Sioux County, Iowa
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1956 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
47
Tornado reports
261
Hail reports
164
Floods since 1996
1,046
All events
5
Deaths
$36.7M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Sioux County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 47 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
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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.
Rainfall amounts across Sioux County from June 20-22 ranged from 2 to 7 inches, with the highest amounts across the northern half of the county. Farther north and upstream, up to 12 inches of rain fell across portions of southeast South Dakota and northwest Iowa. This rainfall re…
As snow developed and began to accumulate during the evening on January 14, the increase in winds to a sustained 30 to 40 mph, with a few gusts as high as 51 mph at an Iowa Department of Transportation site at Alton and 44 mph near Maurice (SXK), resulted in widespread near white…
Snow accumulated 5 to 8 inches. Increasing northwest winds during the event caused wind chills to approach 20 below zero as the snow was ending. The winds also caused a few areas of blowing and drifting snow. A vehicle accident which caused 2 fatalities and 3 injuries was attribu…
Thunderstorm winds flipped over a camper, twisted swing sets, blew down power poles, and caused widespread tree damage. Several trees were blown down, including one which fell on a tent, killing a participant in a bicycle ride across Iowa. Several roads were blocked by fallen tre…
Water ponding in the area of Central Park overflowed roadways and entered the Sioux Center Fire Department building. Two homes suffered the collapse of basement walls from the high water. Water also inundated a transformer which cut off power to seven homes in the northwest part …
A tornado damaged 3 farmsteads in including damage to at least one house. The greatest damage was to structures and vehicles at a dairy farm.
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 5 inches at Rock Valley. Many b…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Tree and outbuilding damage occurred to a couple of farmsteads.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several large tree branches were blown down across town which ranged from 5 inches in diameter to as large as 13 inches in diameter.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index readings reached afternoon peaks as high as 112 degrees at Sioux Center, 108 degrees near Orange City, 107 degrees at Hull, and 105 degrees near Maurice.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy rainfall from thunderstorms brought flash flooding to portions of Rock Valley during the daybreak hours. Personal weather stations in town recorded as much as 3.5 inches of rain in less than an hour period with other personal rain gauges reading as high as 4 to 4.5 inches o…
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Crops were shredded by wind-driven hail up to ping pong ball size in an approximately one mile by three mile corridor.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds downed tree limbs up to 5 1/2 inches in diameter.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought conditions improved to moderate (D1) briefly around mid-month, and again late in the month.
Drought Drought
Moderate (D1) drought conditions worsened to severe (D2) very late month.
Blizzard Blizzard
Northerly winds gusted as high as 56 mph near Maurice and 49 mph at Hawarden. During and after a period of snowfall which totaled 3.0 inches 3 miles north of Sioux Center and 2.0 inches at Rock Valley, visibility was reduced to near zero at times with blowing snow. Travel was not…
High Wind High Wind
The Automated Weather Observing System site near Maurice had frequent sustained winds from 40 to 46 mph.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds were between 40 and 46 mph at times, with gusts as high as 61 mph at the Automated Weather Observing System site at the Sioux County Regional Airport (KSXK).
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds were between 40 and 43 mph at times at the Automated Weather Observing System site near Maurice (KSXK).
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds reached 40 to 49 mph with gusts as high as 61 mph near Maurice.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Sustained winds reached 30 to 39 mph at times with gusts as high as 53 mph at an Automated Weather Observing System site near Maurice and 45 mph at a personal weather station near Hawarden.
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 mid-afternoon to early evening. Gusty northwest winds from 35 to 45 mph were concurrent with light to moderate snowfall, which totale…
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds reached around 40 to 45 mph with a gust as high as 61 mph near Maurice.
Periods of light snowfall along with winds of 40 to 60 mph resulted in periods of whiteout conditions. Travel was not recommended during the early and mid-afternoon. A two-vehicle, three-injury accident occurred 1 mile west of Boyden when low visibility resulted in a rear-end col…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 4.0 inches in Rock Valley, 3.3 inches in Hull, and 3.1 inches in Orange City.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chills reached as low as -32 degrees near Maurice and -28 degrees at Hawarden.
