Howard County, Iowa
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1953 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
43
Tornado reports
97
Hail reports
34
Floods since 1996
492
All events
0
Deaths
$13.7M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Howard County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 42 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
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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 F4 Tornado
Tornado F3 Tornado
A tornado formed over rural Howard County south of Saratoga and then traveled north-northeast before dissipating just before entering Lime Springs. The tornado struck and destroyed a wind turbine north of State Highway 9 and also destroyed a large farm building along Lilac Avenue…
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
A period of extreme heat moved into the region during the end of June with widespread heat indices over 100 degrees. On June 29th, heat indices ranged from 105 to 108 degrees across the county during the afternoon and early evening. The highest heat index observed in the county w…
Hail Hail
The public reported quarter sized hail in Lourdes.
This tornado developed northwest of Saratoga and was witnessed by multiple individuals as it tracked northeast, damaging one outbuilding. The tornado also rolled a truck with the driver sustaining minor injuries. The tornado then dissipated southeast of the intersection of 70th s…
Hail Hail
The public reported three and a half inch diameter hail near Elma.
Hail Hail
The public reported baseball sized hail in Saratoga.
Blizzard Blizzard
During the evening hours on March 15th through the early morning hours on March 16th, the combination of falling snow and strong wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph resulted in visibilities falling below 1/4-mile in Howard County for several hours resulting in blizzard conditions. Snowfal…
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds of up to 40 mph were common in Howard County during the morning hours on March 13th with occasional gusts approaching 60 mph. The highest observed gust in the county was near Saratoga of 57 mph.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
This snow band brought snow totals of 1 to 4 inches across Howard County. The highest reported snowfall total was in Cresco where 4 inches of snow was measured.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
This snow band brought heavy snow to Howard County with snowfall totals ranging from 5 to 8 inches. The highest reported snowfall total was in Cresco where 8 inches was measured.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Beginning late on January 22nd and into the morning hours of January 23rd, a period of extreme cold moved into the region bringing dangerously cold wind chills. In Howard County, wind chills ranged from around 35 to 50 degrees below zero with the coldest observed wind chill in th…
Blizzard Blizzard
The combination of falling snow and wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph led to a period of very low visibilities during the afternoon and evening hours on December 28th in Howard County. During this period, a peak wind gust of 46 mph was observed in Saratoga. Snowfall totals across the co…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
This significant winter storm brought between 6 and 8 inches of snow to Howard County between November 28th and the 30th. The highest snowfall report in the county was located in Cresco where 8 inches of snow was observed.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Emergency management estimated a 60 mph wind gust in Cresco.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A trained spotter reported a couple large tree branches downed 1 mile southeast of Chester.
Blizzard Blizzard
The combination of falling snow and strong winds allowed for visibilities to drop to a quarter mile or less resulting in blizzard conditions on March 19th in Howard County. At an Iowa Department of Transportation observation site in Saratoga, a 51 mph peak wind gust was measured …
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Local media reported several instances of wind damage around Riceville High School.
Blizzard Blizzard
The combination of snow and strong winds allowed for visibilities to drop to a quarter mile or less resulting in blizzard conditions during the morning hours on March 5th in Howard County. A peak wind gust of 54 mph was at the Iowa Department of Transportation observation station…
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Minimum wind chills across Howard County ranged around 30 to 40 degrees on the morning of February 18th. The coldest wind chill in the county of 40 degrees below zero was reported in Saratoga, Iowa.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Dangerously cold wind chills began on the evening of the 20th and continued through noon on the 21st in Howard County where values dropped to around 30 to 40 degrees below zero. The coldest observed wind chill in the county of 42 degrees below zero was recorded in Saratoga, IA.
Drought Drought
Throughout the entirety of September and through October 29th, only 0.75 to 1.5 inches of precipitation fell in Howard County. This 4 to 6 inch deficit for this period resulted in the development of severe drought by mid-October. Severe drought conditions ended in the county by O…
Hail Hail
Local businesses south of Riceville reported penny to nickel sized hail.
Hail Hail
The public reported quarter sized hail 4 miles southeast of Riceville. Damage to was also noted to the crops from the hail.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Law enforcement reported power lines down in Elma.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Law enforcement reported power poles down in Lime Springs as well as many other instances of wind damage in Howard County.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Anomalously warm air temperatures and high humidity allowed the heat index to reach between 108 to 121 degrees on August 26th across Howard County. Heat index values reached 110 degrees at an Iowa Department of Transportation surface observation station in Saratoga.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The public reported a tree fallen onto a roadway south of Lime Springs.
