Bremer County, Iowa
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 19017 · population 24,970 · 435 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 583 records for Bremer County, Iowa from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 373 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (151 records). The most damaging was the July 23, 2010 flash flood ($1.5 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 17 declarations naming the county since 1965, 15 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms and Flooding” on March 23, 2019.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 583on 373 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 012 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $206Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 29strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 17latest 2020
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Bremer County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 151 since 1956. 52% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1956 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among Iowa's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 151 | 89 | 1956-2025 | 0 | 12 | $5.9M | 33 of 99 |
| Hail | 128 | 56 | 1960-2025 | 0 | 0 | $2.1M | 61 of 99 |
| Winter storms | 83 | 79 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.7M | 40 of 99 |
| Floods | 58 | 42 | 1997-2024 | 0 | 0 | $39M | 40 of 99 |
| High wind and dust storms | 33 | 33 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | 19 of 99 |
| Heavy rain | 32 | 23 | 2008-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 23 of 99 |
| Extreme cold | 31 | 31 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $9.4M | 11 of 99 |
| Tornadoes | 29 | 26 | 1961-2021 | 0 | 0 | $41M | 18 of 99 |
| Drought | 26 | 26 | 2001-2024 | 0 | 0 | $105M | 28 of 99 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 5 | 4 | 2011-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 64 of 99 |
| Lightning | 4 | 4 | 1997-2010 | 0 | 0 | $29K | 20 of 99 |
| Heat | 3 | 3 | 2001-2019 | 0 | 0 | $177K | 82 of 99 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Bremer County had?
NOAA records 29 tornadoes in Bremer County from 1961 to 2021, the strongest rated F4, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. That is 18th of 99 Iowa counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 29 tornadoes whose track touched Bremer County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 29, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961-09-01 18:00, as SPC files it | Bristow to Plainfield | F4 | 26.6 mi | 0 |
| 1975-11-09 16:30, as SPC files it | Evansdale | F3 | 39.4 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Iowa.
Every tornado record filed for Bremer County (29)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-07-14 | Buck Creek, Bremer County | EF0 2.5 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2021-07-14 | Babcock, Bremer County | EF2 9.75 mi x 420 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.1M |
| 2018-10-09 | Janesville, Bremer County | EF0 0.39 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2014-08-31 | Knittel, Bremer County | EF0 5.41 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2014-08-31 | Janesville, Bremer County | EF0 0.76 mi x 85 yd | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 2014-08-31 | Babcock, Bremer County | EF0 1.89 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2014-06-16 | Tripoli, Bremer County | EF0 2 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2011-05-22 | Tripoli, Bremer County | EF0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-06-23 | Tripoli, Bremer County | EF1 0.29 mi x 35 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
| 2001-09-06 | Waverly, Bremer County | F2 10 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $183K |
| 2001-06-01 | Janesville, Bremer County | F1 8.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $55K |
| 1998-06-27 | Waverly, Bremer County | F2 5 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 1996-06-16 | Waverly, Bremer County | F0 10 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 1991-06-14 | Bremer County | F0 0.1 mi x 13 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1988-11-15 | Bremer County | F1 1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1988-05-08 | Bremer County | F1 1.5 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1985-07-05 | Bremer County | F0 0.2 mi x 3 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1981-04-10 | Bremer County | F2 0.8 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1977-07-16 | Bremer County | F2 1.9 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1977-06-07 | Bremer County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1975-11-09 | Bremer County | F1 2.7 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1973-06-04 | Bremer County | F1 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1971-07-12 | Bremer County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1970-09-09 | Bremer County | F2 2.3 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1966-04-19 | Bremer County | F2 4.6 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1964-08-20 | Bremer County | F0 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1962-05-29 | Bremer County | 0 | 0 | $25K step | |
| 1961-09-01 | Bremer County | F4 3.3 mi x 27 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1961-05-14 | Bremer County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Bremer County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 18, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($20,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-19 | Heavy SnowBremer County · forecast zone Bremer | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-09-22 | HailDenver, Bremer County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-29 | Thunderstorm WindBuck Creek, Bremer County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-29 | Thunderstorm WindJanesville, Bremer County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-18 | Thunderstorm WindSumner, Bremer County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $20K |
