Slow Start to the Storm Season in Iowa

It has been extremely quiet in Iowa so far this year in the category of Severe Weather. Only NINE Thunderstorm/Tornado warnings have been issued in the first 117 days of the year. (Through April 26) It's the lowest amount of warnings issued thus far into the year since 2003.

Iowa Environmental Mesonet

Since 1986, on average, there’s been 73 Severe Thunderstorm/Tornado warnings issued by this point of the year.

A year ago, there had been 55 Severe Thunderstorm/Tornado warnings issued between January 1 and April 26. Only three years since 1986 have had fewer warnings issued up to this point; 2003 only had one, 1993 had seven, 1987 had six.

Historically the severe weather season in Iowa will really ramp up in May before peaking in June, as seen in the graph below:

In June 2020, the NWS in Des Moines issued 62 Severe Thunderstorm Warnings and zero tornado warnings.

LOOK: The most expensive weather and climate disasters in recent decades

Stacker ranked the most expensive climate disasters by the billions since 1980 by the total cost of all damages, adjusted for inflation, based on 2021 data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The list starts with Hurricane Sally, which caused $7.3 billion in damages in 2020, and ends with a devastating 2005 hurricane that caused $170 billion in damage and killed at least 1,833 people. Keep reading to discover the 50 of the most expensive climate disasters in recent decades in the U.S.

TIPS: Here's how you can prepare for power outages

Filed Under: severe, Weather

Categories: Articles