Flood Flood
Significant rainfall later into June pushed the Upper Iowa River at Lime Springs into flood stage on June 27th. The river stage crested during the early morning on June 23rd in major flood stage at 16.40 ft. This was a new record high river stage for the site.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Dispatch reported that the fire department had estimated 60 mph winds east of Elma.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Law enforcement reported a powerline blown down.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The public reported a phone line was blown down.
Drought Drought
Above normal total monthly precipitation near 10 inches resulted in reduction of severe (D2) drought to moderate (D1) through May.
Drought Drought
Slightly above normal monthly rainfall totals downgraded extreme (D3) drought in southern Howard County to severe (D2) drought through April.
Drought Drought
Near to slightly above normal total monthly precipitation of 2 to 2.5 resulted in improvement from extreme (D3) to severe (D2) drought in northern Howard County while extreme (D3) drought persisted in the south due to the long-standing abnormally dry conditions.
Drought Drought
Less than 0.3 of total liquid precipitation fell in Howard County through February, near 1 below normal, resulting in extreme (D3) drought persisting.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
An automated weather observation station reported a wind chill of 37 degrees below zero in Saratoga.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
An automated weather observation station reported a wind chill of 41 degrees below zero in Saratoga.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
A volunteer observer reported 3.5 of snowfall Elma.
Drought Drought
Extreme (D3) drought persisted across Howard County through January. While up to 1.5 of monthly total liquid precipitation was near normal, the long-standing abnormally dry conditions persisted. The area was still 10-12 below normal since June 1st, 2023.
Drought Drought
Extreme (D3) drought persisted across all of Howard County through December. Monthly total rainfall near 0.5 was 1 below normal, exacerbating the long-standing deficit of 8 to 12 since June 1st.
Drought Drought
Extreme (D3) drought persisted across all of Howard County through November. The combination of total monthly precipitation near 0.25 inches, 2 inches below normal, and several days of anomalously warm temperatures resulted in 30 to 50% below normal topsoil moisture.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
While volunteer observers reported only a trace of snowfall from late on October 30th into the morning of October 31st, the combination with 45 mph wind gusts rapidly worsened road conditions. These slippery to hazardous travel conditions resulted in multiple slide offs reported …
Drought Drought
Long-standing drier than normal conditions, comprised of 6 consecutive weeks of at least severe drought (D2), resulted in continuation of extreme drought (D3) across Howard County through October. While monthly rainfall totals near 2 inches were only an inch below normal, the lon…
Drought Drought
Ongoing extreme drought (D3) worsened to exceptional drought (D4) for most of Howard County through the middle of September. By September 11th, under a quarter of an inch of rain fell across Howard County, more than 1 inch below normal for the time period. The resultant topsoil m…
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10 | 1 |
| 2025 | 9 | 0 |
| 2024 | 19 | 0 |
| 2023 | 10 | 0 |
| 2022 | 8 | 2 |
| 2021 | 22 | 5 |
| 2020 | 9 | 0 |
| 2019 | 19 | 3 |
| 2018 | 9 | 0 |
| 2017 | 15 | 1 |
| 2016 | 22 | 1 |
| 2015 | 9 | 0 |
| 2014 | 19 | 2 |
| 2013 | 13 | 0 |
| 2012 | 14 | 0 |
| 2011 | 12 | 1 |
| 2010 | 18 | 0 |
| 2009 | 15 | 1 |
| 2008 | 17 | 0 |
| 2007 | 25 | 0 |
| 2006 | 6 | 0 |
| 2005 | 7 | 0 |
| 2004 | 12 | 5 |
| 2003 | 14 | 0 |
| 2002 | 13 | 0 |
| 2001 | 10 | 0 |
| 2000 | 11 | 0 |
| 1999 | 10 | 0 |
| 1998 | 17 | 1 |
| 1997 | 9 | 1 |
| 1996 | 21 | 1 |
| 1995 | 4 | 0 |
| 1994 | 8 | 2 |
| 1993 | 2 | 0 |
| 1992 | 2 | 0 |
| 1991 | 4 | 0 |
| 1990 | 3 | 1 |
| 1989 | 2 | 0 |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 |
| 1985 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | 2 | 0 |
| 1983 | 3 | 0 |
| 1982 | 2 | 1 |
| 1981 | 2 | 0 |
| 1980 | 3 | 2 |
| 1979 | 3 | 0 |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 | 4 | 1 |
| 1974 | 3 | 0 |
| 1973 | 1 | 0 |
| 1971 | 3 | 1 |
| 1968 | 2 | 2 |
| 1967 | 1 | 1 |
| 1965 | 5 | 4 |
| 1964 | 1 | 0 |
| 1962 | 1 | 0 |
| 1961 | 1 | 1 |
| 1959 | 1 | 1 |
| 1955 | 1 | 0 |
| 1953 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Howard County, measured to its path.
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