Osceola storm history
Storm events recorded in Osceola, Iowa between 1950 and 2025.
588
Total events
27
Tornadoes
116
Hail
12
Floods
0
Deaths
$30.2M
Property damage
Most significant events
Strongest tornadoes, deadliest events, and biggest damage in this county. Up to 50 shown.
A tornado, moving into Osceola County from Lyon County, destroyed at least two houses, injuring two people in one of them. the tornado also destroyed several garages and severely damaged several other homes, destroyed at least 4 hog confinement buildings, several barns and silos,…
Tornado F3 Tornado
Rainfall amounts across Osceola County from June 20-22 ranged from 7 to 9 inches. This rain resulted in widespread overland flooding across the county. A shelter in Sibley was opened after approximately 25 homes were evacuated due to flood waters. There was at least one swift wat…
Flooding resulted in extensive damage to public infrastructure including numerous county and township roads, culverts, and some bridges.
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 6 inches near Sibley. Many bran…
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 early evening. Gusty northwest winds from 35 to 45 mph were concurrent with light to moderate snowfall, which total…
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Sustained northwest winds occasionally reached 30 to 39 mph 2 miles northeast of Sibley.
Periods of light snowfall along with winds of 30 to 50 mph resulted in periods of whiteout conditions. Travel was not recommended during the early and mid-afternoon. Several two-vehicles crashes were reported along State Highways 60 and 9, with one indirect injury accident near A…
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chills reached as low as -30 degrees 2 miles northeast of Sibley.
High Wind High Wind
Synoptic northwest winds were occasionally sustained from 40 to 45 mph at an Iowa Mesonet station 6 miles east-southeast of Sibley.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 3.9 inches at Sibley.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
A long-duration snowfall totaled 7.3 inches at Sibley.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Sustained winds reached 30 to 39 mph at times with a peak gust of 51 mph at an Iowa Road Weather Information System site 2 miles northeast of Sibley and 45 mph at a personal weather station in May City.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 3.0 inches at Sibley.
Hail Hail
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index values peaked as high as 110 degrees 6 miles northeast of Hartley and 106 degrees at Ashton on August 16.
Heat Heat
Heat index values peaked as high as 103 degrees 6 miles northeast of Hartley, 102 degrees at Ashton, 101 degrees at May City, and 100 degrees 2 miles northeast of Sibley.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by a personal weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts knocked down a large tree on a house and two trees onto the garage.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index readings reached an afternoon peak on July 27 as high as 115 degrees 4 miles southeast of May City and near Ashton, 108 degrees near Sibley, and 106 degrees at May City.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index readings reached afternoon peaks as high as 108 degrees 4 miles southeast of May City and 106 degrees at Ashton on July 23.
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 near Hartley on June 21, 113 degrees in Sibley on June 20, and 105 degrees in May City on June 21.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees were reported down in Sibley from thunderstorm wind gusts.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Winds were measured by a personal weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind initially hit severe levels at 1300CST with a peak wind of 83 mph recorded at 1310CST at mesonet station RSYI4 near Sibley.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts removed the roof from a small shed.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorms winds produced a considerable amount of blowing dust with severely reduced visibility.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Winds were measured by a personal weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A lean-to was damaged by thunderstorm winds along State Highway 9.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Three-quarters of a mile of power poles were knocked down by thunderstorm wind gusts along 170th Street.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Sustained easterly winds reached 30 to 37 mph with gusts as high as 54 mph at Sibley.
High Wind High Wind
An extended period of gusty winds reached speeds as high as 63 mph 4 miles north-northeast of Sibley.
Hail Hail
Quarter to half-dollar size hail fell for a brief time.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 3.0 inches at Ocheyedan and 2.6 inches at Sibley.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds reached from 40 to 44 mph at times at May City.
Blizzard Blizzard
Snowfall only totaled 0.6 inches at Sibley and 2.0 inches at Sheldon, and northwest winds were sustained from 40 to 44 mph at times near May City and gusted to around 40 mph near Sibley. Wind and snowfall combined to result in widespread white-out conditions, especially in rural …
High Wind High Wind
Winds were sustained at times from 40 to 41 mph with a peak gust of 53 mph near Sibley.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
The lowest wind chills ranged from 35 to 42 below zero with 42 below zero observed at the Iowa Department of Transportation site near Sibley.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
The lowest wind chills ranged from 35 to 39 below zero with 39 below zero observed at the Iowa Department of Transportation site near Sibley.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Sustained winds were as high as 33 mph near Sibley.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Winds were sustained from 30 to 35 mph with gusts to 46 mph near Sibley and 45 mph at May City.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Sustained winds of 30 to 38 mph were common near Sibley, with a few gusts up to around 45 mph.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought at the start of November improved to moderate (D1) status at mid-month with 2 to 3 inches of rainfall during the first half of the month.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
A period of light to occasionally moderate snowfall totaled 1.7 inches at Sibley. Northwest winds gusted from 25 to 35 mph during snowfall and resulted in reduced visibility as low as 1 mile at times of greater snowfall.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought developed with precipitation from 5 to 6 inches below normal since August 1.
Events by year
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 35 | 0 |
| 2024 | 28 | 0 |
| 2023 | 27 | 0 |
| 2022 | 24 | 0 |
| 2021 | 24 | 3 |
| 2020 | 18 | 0 |
| 2019 | 19 | 0 |
| 2018 | 27 | 0 |
| 2017 | 22 | 2 |
| 2016 | 20 | 0 |
| 2015 | 17 | 0 |
| 2014 | 15 | 0 |
| 2013 | 16 | 0 |
| 2012 | 17 | 0 |
| 2011 | 16 | 1 |
| 2010 | 21 | 4 |
| 2009 | 11 | 0 |
| 2008 | 19 | 2 |
| 2007 | 13 | 0 |
| 2006 | 9 | 0 |
| 2005 | 24 | 0 |
| 2004 | 21 | 0 |
| 2003 | 9 | 0 |
| 2002 | 10 | 0 |
| 2001 | 32 | 2 |
| 2000 | 9 | 1 |
| 1999 | 7 | 0 |
| 1998 | 7 | 1 |
| 1997 | 5 | 0 |
| 1996 | 11 | 0 |
| 1995 | 1 | 0 |
| 1994 | 7 | 2 |
| 1993 | 4 | 0 |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990 | 2 | 0 |
| 1989 | 4 | 0 |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 |
| 1986 | 2 | 0 |
| 1985 | 3 | 0 |
| 1983 | 2 | 0 |
| 1982 | 1 | 1 |
| 1981 | 3 | 2 |
| 1979 | 2 | 1 |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 | 2 | 0 |
| 1971 | 2 | 1 |
| 1970 | 2 | 0 |
| 1968 | 4 | 1 |
| 1966 | 1 | 1 |
| 1965 | 1 | 0 |
| 1964 | 3 | 1 |
| 1963 | 1 | 0 |
| 1958 | 1 | 0 |