Pottawattamie storm history
Storm events recorded in Pottawattamie, Iowa between 1950 and 2025.
745
Total events
57
Tornadoes
255
Hail
46
Floods
5
Deaths
$117.2M
Property damage
Most significant events
Strongest tornadoes, deadliest events, and biggest damage in this county. Up to 50 shown.
Tornado EF3 Tornado
This is a continuation of the Douglas County segment of this EF-3 tornado. This is also the second time the tornado moved through portions of western Pottawattamie County. At the start of this segment, the tornado moved northeast across the Missouri River and crossed Interstate 2…
Tornado EF3 Tornado
A tornado damage path began near Aspen Road, just west of 240th Street. The tornado tracked toward the north-northeast, snapping trees and electrical poles as it went. A home was impacted along Chestnut Road with substantial roof damage. Two additional homes were directly impacte…
A tornado developed approximately 3 miles east of McClelland, and developed prior to the dissipation of the EF-3 tornado that tracked near Treynor. This was confirmed by photo and video evidence of storm spotters. This tornado moved toward the north-northeast, damaging mainly tre…
This is a continuation of a 5 to 7 mile wide damage path that a bow-echo thunderstorm caused across eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa. In Pottawattamie county Iowa it was estimated by a NWS storm survey that winds reached 70 to 90 mph in an area from Council Bluffs to southwest…
Two men working alone atop a new meatpacking building were blown off the 40-foot-high roof by the thunderstorm that rolled through the area and produced the widespread hail reports. The winds were measured at 35 to 40 mph at the Council Bluffs airport and at Omaha Eppley Airfield…
Numerous reports of flash flooding were received from broadcast media, spotters, and social media. Very heavy rainfall occurred during the overnight and into the early morning hours on the 23rd with the Council Bluffs area seeing over 7 inches of rainfall. This lead to significan…
Flooding along the Missouri River gradually worsened over western Pottawattamie county during June and July and persisted into August as record releases from Gavins Point Dam brought widespread flooding along the River. The river near Omaha climbed to a little under 36 feet by th…
Flooding along the Missouri River gradually worsened over Pottawattamie county during June and persisted into July as record releases from Gavins Point Dam brought widespread flooding along the River. The river near Omaha climbed to a little under 36 feet by the end of June befor…
Heavy rainfall over the weekend of May 4th through the 6th, caused the West Nishnabotna River to flood across Pottawattamie county. The West Nishnabotna River at Hancock crested around 20.5 feet between 1130 pm and midnight May 6th. Flood stage is 14 feet. The river at Hancock fi…
Very heavy rain fell across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa from Friday 8/6/99 into Saturday morning 8/7/99. Over 10 inches of rain fell at Omaha Eppley Airfield, just across the Missouri River to the west of Council Bluffs Iowa. An unofficial 24 hour rainfall total of 13 inche…
High Wind High Wind
ASOS measured wind gust of 62 mph at the Council Bluffs Municipal Airport. Personal weather station measured wind gust of 60 mph near Hancock, IA and 58 mph near Silver City, IA.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
The heaviest snowfall was estimated around the northern edge of the county, with surrounding reports bringing and estimated 6 to 6.5 inches in the county. I-80 eastbound was closed near the Walnut exit due to a multi-car crash.
High Wind High Wind
Personal weather station measured wind gust of 58 mph near Council Bluffs, IA.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
KCBF AWOS measured heat index up to 122 degrees. Personal weather stations and mesonets measured heat index of 118, 120 and 121 degrees.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
KCBF AWOS measured heat index up to 122 degrees with a minimum heat index of 70 degrees through the period. Personal weather station measured heat index of 120 and 121 degrees.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public report of large tree branches down. Wind gusts were estimated near 60-65 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Mesonet measured wind gust of 60 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Picture relayed by media of large cottonwood tree and pear tree blown down. Time based on radar, location at Lake Manawa.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
KCBF AWOS measured heat index up to 108 degrees with a minimum heat index of 73 degrees through the period. Personal weather station measured heat index of 108 and 111 degrees.
Hail Hail
Trained spotter measured hail up to 1 inch in diameter.
Hail Hail
Public estimated hail up to 1.25 inch in diameter, from mPING report.