High Wind High Wind
Synoptic northwest winds were occasionally sustained from 40 to 50 mph with gusts as high as 64 mph at an Automated Weather Observing System site near Maurice.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snowfall totaled 8.5 inches at Rock Valley, 7.0 inches 2 miles southeast of Sioux Center, and 6.1 inches at Orange City.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
A long-duration snowfall totaled 10.0 inches at Sioux Center, 7.7 inches at Rock Valley, and 6.7 inches in Orange City.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds reached 40 to 47 mph at times with a peak gust of 61 mph at an Automated Weather Observing System site near Maurice.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 4.5 inches 6 miles north of Ireton, 4.0 inches at Sioux Center, 3.3 inches at Orange City, and 3.0 inches at Rock Valley.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index values peaked as high as 112 degrees at Hawarden and 106 degrees at Orange City on August 16.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index values peaked as high as 108 degrees at Hawarden and 104 degrees at Sioux Center.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
As a result of intense rainfall, the Floyd River near Struble rose nearly 8 feet in 3 hours to flood stage.
Flood Flood
The Floyd River at Alton rose above flood stage on the evening of July 30th, cresting around 1.46 feet above flood stage (13.46 ft) on July 31st. The river then fell below flood stage on the afternoon of July 31st.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Iowa Highway 60 near 480th Street was closed due the roadway being flooded by a couple feet of flowing water.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Runoff from heavy rainfall caused the Floyd River at Alton to rise 5 feet in less than 3 hours, resulting in a brief period over flood stage.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees were knocked down by thunderstorm wind gusts.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts knocked down a tree with a roughly 5 foot diameter. The tree appeared at least partially rotted from photos.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds ripped a live 2 to 3 foot diameter tree limb down.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Numerous trees were knocked down by thunderstorm wind gusts.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 18 | 0 |
| 2025 | 62 | 0 |
| 2024 | 46 | 4 |
| 2023 | 55 | 2 |
| 2022 | 33 | 0 |
| 2021 | 27 | 0 |
| 2020 | 29 | 0 |
| 2019 | 58 | 0 |
| 2018 | 66 | 0 |
| 2017 | 16 | 2 |
| 2016 | 29 | 1 |
| 2015 | 19 | 4 |
| 2014 | 34 | 2 |
| 2013 | 16 | 0 |
| 2012 | 47 | 2 |
| 2011 | 20 | 1 |
| 2010 | 48 | 1 |
| 2009 | 33 | 0 |
| 2008 | 25 | 2 |
| 2007 | 30 | 1 |
| 2006 | 16 | 0 |
| 2005 | 29 | 3 |
| 2004 | 33 | 1 |
| 2003 | 17 | 0 |
| 2002 | 32 | 0 |
| 2001 | 37 | 3 |
| 2000 | 21 | 1 |
| 1999 | 8 | 0 |
| 1998 | 13 | 3 |
| 1997 | 11 | 0 |
| 1996 | 15 | 0 |
| 1995 | 6 | 0 |
| 1994 | 7 | 0 |
| 1992 | 5 | 2 |
| 1991 | 5 | 0 |
| 1990 | 7 | 1 |
| 1989 | 4 | 0 |
| 1988 | 2 | 0 |
| 1987 | 4 | 1 |
| 1986 | 5 | 0 |
| 1985 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | 5 | 0 |
| 1983 | 4 | 0 |
| 1982 | 4 | 0 |
| 1981 | 3 | 1 |
| 1980 | 7 | 0 |
| 1979 | 4 | 1 |
| 1978 | 9 | 2 |
| 1977 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 | 5 | 1 |
| 1973 | 7 | 0 |
| 1968 | 3 | 3 |
| 1966 | 1 | 1 |
| 1963 | 2 | 1 |
| 1961 | 1 | 0 |
| 1956 | 1 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Sioux County, measured to its path.
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