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Tornadoes in northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and
southwest and central Wisconsin
Main Tornado page
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| Background Information | Statistics (1850-Present) | Records (1850-Present) |
1850-2006
| Date | Time | Location | Other
Counties Affected |
Length (miles) |
Width (yards) |
Deaths** | Injuries** | F-Scale | ||
| Month | Day | Year | ||||||||
| 7 | 5 | 2004 | 1640-45 CST | Protivin 2NW to Protivin 3NW | None | 0.2 | 20 | 0 | 0 | F0 |
| This tornado touched down and briefly hit a barn that housed turkeys near Protivin. | ||||||||||
| 6 | 16 | 2004 | 1348-50 CST | Riceville | Mitchell | 0.2 | 20 | 0 | 0 | F0 |
| Brief touch down causing no damage. | ||||||||||
| 6 | 16 | 2004 | 1255-57 CST | Davis Corners | None | 0.1 | 20 | 0 | 0 | F0 |
| Brief touch down causing no damage. | ||||||||||
| 6 | 11 | 2004 | 1656-1713 CST | Riceville, IA 2N to LeRoy 4NW | Mower | 12 | 150 | 0 | 0 | F3 |
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This was the last of three tornadoes to be produced by a small but intense thunderstorm in northeast Iowa (two in Howard County and one in Mitchell County). This tornado was the most significant tornado and it formed about 2 miles north of Riceville, again just east of the Mitchell-Howard County line. The tornado tracked north, just east of the county line or Addison Avenue. It grew in strength and at one point was approximately 150 yards wide, hitting several homes and farms (F2 damage). One home lost the roof and all buildings. The tornado was so close to the county line that debris was thrown across Addison Avenue into Mitchell County at times. The dirt and young crops were scoured by the tornado. The tornado crossed into Minnesota just southwest of Le Roy (Mower County), hitting a home directly on the state line. The home, which was built in1900, and several buildings on the lot, were completely demolished (F3 damage). This tornado caused an estimated $190,000 in property damage and $30,000 in crop damage in Howard County. |
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| 6 | 11 | 2004 | 1640-1650 CST | Riceville 4S to Riceville | None | 4 | 40 | 0 | 0 | F0 |
| This was the second of three tornadoes to be produced by a small but intense thunderstorm in northeast Iowa (two in Howard County and one in Mitchell County). This tornado touched down just east of the Mitchell-Howard County line, about 4 miles south of Riceville (Howard County), and also moved straight north. It downed a few trees, but primarily crossed open fields until it reached the southeast side of Riceville. It damaged a few sheds and buildings in Riceville, with mainly tin roofing material and siding blown off. The tornado lifted in Riceville and was rated an F0. This tornado caused an estimated $190,000 in property damage and $30,000 in crop damage. | ||||||||||
| 6 | 27 | 1998 | 1908 CST | Cresco 2W | None | 0.3 | 20 | 0 | 0 | F0 |
| A brief touchdown was reported by amateur radio storm spotters and only damaged a small area of crops. | ||||||||||
| 7 | 20 | 1997 | 2020-2030 CST | Cresco 5W to Cresco 2W | None | 3 | 70 | 0 | 0 | F0 |
| A home was damaged from a brief touchdown west of Cresco. | ||||||||||
| 8 | 19 | 1996 | 1800-1805 CST | Davis Corners 2N to Davis Corners 2NE | None | 0.5 | 50 | 0 | 0 | F0 |
| A small tornado was reported by law enforcement and the public. It moved across open fields for several hundred yards, flattening corn, but did not hit any buildings. | ||||||||||
| 7 | 19 | 1994 | 2006 CST | Elma 2W | None | 0.7 | 35 | 0 | 0 | F1 |
