EIGHT NEWS, IOWA’S NEWS LEADER PEPPER. THANK YOU. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONFIRMS THERE WERE 25 TORNADOES ACROSS IOWA BETWEEN SATURDAY AND MONDAY. THIS IS VIDEO FROM OUR STORM CHASER. AS OUR CREW WAS TRYING TO DRIVE AWAY FROM ONE OF THOSE POWERFUL STORMS ON MONDAY. TODD MAGEL AND PHOTOJOURNALIST JOSH PAYNE WERE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TWO NEAR MOUNT IRA. THAT’S JUST SOUTH OF WHERE AN F0 TWISTER BLEW THROUGH JUST A DAY BEFORE. THERE WER
At least 25 tornadoes struck Iowa in recent days, according to National Weather Service damage surveys released Wednesday.Those tornadoes occurred on three straight days from Saturday, May 16, to Monday, May 18. Twenty-three of the tornadoes formed on Sunday evening alone, mainly in northwest Iowa.One tornado touched down in Taylor County Saturday. Another formed in Ringgold County on Monday. More tornadoes will likely be confirmed by the NWS as they continue evaluating damage from recent storms.Further details on all these tornadoes can be found below.Saturday’s tornado A lone tornado was confirmed in Taylor County Saturday evening. This tornado formed a couple miles southwest of Gravity at 5:51 p.m. and lasted six minutes.The tornado was not rated on the Enhanced Fujita scale because it did not damage anything that could be used to determine its wind speed. Sunday’s tornadoesStorms sweeping through northwest Iowa produced at least 23 tornadoes Sunday night, most of which were weak. Towns like Rockwell City, Emmetsburg, Lone Rock, and Graettinger were hit directly by tornadoes rated EF-0 or EF-1. Here are details on a few of those tornadoes:SW of Pomeroy, 9:01, 4-mile path, EF1, 110 mph windsPlover, 9:05, 1.1-mile path, EF1, 95 mph windsMallard, 9:09, 2.8-mile path, EF1Rockwell City, 9:10, 0.2-mile path, EF1, 105 mph windsEmmetsburg, 9:12, 0.8-mile path, EF0Whittemore, 9:17, 1.6-mile path, EF0, 85 mph windsMoorland, 9:29, 4.7-mile path, EF0Lone Rock, 9:29, 0.7-mile path, EF1, 100 mph windsWoden/Wesley, 9:44, 10.2-mile path, EF1, 95 mph windsMonday’s tornadoOne tornado has been confirmed so far from May 18’s severe storms.The NWS determined an EF1 formed in Ringgold County, southwest of Benton, at 6:54 p.m.The tornado curved around and crossed Hwy. 2 northeast of Benton before lifting at 7:01 just west of the Hwy. 169 intersection.The tornado’s peak winds were estimated at 80 mph.2026 tornado count now over 50These recent storms bring Iowa’s total number of confirmed tornadoes to 51 so far in 2026. That easily outpaces the 32 tornadoes from all of 2025.
DES MOINES, Iowa —
At least 25 tornadoes struck Iowa in recent days, according to National Weather Service damage surveys released Wednesday.
Those tornadoes occurred on three straight days from Saturday, May 16, to Monday, May 18.
Twenty-three of the tornadoes formed on Sunday evening alone, mainly in northwest Iowa.
Hearst Owned
Confirmed tornadoes May 16-18, 2026
One tornado touched down in Taylor County Saturday. Another formed in Ringgold County on Monday.
More tornadoes will likely be confirmed by the NWS as they continue evaluating damage from recent storms.
Further details on all these tornadoes can be found below.
Saturday’s tornado
A lone tornado was confirmed in Taylor County Saturday evening.
Hearst Owned
May 16, 2026
This tornado formed a couple miles southwest of Gravity at 5:51 p.m. and lasted six minutes.
The tornado was not rated on the Enhanced Fujita scale because it did not damage anything that could be used to determine its wind speed.
Sunday’s tornadoes
Storms sweeping through northwest Iowa produced at least 23 tornadoes Sunday night, most of which were weak.
Hearst Owned
Confirmed tornadoes May 17, 2026
Towns like Rockwell City, Emmetsburg, Lone Rock, and Graettinger were hit directly by tornadoes rated EF-0 or EF-1.
Here are details on a few of those tornadoes:
- SW of Pomeroy, 9:01, 4-mile path, EF1, 110 mph winds
- Plover, 9:05, 1.1-mile path, EF1, 95 mph winds
- Mallard, 9:09, 2.8-mile path, EF1
- Rockwell City, 9:10, 0.2-mile path, EF1, 105 mph winds
- Emmetsburg, 9:12, 0.8-mile path, EF0
- Whittemore, 9:17, 1.6-mile path, EF0, 85 mph winds
- Moorland, 9:29, 4.7-mile path, EF0
- Lone Rock, 9:29, 0.7-mile path, EF1, 100 mph winds
- Woden/Wesley, 9:44, 10.2-mile path, EF1, 95 mph winds
Monday’s tornado
One tornado has been confirmed so far from May 18’s severe storms.
Hearst Owned
May 18, 2026
The NWS determined an EF1 formed in Ringgold County, southwest of Benton, at 6:54 p.m.
The tornado curved around and crossed Hwy. 2 northeast of Benton before lifting at 7:01 just west of the Hwy. 169 intersection.
The tornado’s peak winds were estimated at 80 mph.
2026 tornado count now over 50
These recent storms bring Iowa’s total number of confirmed tornadoes to 51 so far in 2026.
That easily outpaces the 32 tornadoes from all of 2025.
