Linn 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.
64
Tornado reports
389
Hail reports
88
Floods since 1996
1,436
All events
8
Deaths
$805.3M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Linn County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 64 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 F4 Tornado
Tornado F3 Tornado
Rated F3 with winds estimated at 175 mph.
Widespread straight-line winds that produced extensive damage were reported throughout Linn County, associated with a derecho. These winds lasted around an hour in total at any one location, even though the initial line of storms moved out quickly. Damaging straight-line winds co…
Law enforcement reported that a car driven by a 39 year old man slid 20 to 30 yards off the road in Cedar Rapids Sunday morning. He got out of his car and slipped on ice. Law enforcement found him lying outside of his car at 748 AM CST Sunday with severe hypotherma. It was unclea…
A 42 year old female was struck and killed by lightning while camping at the Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area near Palo.
Law enforcement reported a business building destroyed by high winds from a severe thunderstorm. One person was killed and another injured due to the collapsed structure. A NWS survey found the roof had been blown off which caused the walls to collapse inward and the body was fou…
One teenager drowned and another was injured when they were swept into a large storm sewer during heavy rains. Three 17-year-olds were playing Frisbee near Arthur Elementary School when one of the boys was swept into the storm sewer and another boy went to try rescue him but was …
A direct death occurred in Cedar Rapids when an ice-laden branch fell 50 feet and struck a 65 year old male's head. The branch was 4 inches in diameter and 20 feet long. The victim was shoveling snow and ice off his driveway when the branch above him fell. The victim was struck o…
Lightning struck two golfers at the Airport National Public Golf Course 5 miles east of Cedar Rapids Airport. Both golfers were rushed to a nearby hospital where one (a 38 year old male) was pronounced dead. The other golfer, male, age 37, was treated and released.
According to the Cedar Valley Daily Times newspaper in Vinton, the Cedar Rapids police department reported six crashes on snowy roads that caused nine indirect injuries during the snow event. Trained spotters measured 3 to 5 inches of snow in the Cedar Rapids area.
Heavy rainfall of 4 to over 10 inches over significant areas from 21 to 23 September in extreme North Central and Northeast Iowa moved downstream causing the Cedar River to rise above major flood stage levels. Cedar Rapids rose above its major flood stage level of 16.0 feet on Se…
The record crest on the Cedar River at Cedar Rapids occurred on June 13, 2008 at 31.12 feet. Flood stage is 12 feet. The previous record crest was 20.00 feet set on June 1, 1851. Damage estimates just in Cedar Rapids was at least $750 million.
Strong F2...winds estimated at 140 mph.
Far west side of city
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Two to three feet deep water with a car stuck at location.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Wiley Blvd Northwest is closed north of Johnson Ave NW due to flooding. Also, flooding reported at 33rd Ave SW and 6th St. SW.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Six to ten inches of water running across the roads in the area including 19th St SE and 2nd Ave SE. Cars driving through are stalling out. Delayed report.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Recorded by the Cedar Rapids Eastern Iowa Airport.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A fireworks sales tent collapsed.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
This was an estimated wind gust. Torrential rainfall also occurring at time of report.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Out building roof and walls damaged along with a grain bin. The time was estimated using radar data.
Hail Hail
Reported on Mping. Time estimated using radar data.
Hail Hail
Relayed by emergency management.
Hail Hail
Relayed by emergency management.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Reported on Mping.
Hail Hail
Photo of quarter size hail reported through social media. Time estimated using radar data.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Also reported pea size hail.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Report received from Mping.
Hail Hail
Report received from Mping.
Hail Hail
Report received from Mping.
Hail Hail
Report received from Mping.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
The time was estimated from radar data.
Hail Hail
Report received from Mping.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Report received from Mping.
Blizzard Blizzard
The ASOS at the Cedar Rapids Regional Airport (KCID) recorded several hours of visibilities between a quarter to a half a mile. Winds were gusting between 35 to 50 MPH combined with falling and blowing snow to cause near whiteout visibilities. Trained spotter snowfall reports var…
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 36 | 0 |
| 2025 | 38 | 3 |
| 2024 | 40 | 2 |
| 2023 | 55 | 2 |
| 2022 | 30 | 0 |
| 2021 | 25 | 3 |
| 2020 | 64 | 1 |
| 2019 | 34 | 1 |
| 2018 | 21 | 4 |
| 2017 | 44 | 1 |
| 2016 | 23 | 2 |
| 2015 | 48 | 1 |
| 2014 | 55 | 1 |
| 2013 | 37 | 0 |
| 2012 | 64 | 0 |
| 2011 | 75 | 0 |
| 2010 | 49 | 0 |
| 2009 | 42 | 1 |
| 2008 | 66 | 0 |
| 2007 | 64 | 1 |
| 2006 | 52 | 1 |
| 2005 | 31 | 1 |
| 2004 | 48 | 3 |
| 2003 | 31 | 3 |
| 2002 | 29 | 0 |
| 2001 | 41 | 1 |
| 2000 | 46 | 1 |
| 1999 | 22 | 2 |
| 1998 | 23 | 5 |
| 1997 | 29 | 1 |
| 1996 | 15 | 0 |
| 1995 | 7 | 1 |
| 1994 | 11 | 0 |
| 1993 | 10 | 0 |
| 1992 | 7 | 0 |
| 1991 | 7 | 2 |
| 1990 | 4 | 2 |
| 1989 | 9 | 1 |
| 1988 | 6 | 0 |
| 1987 | 9 | 1 |
| 1986 | 6 | 0 |
| 1985 | 2 | 1 |
| 1984 | 9 | 1 |
| 1983 | 2 | 1 |
| 1982 | 3 | 1 |
| 1981 | 3 | 0 |
| 1980 | 2 | 0 |
| 1979 | 3 | 2 |
| 1978 | 3 | 0 |
| 1977 | 2 | 0 |
| 1975 | 4 | 0 |
| 1974 | 4 | 0 |
| 1973 | 2 | 0 |
| 1972 | 3 | 1 |
| 1971 | 1 | 0 |
| 1970 | 6 | 0 |
| 1969 | 1 | 0 |
| 1968 | 3 | 0 |
| 1966 | 3 | 3 |
| 1965 | 1 | 1 |
| 1964 | 4 | 1 |
| 1963 | 1 | 0 |
| 1962 | 2 | 0 |
| 1961 | 3 | 0 |
| 1960 | 2 | 0 |
| 1959 | 1 | 0 |
| 1958 | 6 | 0 |
| 1956 | 3 | 1 |
| 1955 | 1 | 0 |
| 1954 | 2 | 2 |
| 1953 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Linn County, measured to its path.
We couldn’t get your location. Check that location access is allowed for this site, or type an address.