| 2025-04-18 | HailPlainfield, Bremer County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-18 | HailTripoli, Bremer County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-18 | HailBremer County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-18 | HailWaverly Municipal Airport, Bremer County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-18 | HailWaverly Municipal Airport, Bremer County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-18 | HailWaverly Municipal Airport, Bremer County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-05 | High WindBremer County · forecast zone Bremer | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-07-20 | Thunderstorm WindWaverly, Bremer County Numerous tents on the fairgrounds were blown down with people in them causing some injuries. In another place in town a woman had a broken arm when a tree fell on her while mowing the lawn. Several trees fell across the area with some additional injuries. There was no thunderstorm in the area, as they were to the ... | 60 kt wind | 0 | 9 | $23K |
| 2019-07-20 | Thunderstorm WindSumner, Bremer County Some inflatables were blown away from a town celebration. Two injuries were sustained at the town celebration from outdoor flying objects. There were no thunderstorms in the area, as they were to the north, but the strong gust front from the storms up north produced the damage. | 60 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $2K |
| 1988-05-08 | Thunderstorm WindBremer County | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-07-23 | Flash FloodDenver, Bremer County | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | |
| 1999-05-16 | Flash FloodWaverly, Bremer County | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 2021-07-14 | TornadoBabcock, Bremer County | EF2 9.75 mi x 420 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.1M |
| 1994-07-07 | Thunderstorm WindWaverly, Bremer County | 0 | 0 | $996K | |
| 1995-07-22 | HailPlainfield, Bremer County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $504K |
| 2010-06-23 | Thunderstorm WindBremer County | 83 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $474K |
| 2013-05-29 | Flash FloodWaverly, Bremer County | 0 | 0 | $380K | |
| 2013-05-21 | FloodBabcock, Bremer County | 0 | 0 | $317K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: September 1, 1961 (tornado, Bremer County); April 10, 1981 (tornado, Bremer County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Bremer County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 3 | 6 | 16 | 20 | 52 | 43 | 10 |
| Hail | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 19 | 21 | 56 | 17 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 15 | 27 | 28 | 13 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 13 | 16 | 26 | 3 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 11 | 17 | 1 | 4 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 0 | 2 | 24 | 6 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
52% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1956 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 46 · Feb 26 · Mar 30 · Apr 57 · May 85 · Jun 126 · Jul 76 · Aug 41 · Sep 42 · Oct 15 · Nov 11 · Dec 28 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Bremer County
FEMA's register lists 17 declarations that include Bremer County: 15 major disasters, 2 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (8) and severe storm (6).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-23 | DR-4483 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3480 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-03-23 | DR-4421 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2017-08-27 | DR-4334 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2016-10-31 | DR-4289 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2008-05-27 | DR-1763 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2007-03-14 | DR-1688 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3239 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-05-25 | DR-1518 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 1999-07-22 | DR-1282 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1999-05-21 | DR-1277 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 1993-07-09 | DR-996 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1991-07-12 | DR-911 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1990-09-06 | DR-879 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1969-08-14 | DR-269 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
| 1968-08-04 | DR-248 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
| 1965-04-22 | DR-193 | Flood | Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Bremer County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 58 flood or flash flood records for Bremer County from 1997 to 2024, on 42 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Bremer County ranks 434th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $14.8 million on 643 claims filed in Bremer County; the most in one year was 367 in 2008. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 11 · 1982: 1 · 1990: 2 · 1991: 1 · 1993: 30 · 1999: 158 · 2000: 1 · 2001: 2 · 2004: 9 · 2006: 1 · 2007: 1 · 2008: 367 · 2010: 2 · 2011: 1 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 6 · 2014: 1 · 2016: 25 · 2017: 16 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 1; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Bremer County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Bremer County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $15.3 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $2.4M | 16 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $993K | 4.8 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $129K | 18 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $2.5M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $1.0M | 4.8 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.0M | 9.3 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Very Low | $7.1M | 1.5 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | $46K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Bremer County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in IowaEvery Iowa tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in IowaThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Iowa recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Bremer CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Bremer County's FEMA declarations (CSV)17 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis