Tornadoes in Howard County
The Storm Prediction Center records 46 tornadoes whose paths touched Howard County, Iowa between 1953 and 2022. They killed 16 people and injured 508. The busiest month is May, with 12 tornadoes. The strongest was an F5 on 15 May 1968. The most recent was on 12 April 2022.
- 46tornadoes
- 16deaths
- 508injuries
- 972per 10,000 sq mi of land
A tornado that crossed several counties counts in each one, so county counts add up to more than the state's.
How strong were the tornadoes in Howard County?
| Rating | Tornadoes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| F0 / EF0 | 24 | 52% |
| F1 / EF1 | 9 | 20% |
| F2 / EF2 | 6 | 13% |
| F3 / EF3 | 3 | 7% |
| F4 / EF4 | 3 | 7% |
| F5 / EF5 | 1 | 2% |
| Unknown rating | 0 | 0% |
Howard County tornadoes over time
The 2020s only run to 2022, so that bar is for a shorter period. The record starts in 1950.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 3 |
| 1960s | 7 |
| 1970s | 2 |
| 1980s | 3 |
| 1990s | 10 |
| 2000s | 6 |
| 2010s | 8 |
| 2020s | 7 |
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 0 |
| Feb | 0 |
| Mar | 1 |
| Apr | 3 |
| May | 12 |
| Jun | 8 |
| Jul | 8 |
| Aug | 7 |
| Sep | 3 |
| Oct | 0 |
| Nov | 0 |
| Dec | 4 |
Records for Howard County
- Deadliest and Strongest: Hansell, Iowa tornado15 May 1968, F5, 13 deaths, 462 injuries, 62.1 miles long
- Longest path: Chester, Iowa tornado10 May 1953, F4, 2 deaths, 24 injuries, 162 miles long
- Most recent: Iowa tornado12 April 2022, EF0, 4.5 miles long
Notable tornadoes in Howard County
- Hansell, Iowa tornado15 May 1968, F5, 13 deaths, 462 injuries, 62.1 miles long
- Chester, Iowa tornado10 May 1953, F4, 2 deaths, 24 injuries, 162 miles long
- Gilbert, Iowa tornado20 May 1953, F3, 1 death, 116.1 miles long
- Osage, Iowa tornado5 May 1965, F4, 11 injuries, 41.6 miles long
- Elma, Iowa tornado12 July 1971, F4, 8 injuries, 10.9 miles long
Many of these tornadoes killed or injured people. The numbers are the official record's, and they may be revised.