Tornadoes in Story County
The Storm Prediction Center records 68 tornadoes whose paths touched Story County, Iowa between 1950 and 2025. They killed 1 person and injured 47. The busiest month is June, with 24 tornadoes. The strongest was an F5 on 13 June 1976. The most recent was on 19 July 2025.
- 68tornadoes
- 1death
- 47injuries
- 1,188per 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 Story County?
| Rating | Tornadoes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| F0 / EF0 | 25 | 37% |
| F1 / EF1 | 24 | 35% |
| F2 / EF2 | 11 | 16% |
| F3 / EF3 | 5 | 7% |
| F4 / EF4 | 1 | 1% |
| F5 / EF5 | 1 | 1% |
| Unknown rating | 1 | 1% |
Story County tornadoes over time
The 2020s only run to 2025, so that bar is for a shorter period. The record starts in 1950.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 5 |
| 1960s | 9 |
| 1970s | 11 |
| 1980s | 3 |
| 1990s | 12 |
| 2000s | 13 |
| 2010s | 12 |
| 2020s | 3 |
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 0 |
| Feb | 0 |
| Mar | 5 |
| Apr | 3 |
| May | 16 |
| Jun | 24 |
| Jul | 6 |
| Aug | 7 |
| Sep | 3 |
| Oct | 0 |
| Nov | 4 |
| Dec | 0 |
Records for Story County
- Deadliest and Longest path: Gilbert, Iowa tornado20 May 1953, F3, 1 death, 116.1 miles long
- Strongest: Ames, Iowa tornado13 June 1976, F5, 9 injuries, 21.3 miles long
- Most recent: Iowa tornado19 July 2025, Unknown rating, 4.5 miles long
Notable tornadoes in Story County
- Gilbert, Iowa tornado20 May 1953, F3, 1 death, 116.1 miles long
- Ames, Iowa tornado13 June 1976, F5, 9 injuries, 21.3 miles long
- Stanhope, Iowa tornado24 May 1989, F4, 66 miles long
Many of these tornadoes killed or injured people. The numbers are the official record's, and they may be revised.