Des Moines, IA — Iowa has experienced a record-breaking year for tornadoes in 2024, with a preliminary count of 122 tornadoes as of mid-August, surpassing the previous record of 120 set in 2004. April and May were particularly active, with a combined total of 98 tornadoes. April 2024 alone set the record for the most April tornadoes in the state’s history and tied for the third-most tornadoes in any month.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Des Moines, this year also saw the highest number of EF-3s and EF-4s since 1999, and the most EF-1s on record for a single year. The NWS attributes this unprecedented activity to several factors, including improved storm tracking, better radar technology, and more active storm chasing.
The most severe tornadoes included a 42.4-mile-long twister in Greenfield and a 1.1-mile-wide tornado in Minden. Minden and Greenfield also had the widest and longest tornadoes of the year, respectively.