| Significant damage was reported to a farmstead. | ||||||||||
| 7 | 19 | 1994 | 2006-2050 CST | Schley 1W to Decorah 7N | Winneshiek | 23 | 150 | 0 | 0 | F3 |
| One farmstead was completely destroyed while 3 others sustained heavy damage as this tornado tracked intermittently across northeast Iowa. Numerous farm buildings were flattened. This same storm produced a wind gust of 98 mph in Cresco and caused over $500,000 in damage - one of the worst storms to hit Cresco ever. | ||||||||||
| 7 | 19 | 1994 | 1929-1945 CST | Elma 1E to Lourdes 2E | None | 8.5 | 40 | 0 | 0 | F2 |
| This tornado crossed primarily open farm land but did destroy a few farm buildings. | ||||||||||
| 8 | 9 | 1990 | 1930-1934 CST | Schley 5NWto Schley 3NW | None | 1.5 | 15 | 0 | 0 | F1 |
| Little damage occurred as this tornado moved across farm fields and narrowly missed several farmsteads. | ||||||||||
| 5 | 17 | 1982 | 1600 CST | Lime Springs 1S | None | ?? | ?? | 0 | 0 | F1 |
| A tornado wrecked a 50x75 foot steel pole shed, a 12x14 foot cattle hutch, and sent a heavy timber from the pole shed through the roof of a hog farrowing house. A piece of wood from the wreckage was driven between the tire and rim of a tractor sitting north of the pole shed. | ||||||||||
| 8 | 2 | 1980 | 0445 CST | ? | None | ? | ? | 0 | 0 | F1 |
| 5 | 29 | 1980 | 2000 CST | ? | None | ? | ? | 0 | 0 | F0 |
| 4 | 17 | 1975 | 1950 CST | ? | None | ? | ? | 0 | 0 | F1 |
| 7 | 12 | 1971 | 1715-1758 CST | Elma 2W to Waucoma 1 SW | Chickasaw Fayette |
30 | 400 | 0 | 8 | F4 |
| This tornado moved southeast, passing through Lawler, and hit 50 farms. Three homes and barns were swept away. Damage estimates were $1.5 million. Both Fayette and Howard counties reported 4 injuries apiece. | ||||||||||
| 5 | 15 | 1968 | 1715 CST | Cresco 6S | None | 6 | 250 | 0 | 0 | F2 |
| A concrete block garage and barns were destroyed. A home was also unroofed. This tornado tracked north-northeast. | ||||||||||
| 5 | 15 | 1968 | 1510-1600 CST | Hansell 1NE to Chester 2S | Butler Chickasaw Floyd Franklin |
65 | 400 | 13 | 462 | F5 |
| Moved northeast from north of Hansell, passing east of Aredale, west of Greene, east of Marble Rock, and devastating Charles City. The tornado grew larger and more intense as it approached Charles City. The huge funnel passed directly through town, destroying 337 homes, and causing about $30 million in damage. The tornado continued to the northeast hitting Elma and causing another $1.5 million in damages. From there the tornado turned to the north and dissipated south of Chester, 4 miles south of the Minnesota border. Nearly 2000 homes were damaged or destroyed. All 13 deaths occurred in Floyd County. 450 injuries were reported in Floyd County and 12 injuries in Howard County. | ||||||||||
| 3 | 30 | 1967 | 2240 CST | Protivin 2S | Chickasaw | ? | 100 | 0 | 0 | F2 |
| A large barn was destroyed in Chickasaw County before the tornado crossed into Howard County. | ||||||||||
| 9 | 9 | 1965 | 1345 CST | Lime Springs | None | 1 | 50 | 0 | 0 | F2 |
| Barns were destroyed and a car was moved 200 feet. | ||||||||||
| 8 | 25 | 1965 | 1745 CST | ? | None | ? | ? | 0 | 0 | F1 |
| 5 | 5 | 1965 | 1945-2124 CST | Nora Springs 2N (IA) to Yucatan (MN) | Fillmore (MN) Floyd Houston (MN) Mitchell Winneshiek |
80 | 150 | 0 | 17 | F4 |
| Moved east-northeast from 2 miles north of Nora Springs, passing 3 miles north of Cresco and lifting near Yucatan, MN. The only F4 damage was to two large farm houses, 3 miles northwest of Kendallville in Winneshiek County. About 28 farms lost buildings in Iowa. Six people were injured in Minnesota, as homes and barns were destroyed near Canton, Lenora, and Newburg (Fillmore County). Six people were injured in Floyd County and 5 in Howard County. | ||||||||||
