 | 3 |
| 2023 | 30 | 0 |
| 2022 | 17 | 0 |
| 2021 | 24 | 0 |
| 2020 | 5 | 0 |
| 2019 | 19 | 0 |
| 2018 | 30 | 1 |
| 2017 | 16 | 0 |
| 2016 | 15 | 0 |
| 2015 | 22 | 0 |
| 2014 | 44 | 1 |
| 2013 | 12 | 0 |
| 2012 | 18 | 0 |
| 2011 | 16 | 0 |
| 2010 | 12 | 0 |
| 2009 | 13 | 0 |
| 2008 | 29 | 4 |
| 2007 | 12 | 0 |
| 2006 | 5 | 0 |
| 2005 | 10 | 0 |
| 2004 | 10 | 0 |
| 2003 | 7 | 0 |
| 2002 | 10 | 0 |
| 2001 | 26 | 1 |
| 2000 | 8 | 0 |
| 1999 | 14 | 0 |
| 1998 | 13 | 0 |
| 1997 | 16 | 0 |
| 1996 | 26 | 0 |
| 1995 | 1 | 0 |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | 3 | 0 |
| 1986 | 4 | 1 |
| 1985 | 1 | 0 |
| 1981 | 5 | 1 |
| 1980 | 2 | 2 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 |
| 1976 | 2 | 0 |
| 1975 | 3 | 1 |
| 1973 | 2 | 2 |
| 1969 | 1 | 0 |
| 1967 | 1 | 1 |
| 1965 | 1 | 1 |
| 1964 | 1 | 1 |
| 1960 | 1 | 0 |
| 1959 | 2 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Clarke County, measured to its path.
We couldn’t get your location. Check that location access is allowed for this site, or type an address.