Union County, Iowa
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1956 and 2025, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
41
Tornado reports
120
Hail reports
39
Floods since 1996
569
All events
0
Deaths
$58.0M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Union County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 41 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.
This tornado continued in from Adams county. NWS storm survey confirmed a strong EF2 tornado. It entered Union county just southwest of Cromwell and tracked east-northeast through the far northwest portion of Creston. The Greater Regional Medical Center and Southwest Community Co…
Hail Hail
Trained spotter reported nickel sized hail on Highway 34 east of Creston.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Social media report of 4 inch diameter tree limb snapped. Time estimated from radar.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Event total rainfall of 5.11 inches so far. Measured by a personal weather station.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
The tornado developed in southwest Union county and tracked through rural portions of the county. Four properties reported damage, ranging from damage to outbuildings to shingle damage to a home.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Spotter reported dime to quarter sized hail.
Hail Hail
Quarter sized hail reported at the US 169 and US 34 intersection.
Blizzard Blizzard
High Wind High Wind
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Drought Drought
Widespread rainfall of 1 to 2 inches over the past week helped to end the Severe Drought conditions across Union County.
Drought Drought
Prolong dryness this fall along with above normal temperatures has led to the expansion of Severe Drought conditions into Union County.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Delayed report. Two maple trees blown down. Damage to the top of an oak tree. Power lines damaged due to fallen trees.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A 62 mph wind gust recorded on handheld anemometer with blinding rain in sheets.
Tornado EF0 Tornado
This tornado moved into Union County from Adams County just to the northwest of Cromwell. The tornado impacted a few trees on the northwest edge of Cromwell and then dissipated shortly thereafter.
Tornado EFU Tornado
This tornado formed in far northern Union County and quickly moved into Madison County. No damage indicators were impacted by this tornado in Union County, hence the EFU rating for this portion of the tornado.
Hail Hail
Public reported roughly half dollar sized hail in Creston. Time estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Damage to trees and house. Time estimated by radar.
Hail Hail
Hail reported near Rea Road and Creamery Road. Time estimated by radar.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Delayed report by trained spotter. Hail up to 1.75 inches shredded leaves.
Hail Hail
Report via mping.
Hail Hail
Photo from WHO viewer.
Hail Hail
Report via mping.
Hail Hail
Hail near Green Valley Lake.
Tornado EF2 Tornado
This tornado entered Union County from Adams County south of Cromwell. The tornado moved northeast through western Union county remaining in mostly rural locations. It did impact a few farmsteads along the way with mostly tree and outbuilding damage. The tornado moved into the fa…
Tornado EF1 Tornado
Emergency management found damage along this path in north central Union County. The tornado formed about 5 miles northeast of Creston and remained in rural areas of the county. It impacted 3 different farmsteads producing up to EF1 damage to outbuildings at one of the sites. The…
Tornado EF2 Tornado
This tornado developed west of Afton and quickly moved northeast. It crossed the BNSF railroad and Highway 34 before passing near the Three Mile Lake Dam. This tornado produced EF2 at one of the Wildlife Management Center's buildings before proceeding into rural areas of northern…
Tornado EF1 Tornado
This tornado began a few miles south of the Creston airport and moved northeast in rural portions of central Union County. This tornado damaged trees and grain bins shortly after forming with only tree damage observed for most of its path. The tornado crossed Highway 34 between C…
Tornado EF2 Tornado
This tornado formed between the BNSF railroad and Highway 34 west of Afton and took a track very similar to a tornado which occurred earlier in the hour. It produced EF2 damage to several house on either side of Highway 34 as it travelled to the northeast. The tornado crossed Thr…
Funnel Cloud Funnel Cloud
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Time estimated by radar.
Drought Drought
Rainfall during the month of April led to severe drought conditions ending across Union County by the end of the month.
Drought Drought
Precipitation during the month of March did increase across Union county with amounts near normal. There was some minor improvement in drought conditions but severe drought continued through the end of the month.
Drought Drought
Above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation allowed severe drought conditions to persist across the north half of Union county.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Blizzard Blizzard
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Drought Drought
Severe drought persisted in Union county during January with below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation. Longer term dryness kept from any further improvements.
Drought Drought
Severe to extreme drought conditions remained across Union county in December with above normal temperatures. Rainfall was above normal but did little to alleviate drought conditions, particularly longer term deficits.
Drought Drought
Severe drought conditions persisted across much of Union county for the duration of November given lack of rain and above normal temperatures.
Drought Drought
Severe drought conditons maintained a presence in Union county during the month of October. Temperatures remained above normal during the month with below normal rainfall.
Drought Drought
Above normal temperatures and lack of precipitation allowed severe drought conditions to expand into portions of Union county during the later half of September.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | 1 |
| 2024 | 30 | 7 |
| 2023 | 16 | 0 |
| 2022 | 19 | 1 |
| 2021 | 9 | 0 |
| 2020 | 4 | 0 |
| 2019 | 15 | 0 |
| 2018 | 25 | 1 |
| 2017 | 15 | 0 |
| 2016 | 15 | 1 |
| 2015 | 20 | 1 |
| 2014 | 26 | 0 |
| 2013 | 16 | 0 |
| 2012 | 16 | 1 |
| 2011 | 29 | 1 |
| 2010 | 19 | 0 |
| 2009 | 13 | 0 |
| 2008 | 52 | 5 |
| 2007 | 21 | 1 |
| 2006 | 16 | 2 |
| 2005 | 9 | 0 |
| 2004 | 15 | 0 |
| 2003 | 8 | 1 |
| 2002 | 9 | 0 |
| 2001 | 15 | 1 |
| 2000 | 10 | 0 |
| 1999 | 10 | 1 |
| 1998 | 16 | 0 |
| 1997 | 11 | 0 |
| 1996 | 25 | 1 |
| 1995 | 2 | 0 |
| 1994 | 4 | 0 |
| 1992 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990 | 2 | 0 |
| 1989 | 4 | 1 |
| 1988 | 2 | 0 |
| 1987 | 4 | 1 |
| 1986 | 2 | 0 |
| 1985 | 4 | 3 |
| 1983 | 2 | 1 |
| 1982 | 3 | 0 |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 |
| 1979 | 5 | 1 |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 | 2 | 1 |
| 1973 | 1 | 1 |
| 1972 | 2 | 2 |
| 1970 | 3 | 0 |
| 1969 | 1 | 0 |
| 1964 | 2 | 2 |
| 1962 | 1 | 1 |
| 1961 | 1 | 0 |
| 1957 | 1 | 0 |
| 1956 | 1 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Union County, measured to its path.
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