| 9 | 2 | 1961 | 2230 CST | ? | None | ? | ? | 0 | 0 | F2 |
| 6 | 25 | 1959 | 2200 CST | ? | None | ? | ? | 0 | 0 | F1 |
| 5 | 20 | 1953 | 2115-2210 CST | Bassett 3E to Lime Springs 4SW | Chickasaw | 30 | ?? | 0 | 0 | F3 |
| Although barns were destroyed near Bassett, the worst damage was done near the end of the path, in Howard County. The tornado moved north-northeast. | ||||||||||
| 5 | 10 | 1953 | 1715-1810 CST | Chester 5SW to Chatfield 4NE | Fillmore Olmsted |
40 | 400 | 1 | 8 | F4 |
| Eleven farms were heavily damaged in northern Iowa before this tornado crossed into Fillmore County. Twenty barns were damaged or destroyed in Minnesota and one man was killed as his barn was destroyed 1 mile southeast of Wykoff. A rural school was leveled 3 miles south of Chatfield as well. The only death occurred in Olmsted County. Six injuries occurred in Olmsted County and 2 injuries in Howard County. | ||||||||||
| 6 | 19 | 1937 | 2130 CST | Riceville 1W to Kendallville | Howard Mitchell Winneshiek |
25 | 100 | 0 | 0 | F2 |
| This tornado moved east-northeast from west of Riceville (Mitchell County), passing near Davis Corners, northwest of Cresco, to near Kendallville in Winneshiek County. A half dozen barns were damaged or destroyed. | ||||||||||
| 6 | 19 | 1931 | 2330 CST | Deerfield to Lourdes 2SE | Chickasaw | 16 | 70 | 0 | 0 | F2 |
| Barns were destroyed on four farms, mainly in Chickasaw County. About 50 farms had downburst damage totaling $62,000. | ||||||||||
| 4 | 21 | 1925 | 0930 CST | Davis Corners 2S to Cresco 1E | None | 8 | ?? | 1 | 0 | F2 |
| This tornado moved from south of Davis Corners to just east of Cresco, destroying several barns and silos. One boy was killed near Davis Corners when the barn he was seeking shelter in was destroyed. | ||||||||||
| 5 | 22 | 1920 | 1740 CST | ? | None | ?? | ?? | 0 | 1 | F2 |
| Moving northeast, this tornado destroyed four barns in the northwest corner of New Oregon Township. Damage estimates were $10,000. | ||||||||||
| 9 | 21 | 1894 | 2115 CST | Osage 2S to Riceville 6S to Cresco 10WSW | Mitchell | 25 | ? | 5 | 20 | F4 |
| The tornado moved east northeast from 2 miles south of Osage to 6 miles 6 south of Riceville to about 10 miles west southwest of Cresco. Five or more homes were destroyed and five people were killed all in or near the community of "Lowther" (5 miles north of Elma) in Mitchell County. | ||||||||||
| 6 | 23 | 1890 | 1800 CST | Riceville 1NW to Saratoga 1S | Mitchell | ? | 15 | 0 | 0 | F2 |
| The tornado moved east southeast from northwest of Riceville to about 1 mile south of Saratoga. Ten barns were damaged or destroyed across Howard County. One home near Saratoga was shifted 8 feet, another was unroofed, and another house was hit by trees and lost its kitchen. | ||||||||||
| 6 | 4 | 1890 | 1530 CST | Chester Area | Fillmore (MN) | 10 | 150 | 0 | 18 | F3 |
| The tornado moved northeast from 6 miles south southwest of Chester destroying a home and a school 3 miles south of Chester. A teacher and 10 students were injured at the school and one student lingered near death for days. Hogs were carried for up to 2 miles. Bedding from one home was found in trees about 2 miles from its foundation. | ||||||||||
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The data in this table came from Storm Data and Significant
Tornadoes--1680-1991 by Thomas P. Grazulis. ** Injuries and Deaths are for the entire tornado track. |
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Last Updated Sunday, January 22, 2006 - Jeff Boyne
