Iowa
When is tornado season in Iowa? See what forecasters expect this year
AccuWeather’s 2026 severe weather season forecast
Find out what areas of the United States are most at risk for severe weather and tornadoes this spring.
Stormy weather may be ahead, folks.
Over the past two years, Iowa has seen the two extremes of tornado season. A record-setting 125 tornadoes occurred in 2024. But in 2025, just 32 tornadoes were recorded, a number well below average.
Iowa typically averages around 50 tornadoes a year, according to a National Weather Service summary by meteorologist Brooke Hagenhoff.
Here’s what to expect for 2026’s tornado season.
What’s the forecast for tornadoes in Iowa in 2026?
The atmosphere in Iowa will favor thunderstorms more than tornadoes due to the quick exit of La Niña, according to AccuWeather meteorologists.
“Cooler air will likely limit severe weather farther in the northern Plains and Midwest until late April and May,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Alex Duffus.
But as spring progresses, tornado activity will increase in Iowa and surrounding states.
Long-range forecasters predict 1,050 to 1,250 tornadoes across the United States this year, which would be in line with historical averages.
When is tornado season in Iowa?
Tornado season usually peaks in June or July in the upper Midwest, including Iowa, the Dakotas, Nebraska and Minnesota, according to the National Weather Service.
AccuWeather’s forecast calls for the highest tornadic activity in Iowa to occur in April and May.
For Iowa, July 2025 was the busiest time of year for tornadoes, surpassing April and May.
Even though tornadoes can happen any time of the year or at any time of day, they often occur between 4 and 9 p.m.
How many tornadoes hit Iowa in 2025?
Iowa saw 32 tornadoes in 2025. The state saw the most tornadoes in a day on July 11, when 12 tornadoes occurred.
How many tornadoes hit Iowa in 2024?
In contrast to 2025, Iowa saw 125 tornadoes in 2024, making it a record year. In April and May alone, there were 98 tornadoes recorded.
On April 16, there were 18 tornadoes in a single day across the state. April 2024 saw 49 tornadoes. This beat the previous record set in 2001 of 40 tornadoes in April.
How do you stay safe during a tornado?
What you need to know to stay safe during a tornado
Advice from the National Weather Service on how to stay safe during a tornado
During a tornado, the National Weather Service recommends:
- Get as low as possible. A basement below ground level or the lowest floor of a building offers the greatest safety.
- Put as many walls between yourself and the outside as possible.
- Avoid windows.
Remember, tornadoes can move across hills and even bodies of water, so always seek shelter if one is nearby – your elevation or proximity to water are not natural sources of protection.
Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text.
Lucia Cheng is a service and trending reporter at the Des Moines Register. Contact her at lcheng@gannett.com or 515-284-8132.
Iowa
Northwest Iowa woman taken to the hospital after rollover
SIOUX COUNTY, Iowa (KTIV) – A Woodbury County woman was taken by ambulance to the hospital after a rollover took place in Sioux County.
The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office says 45-year-old Jenni Madison of Sioux City was taken to the hospital Saturday, July 11.
Authorities say at about 12:01 p.m., deputies investigated a rollover that took place on Highway 60, one mile south of Alton. According to the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office, the car was traveling north on Highway 60 when the driver lost control, entered the median and rolled.
Deputies say Madison was taken by ambulance to the Orange City Area Health System to be treated for minor injuries. The vehicle sustained $12,500 in damage.
Orange City Fire Department, Alton Fire Department, Alton Ambulance, the Orange City Police Department, and the Iowa State Patrol helped the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office at the scene.
Want to get the latest news and weather from Siouxland’s News Source? Follow these links to download our KTIV News app and our First Alert Weather app.
Copyright 2026 KTIV. All rights reserved.
Iowa
Several Iowa High School Baseball Standouts Selected In MLB Draft
A number of Iowa high school baseball standouts were selected during the 2026 Major League Baseball draft. The amateur draft was conducted July 11-12, 2026 from the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Gable Mitchell, Kaleb LaFavor, Caleb Klein, Sam George, Nate Smithburg and Kooper Schulte each heard their names called during the draft.
Gable Mitchell Was Two-Way Star For Iowa City High
Mitchell, an Iowa City High grad, was picked in the eighth round with the 193rd overall pick by the Toronto Blue Jays. He played his collegiate baseball at the University of Iowa after batting .466 with 12 extra-base hits, 55 runs scored, 29 RBI and 25 steals, going 5-0 with a 0.95 earned run average and 18 strikeouts as a senior.
In high school, Mitchell was an all-stater in baseball and earned all-conference honors on the football field. His grandfather is Dan Gable, an Olympic wrestling gold medalist who led the Hawkeyes to 15 NCAA championships.
Kaleb LaFavor Lone Current Iowa High School Baseball Player Selected
LaFavor, currently a senior at Sioux City Bishop Heelan High School, was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 10th round with the 304th pick. He has gone 3-1 with 40 strikeouts and a 0.79 earned run average in just under 18 innings on the mound this summer.
Klein, a Western Dubuque High School prep, played at Southeastern Community College and Southeast Missouri. He helped lead the Bobcats to back-to-back Class 3A Iowa High School Athletic Association State Baseball Tournament championships.
During his senior season at Western Dubuque, Klein hit .414 with nine doubles, seven triples, 49 runs scored and 30 RBI, stealing 20 bases. He went to the Atlanta Braves with the 442nd pick in the 15th round.
Several Former Iowa High School Baseball Players Hear Their Names Called
George, a former Pleasant Valley High School standout, played for Minnesota State University this past spring and was picked by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 19th round with the No. 581 overall selection.
In his final high school season with the Spartans, he struck out 62 batters in 44 innings, putting together a 2.07 earned run average.
Smithburg was picked by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 18th round with the 533rd pick after playing at Fairfield High School and for the Oklahoma Sooners.
As a senior, Smithburg went 6-1 with 83 strikeouts and a 0.43 earned run average in 47 innings pitched on the mound.
Schulte, who played at New London High School, played collegiately at Central Arizona, Southeastern Community College and for the Iowa Hawkeyes. He was selected by the New York Mets in the 20th round with the 600th pick overall.
He was an all-stater for New London in 2022, helping lead them to a state baseball championship that same season. As a senior, Schulte hit .444 with six home runs, 13 doubles, 50 runs scored, 44 RBI and nine steals, recording three saves and 29 strikeouts in just over 14 innings pitched.
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Iowa
Saints win finale in Iowa, snapping skid
The Saints claimed a victory in its series finale at Iowa, defeating the I-Cubs 5-4 to snap a four-game losing streak.
Orlando Arcia’s third-inning double scored Matt Wallner and Aaron Sabato to give St. Paul (50-41) the lead for good in the third inning.
Iowa scored twice in the ninth and threatened to steal away the win before reliever Trent Baker struck out Christian Bethancourt to end the game and earn the save.
Ben Ross and Kyler Fedko hit homers for the visitors.
Matt Bowman, who relieved Saints starter Aaron Rozek in the fifth inning, claimed the win.
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