Polk County, Iowa
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1955 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
68
Tornado reports
670
Hail reports
295
Floods since 1996
2,373
All events
11
Deaths
$295.7M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Polk County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 68 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.
Emergency manager reported multiple water rescues across Ankeny, Johnston, Des Moines and Urbandale. Vehicles were stalled out in street flooding with water half way up the doors of some cars.
A 6 month old boy was left in an attended vehicle outside a business while the father was inside the business. The high at KDSM was 91 degrees that afternoon with the highest heat index of 97.
Thunderstorm winds blew down a large tree branch. A homeless individual died when a the branch fell on him at a homeless settlement along the banks of the Raccoon River east of Fluer Blvd.
Water rescue in progress regarding three vehicles with a total of 11 people near NE 8th Ave and NE 54th Ave. There was one fatality, 10 rescues and several injuries.
This was a long track tornado which started just to the southwest of the Johnston High School with fascia and soffit damage to houses along Catalina Drive. The tornado blew windows out of the high school and continued to produce tree and minor roof damage through the Ashton Point…
This tornado developed within the east side of the Des Moines Metro area just northwest of Easter Lake. Initial damage reports include damage to trees and fences and then eventually roof damage as the tornado progressed to the northeast. The tornado passed just to the southeast o…
This tornado passed from Warren county into Polk county near the intersection of Highway 69 and County Line Road. The tornado crossed E Pine Avenue removing the roof of a house and then clipped the north edge of Avon producing EF2 damage to a couple of houses. The tornado then cr…
Fourmile Creek at Easton Blvd crested at 17.47 feet on 1 July 2018 at 1030Z.
Walnut Creek at Des Moines 63rd Street crested at 17.37 feet on 1 July 2018 at 1130Z.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Large hardwood tree uprooted and fell on home. Delayed Report. Time estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Large tree branches down in Urbandale due to collapsing storm.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Peak wind gust from the RWIS mesonet station RAKI4 Ankeny.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several large tree limbs down in town and small trees less than 6 inches in diameter. Some shingle damage. A microburst occurred over the northwest side of town.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Local law enforcement reported flash flooding over portions of the Des Moines metro area on the evening of July 20th 2025. Several intersections closed along 63rd Ave, with several stranded vehicles. George Flagg Parkways closed, with flooding reported in the Valley Junction area…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Ankeny airport reported a 52 kt gust.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trained spotter reported an estimated wind gust of 70 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Social media report of a wind gust measured at 67 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Mature tree snapped in Ewing Park. Time estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Measured wind gust reported by local broadcast media.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Des Moines airport reported a wind gust of 74 mph.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 38 | 0 |
| 2024 | 79 | 7 |
| 2023 | 19 | 0 |
| 2022 | 61 | 4 |
| 2021 | 71 | 0 |
| 2020 | 78 | 1 |
| 2019 | 135 | 1 |
| 2018 | 138 | 3 |
| 2017 | 60 | 0 |
| 2016 | 72 | 0 |
| 2015 | 96 | 1 |
| 2014 | 121 | 0 |
| 2013 | 91 | 1 |
| 2012 | 64 | 0 |
| 2011 | 86 | 0 |
| 2010 | 115 | 0 |
| 2009 | 91 | 0 |
| 2008 | 160 | 1 |
| 2007 | 56 | 1 |
| 2006 | 52 | 1 |
| 2005 | 51 | 0 |
| 2004 | 68 | 2 |
| 2003 | 48 | 0 |
| 2002 | 45 | 2 |
| 2001 | 61 | 3 |
| 2000 | 43 | 3 |
| 1999 | 20 | 2 |
| 1998 | 69 | 2 |
| 1997 | 23 | 1 |
| 1996 | 32 | 0 |
| 1995 | 7 | 0 |
| 1994 | 12 | 0 |
| 1993 | 2 | 0 |
| 1992 | 6 | 0 |
| 1991 | 6 | 0 |
| 1990 | 7 | 2 |
| 1989 | 9 | 0 |
| 1988 | 2 | 0 |
| 1987 | 6 | 1 |
| 1986 | 21 | 6 |
| 1985 | 7 | 1 |
| 1984 | 8 | 4 |
| 1983 | 10 | 3 |
| 1982 | 6 | 2 |
| 1981 | 4 | 0 |
| 1980 | 6 | 1 |
| 1979 | 14 | 1 |
| 1978 | 3 | 0 |
| 1977 | 4 | 1 |
| 1976 | 9 | 2 |
| 1975 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 | 17 | 2 |
| 1973 | 2 | 0 |
| 1972 | 3 | 0 |
| 1971 | 3 | 0 |
| 1970 | 4 | 0 |
| 1969 | 6 | 0 |
| 1968 | 6 | 0 |
| 1967 | 3 | 1 |
| 1966 | 6 | 2 |
| 1965 | 4 | 0 |
| 1964 | 2 | 0 |
| 1963 | 2 | 0 |
| 1962 | 1 | 0 |
| 1961 | 4 | 0 |
| 1960 | 1 | 0 |
| 1959 | 2 | 2 |
| 1958 | 2 | 1 |
| 1957 | 2 | 0 |
| 1956 | 7 | 0 |
| 1955 | 2 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Polk County, measured to its path.
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