O'brien County, Iowa
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1951 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
35
Tornado reports
209
Hail reports
73
Floods since 1996
826
All events
0
Deaths
$22.0M
Property damage
Tornado paths in O'brien County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 35 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 F3 Tornado
Tornado F3 Tornado
Rainfall amounts across O'Brien County from June 20-22 ranged from 5 to 9 inches, with the highest amounts across the northern half of the county. Widespread overland flooding ensued with additional minor to major flooding along the Floyd and Little Floyd Rivers, and Waterman Cre…
An extended period of precipitation began with freezing rain quickly producing heavy ice accumulations, ranging up to between a quarter and half inch. The precipitation then changed to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations reaching 3 to 6 inches. Many branches, l…
Large hail caused widespread damage in and near Sheldon. The hail broke windows on vehicles and buildings, including 35 out of the 37 skylights on the local high school. The hail also severely dented vehicles, roofs, and siding, and caused tree damage. The hail also damaged crops…
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index readings reached afternoon peaks as high as 114 degrees near Sutherland, 113 degrees near Hartley, and 108 degrees at Sheldon.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Tornado EFU Tornado
An eyewitness observed a tornado develop 2 miles northeast of Archer south of 350th Street in an open field. The tornado tracked northwest slowly over the next five minutes through open fields. After crossing Pierce Avenue, the tornado dissipated. There was no known damage, resul…
Hail Hail
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought conditions improved to moderate (D1) around mid-month.
Drought Drought
Moderate (D1) drought conditions worsened to severe (D2) very late month.
Blizzard Blizzard
Northerly winds were sustained as high as 53 mph at Sheldon. A period of light freezing rain produced up to two-tenths of an inch ice accumulation near Sanborn. After precipitation changed to a period of snowfall which totaled 3.0 inches at Sheldon and 2.8 inches at Sanborn, visi…
High Wind High Wind
The Automated Weather Observing System site at Sheldon had frequent sustained winds around 40 mph.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds were between 40 and 41 mph at times at the Automated Weather Observing System site in Sheldon (KSHL).
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Northwest winds were sustained from 30 to 38 mph and gusted to 51 mph at Sheldon. These winds combined with periods of light snowfall which totaled around 1 inch to produce visibility briefly as low as one-quarter to one-half mile.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Sustained winds reached 30 to 38 mph at times with gusts as high as 49 mph at an Automated Weather Observing System site in Sheldon.
Blizzard Blizzard
Two episodes of extended blizzard conditions occurred over a slightly less than 24 hour period, with a slight improvement in conditions during the late afternoon to mid evening. Gusty northwest winds from 35 to 50 mph were concurrent with light to moderate snowfall, which totaled…
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Sustained northwest winds occasionally reached 30 to 39 mph with a gust as high as 54 mph at Sheldon.
Periods of light snowfall along with winds of 35 to 55 mph resulted in periods of whiteout conditions. Travel was not recommended during the afternoon. Several highways were closed for a time, including U.S. Highway 18 from Sanborn to east of Hartley where several accidents were …
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 3.0 inches at Sheldon.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chills reached as low as -32 degrees at Sheldon and -30 degrees at Hartley.
High Wind High Wind
Synoptic northwest winds were occasionally sustained from 40 to 46 mph at an Iowa Mesonet station 1 mile south of Calumet as well as gusts as high as 64 mph at a personal weather station near Sheldon.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snowfall totaled 7.2 inches at Sanborn, 7.0 inches at Sheldon, and 6.0 inches at Primghar.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
A long-duration snowfall totaled 8.7 inches at Primghar, 8.6 inches at Sanborn, and 6.0 inches at Sheldon.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Sustained winds reached 30 to 38 mph at times with a peak gust of 54 mph at a Automated Weather Observing System site near Sheldon.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 4.8 inches at Primghar and 4.0 inches at Sheldon.
Hail Hail
An extended period of hail fell with hail up to 2 inches in diameter from 1740 to 1750 CST. Hail was still falling at dime to nickel size as of 1809 CST.
Hail Hail
A few 2 inch hailstones fell on the north edge of Sutherland.
Hail Hail
Several photos were received of quarter size hail in Primghar.
Hail Hail
Quarter size hail fell for approximately 5 minutes.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail was mostly pea to dime size, but several stones were from quarter up to golf ball size.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index values peaked as high as 112 degrees near Hartley and 106 degrees at Sheldon on August 16.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index values peaked as high as 108 degrees at Sutherland and 102 degrees near Hartley.
Hail Hail
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Runoff from heavy rainfall estimated from 3 to 5 inches in less than two hours resulted in flash flooding of Roetzel Creek. Sections of 390th and 400th Streets and Monroe Avenue with inundated with rapidly running water.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Rapid runoff from heavy rainfall which totaled up to 2 inches in less than an hour resulted in multiple flooded roadways in Sheldon, IA.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Highway 59 was closed through the entire town due to so many trees knocked down onto the road by thunderstorm wind gusts.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Numerous tree branches, ranging from 6 to 18 inches in diameter, were downed by thunderstorm winds. Some fell on houses with many streets blocked.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Extensive damage was done to an RV business in Sheldon.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 20 | 1 |
| 2025 | 40 | 0 |
| 2024 | 47 | 2 |
| 2023 | 29 | 0 |
| 2022 | 36 | 0 |
| 2021 | 25 | 1 |
| 2020 | 22 | 0 |
| 2019 | 22 | 0 |
| 2018 | 60 | 0 |
| 2017 | 18 | 0 |
| 2016 | 19 | 0 |
| 2015 | 18 | 1 |
| 2014 | 19 | 1 |
| 2013 | 18 | 0 |
| 2012 | 33 | 1 |
| 2011 | 20 | 0 |
| 2010 | 29 | 4 |
| 2009 | 13 | 0 |
| 2008 | 21 | 4 |
| 2007 | 17 | 0 |
| 2006 | 4 | 0 |
| 2005 | 16 | 1 |
| 2004 | 58 | 1 |
| 2003 | 16 | 0 |
| 2002 | 20 | 1 |
| 2001 | 24 | 3 |
| 2000 | 19 | 1 |
| 1999 | 11 | 1 |
| 1998 | 7 | 0 |
| 1997 | 7 | 0 |
| 1996 | 11 | 0 |
| 1995 | 5 | 0 |
| 1994 | 8 | 0 |
| 1993 | 4 | 0 |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 | 6 | 0 |
| 1990 | 7 | 0 |
| 1989 | 2 | 0 |
| 1988 | 2 | 0 |
| 1987 | 4 | 0 |
| 1986 | 10 | 2 |
| 1985 | 2 | 0 |
| 1984 | 6 | 1 |
| 1983 | 9 | 0 |
| 1982 | 5 | 0 |
| 1981 | 2 | 0 |
| 1980 | 5 | 1 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 |
| 1976 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 | 4 | 0 |
| 1973 | 7 | 1 |
| 1971 | 4 | 2 |
| 1970 | 2 | 0 |
| 1969 | 1 | 1 |
| 1968 | 1 | 1 |
| 1967 | 1 | 0 |
| 1965 | 2 | 1 |
| 1963 | 2 | 1 |
| 1951 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in O'brien County, measured to its path.
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