Hail Hail
Public estimated hail up to 1.25 inch in diameter, from mPING report.
Hail Hail
Emergency manager measured hail up to 1.75 inch in diameter.
Hail Hail
Emergency manager reported hail up to 1.75 inch in diameter.
Hail Hail
Public estimated hail up to 1.25 inch in diameter from social media images. Time estimated with radar.
Hail Hail
Amateur radio estimated hail up to 1 inch in diameter.
Hail Hail
Public estimated hail up to 1.75 inch in diameter from pictures on social media. Time estimated with radar.
Hail Hail
Broadcast media report of hail measured up to 2.25 in diameter.
Hail Hail
Emergency manager report of hail measured up to 1.50 in diameter.
Hail Hail
Public report of hail estimated up to 2.75 in diameter.
Hail Hail
Law enforcement report of hail estimated up to 2.75 in diameter.
Hail Hail
Trained spotter report of hail measured up to 2.75 in diameter.
Hail Hail
Emergency management report of hail estimated up to 1.25 in diameter.
Hail Hail
Public report of hail estimated up to 4 in diameter.
Hail Hail
Public report of hail estimated up to 4 in diameter.
Hail Hail
Emergency management report of hail measured up to 1.75 in diameter.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Personal weather station measured gust of 60 mph, likely due to the evaporating of anvil precipitation helping to mix down a strong low-level jet.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snowfall generally in the 1-5 range with wind gusts measured up to 59 mph, bringing visibility down to 1/4 mile at times.
High Wind High Wind
Mesonet station RAVI4 measured gust of 59 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Mesonet measured wind gust of 66 mph.
Blizzard Blizzard
General snowfall amounts of 4 to 6 inches throughout the county. KCBF AWOS reported 1/2 mile visibility from 7:52 CST to 23:52 CST with surrounding conditions supporting blizzard criteria. Wind gusts up to 58 mph.
High Wind High Wind
KCBF measured wind gust of 58 mph.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chill got as low as -32 in the county.
Events by year
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 34 | 0 |
| 2024 | 36 | 7 |
| 2023 | 19 | 3 |
| 2022 | 18 | 1 |
| 2021 | 32 | 4 |
| 2020 | 8 | 0 |
| 2019 | 20 | 0 |
| 2018 | 23 | 0 |
| 2017 | 13 | 0 |
| 2016 | 7 | 2 |
| 2015 | 7 | 1 |
| 2014 | 29 | 1 |
| 2013 | 15 | 0 |
| 2012 | 24 | 1 |
| 2011 | 32 | 0 |
| 2010 | 32 | 0 |
| 2009 | 17 | 0 |
| 2008 | 22 | 3 |
| 2007 | 32 | 2 |
| 2006 | 11 | 0 |
| 2005 | 23 | 0 |
| 2004 | 27 | 1 |
| 2003 | 16 | 1 |
| 2002 | 9 | 0 |
| 2001 | 31 | 3 |
| 2000 | 18 | 2 |
| 1999 | 20 | 3 |
| 1998 | 17 | 0 |
| 1997 | 10 | 0 |
| 1996 | 15 | 1 |
| 1995 | 8 | 0 |
| 1994 | 6 | 0 |
| 1993 | 4 | 1 |
| 1992 | 4 | 1 |
| 1991 | 7 | 2 |
| 1990 | 10 | 2 |
| 1989 | 4 | 1 |
| 1988 | 9 | 4 |
| 1987 | 8 | 4 |
| 1986 | 7 | 0 |
| 1985 | 9 | 0 |
| 1984 | 3 | 1 |
| 1983 | 2 | 0 |
| 1982 | 1 | 1 |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 | 7 | 0 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 | 1 | 0 |
| 1976 | 3 | 1 |
| 1975 | 7 | 2 |
| 1974 | 4 | 0 |
| 1973 | 1 | 0 |
| 1972 | 3 | 0 |
| 1971 | 1 | 0 |
| 1970 | 2 | 1 |
| 1969 | 2 | 0 |
| 1968 | 7 | 0 |
| 1967 | 2 | 0 |
| 1965 | 1 | 0 |
| 1964 | 2 | 0 |
| 1962 | 1 | 0 |