Palo Alto County, Iowa
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1953 and 2025, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
22
Tornado reports
125
Hail reports
63
Floods since 1996
580
All events
1
Deaths
$27.7M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Palo Alto 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
Personal weather station gust to 62 mph. Widespread tree damage and minor sheet metal damage through the town of Ruthven just south of this station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Personal weather station gust to 72 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong wind gusts with large branches down reported in Emmetsburg.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Gust reported by personal weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gust observation from a personal weather station near Rodman.
Hail Hail
Mostly dime to nickel sized hail, but a few stones up to quarter sized.
Hail Hail
Blizzard Blizzard
High Wind High Wind
Blizzard Blizzard
High Wind High Wind
High Wind High Wind
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Drought Drought
Prolong dryness this fall along with above normal temperatures has led to the expansion of Severe Drought conditions into Palo Alto County.
Flood Flood
The West Fork of the Des Moines River at Emmetsburg remained in flood from a peak crest in June 2024.
Flood Flood
US-18 eastbound, Between County Road N60 and IA 15 (1 mile east of the Cylinder area). The road is blocked because of flooding.
Flood Flood
US-18 eastbound, Between IA 4 and County Road N60 (near Emmetsburg). The road is blocked because of flooding.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Mesonet reported 3.78 inches of rain.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
CoCoRaHS reported 3.71 inches of rain.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
From 6am CDT Friday to 8:30am CDT Saturday, 7.5 inches of rain fell. Relayed via social media.
Flood Flood
The West Fork of the Des Moines at Emmetsburg crested at 15.47 ft on June 24 at 01:15 pm CDT. The river remained in flood through the end of the month and into July. Preliminary information indicates this is the new flood of record for the point.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A large tree branch down.
Hail Hail
Emergency manager reported nickel sized hail. Time estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
Public reported slightly larger than golf ball size hail. Time estimated from radar.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Blizzard Blizzard
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Combination of snow around 4 inches with wind gusts around 40mph.
Drought Drought
Decent rainfall during the middle and end of the month led to severe drought conditions ending across Palo Alto county.
Drought Drought
Above normal temperatures and lack of precipitation allowed severe drought conditions to expand into portions of Palo Alto county during the later half of September.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Delayed report relayed via social media that was time estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
Law enforcement reported golf ball sized hail falling in Emmetsburg.
Hail Hail
Law enforcement relayed report of nearly baseball sized hail in Emmetsburg. This is a delayed report and time estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
Emergency manager reported golf ball sized hail intermixed with quarter sized hail north of Cylinder.
Hail Hail
Local media relayed report of measured 3 inch hail west of Cylinder. This is a delayed report and time and location estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
Trained spotter reported quarter sized hail.
Hail Hail
Emergency manager reported leaf damage to tress around down and some brachhes down as well from golf ball sized hail. This is a delayed report.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Storm total of 2.69 inch of rain thus far, rain still falling.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Storm total of 4.67 inches.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Storm total of 4.67 inches.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Drought Drought
Decent rainfall during the 1st half of May helped to reduce the severe drought to moderate drought across Palo Alto county. Some longer term residual dryness persists.
Drought Drought
Spring precipitation remained in a deficit across Palo Alto county during April with severe drought conditions persisting.
Drought Drought
Severe drought conditions persisted across Palo Alto county during March as below normal precipitation and stream flow continued.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | 0 |
| 2024 | 15 | 0 |
| 2023 | 23 | 0 |
| 2022 | 19 | 0 |
| 2021 | 20 | 1 |
| 2020 | 16 | 0 |
| 2019 | 22 | 0 |
| 2018 | 43 | 0 |
| 2017 | 10 | 0 |
| 2016 | 16 | 0 |
| 2015 | 11 | 0 |
| 2014 | 20 | 1 |
| 2013 | 19 | 0 |
| 2012 | 15 | 0 |
| 2011 | 15 | 0 |
| 2010 | 29 | 0 |
| 2009 | 4 | 0 |
| 2008 | 13 | 0 |
| 2007 | 9 | 0 |
| 2006 | 5 | 0 |
| 2005 | 16 | 0 |
| 2004 | 23 | 1 |
| 2003 | 15 | 0 |
| 2002 | 19 | 0 |
| 2001 | 18 | 0 |
| 2000 | 24 | 2 |
| 1999 | 9 | 0 |
| 1998 | 15 | 0 |
| 1997 | 19 | 1 |
| 1996 | 17 | 0 |
| 1995 | 10 | 0 |
| 1994 | 5 | 2 |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 | 4 | 0 |
| 1990 | 2 | 0 |
| 1989 | 2 | 0 |
| 1986 | 4 | 0 |
| 1985 | 2 | 0 |
| 1984 | 3 | 1 |
| 1983 | 3 | 0 |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 | 2 | 1 |
| 1979 | 4 | 1 |
| 1978 | 2 | 2 |
| 1977 | 1 | 1 |
| 1976 | 1 | 1 |
| 1975 | 2 | 1 |
| 1974 | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 | 1 | 0 |
| 1970 | 1 | 0 |
| 1968 | 3 | 0 |
| 1967 | 3 | 2 |
| 1963 | 1 | 0 |
| 1962 | 1 | 0 |
| 1961 | 2 | 1 |
| 1959 | 3 | 1 |
| 1958 | 1 | 1 |
| 1953 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Palo Alto County, measured to its path.
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