WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — A preliminary count shows Iowa's 20-year tornado record has been broken with less than half the year remaining.
As of Aug. 17, 2024 Iowa has seen 122 tornadoes; the previous record was 120 tornadoes in 2004.
Direct year-to-year comparisons are difficult as several factors have influenced the higher tornado count in recent years, the National Weather Service in Des Moines said in a social media post.
Better communication and recording devices, social media, a more active storm spotting and chasing network, improvements in science and better radar technology are some reasons why the tornado count has increased.
The NWS noted the 49 tornadoes in April and May respectively tied for third-most tornadoes in any month in Iowa. April also broke the previous record of tornadoes recorded, which was 40 in April 2001.
2024 also saw the most EF-3s and EF-4s in a single year since 1999, the most EF-1s in a single year on record and the most EF-O/Unknown since 2004.
The 1.1-mile wide tornado in Minden has been the widest tornado so far, while the deadly Greenfield tornado in has been the longest at 42.4 miles, according to the NWS.