Guthrie County, Iowa
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 19077 · population 10,623 · 591 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 707 records for Guthrie County, Iowa from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 411 days; the most frequent are hail reports (223 records). The most damaging was the May 27, 1995 tornado ($3.9 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 17 declarations naming the county since 1974, 15 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes” on February 23, 2022.
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
- 707on 411 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 02 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $238Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 31strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 17latest 2022
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 Guthrie County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 223 since 1963. 57% of its hail reports since 1963 fell in May and June. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 223 | 98 | 1963-2025 | 0 | 0 | $4.4M | 30 of 99 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 155 | 93 | 1964-2025 | 0 | 0 | $7.8M | 56 of 99 |
| Floods | 80 | 51 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 0 | $37M | 50 of 99 |
| Winter storms | 72 | 69 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $9.7M | 90 of 99 |
| Heavy rain | 43 | 30 | 2008-2025 | 0 | 0 | $48K | 26 of 99 |
| High wind and dust storms | 34 | 34 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $1.7M | 42 of 99 |
| Tornadoes | 31 | 22 | 1963-2021 | 0 | 1 | $15M | 77 of 99 |
| Drought | 30 | 30 | 1999-2024 | 0 | 0 | $156M | 44 of 99 |
| Extreme cold | 26 | 26 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $5.9M | 57 of 99 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 5 | 3 | 2015-2018 | 0 | 0 | – | 81 of 99 |
| Heat | 4 | 4 | 2001-2019 | 0 | 0 | $177K | 86 of 99 |
| Lightning | 3 | 2 | 2011-2011 | 0 | 0 | $223K | 61 of 99 |
| Wildfires | 1 | 1 | 2023-2023 | 0 | 1 | – | 12 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 Guthrie County had?
NOAA records 31 tornadoes in Guthrie County from 1963 to 2021, the strongest rated F4, with 0 deaths and 1 injury recorded in the county. 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 33 tornadoes whose track touched Guthrie County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 31: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person, 0 of them in Guthrie County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-05-22 00:29, as SPC files it | Adair | EF2 | 4.75 mi | 1 |
| 1995-05-27 18:55, as SPC files it | Redfield | F4 | 57 mi | 0 |
| 1995-05-27 18:56, as SPC files it | Scranton to Churdan | F4 | 30 mi | 0 |
| 1959-05-10 13:00, as SPC files it | Adair to Panora | F4 | 41.1 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Iowa.
Every tornado record filed for Guthrie County (31)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-12-15 | Bagley, Guthrie County | EF1 1.67 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2021-12-15 | Fanslers, Guthrie County | EF1 8.34 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $131K |
| 2021-12-15 | North Branch, Guthrie County | EF2 14.24 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $381K |
| 2021-12-15 | North Branch, Guthrie County | EF1 11.45 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | $109K |
| 2020-05-26 | North Branch, Guthrie County | EFU 0.66 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-05-26 | Adair, Guthrie County | EFU 2.94 mi x 35 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-11-30 | Fanslers, Guthrie County | EFU 0.53 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-11-30 | Fanslers, Guthrie County | EFU 1.17 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $577 |
| 2019-05-22 | Adair, Guthrie County | EF1 1.41 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2018-10-08 | Bagley, Guthrie County | EF0 5.91 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2016-05-09 | Wichita, Guthrie County | EF0 1.5 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-05-09 | North Branch, Guthrie County | EF0 5.52 mi x 130 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2015-11-11 | Fanslers, Guthrie County | EF0 3.19 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2014-07-06 | Stuart, Guthrie County | EF0 0.94 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2014-05-11 | Fanslers, Guthrie County | EF1 4.33 mi x 190 yd | 0 | 0 | $499K |
| 2014-05-11 | Monteith, Guthrie County | EF2 10.35 mi x 240 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.6M |
| 2007-08-28 | Bayard, Guthrie County | EF0 0.72 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $43K |
| 2007-05-06 | Bayard, Guthrie County | EF1 1.17 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $71K |
| 2001-04-11 | Bayard, Guthrie County | F1 2 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 2000-07-26 | Bagley, Guthrie County | F1 3.6 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $17K |
| 1995-05-27 | Bayard, Guthrie County | F4 30 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 1 | $3.9M |
| 1991-03-22 | Guthrie County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1988-07-15 | Guthrie County | F0 0.3 mi x 13 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1986-06-29 | Guthrie County | F2 2 mi x 73 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1986-06-29 | Guthrie County | F2 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1983-05-27 | Guthrie County | F1 0.5 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1977-05-04 | Guthrie County | 0 | 0 | $25K step | |
| 1977-05-04 | Guthrie County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1970-05-22 | Guthrie County | 0 | 0 | $3K step | |
| 1964-05-07 | Guthrie County | F2 2 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1963-05-12 | Guthrie 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 Guthrie County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the July 11, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($20,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
City-wide tree damage in Panora. Large tree limbs and entire trees blown down, some of which impacted structures. HVAC were units blown off of Panora city hall.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1287745)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-19 | Heavy SnowGuthrie County · forecast zone Guthrie | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-09-16 | Heavy RainMonteith, Guthrie County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-09-03 | HailJamaica, Guthrie County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-23 | Thunderstorm WindBagley, Guthrie County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-11 | Thunderstorm WindMonteith, Guthrie County | 68 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $20K |
| 2025-07-10 | Thunderstorm WindMenlo, Guthrie County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2025-07-10 | Thunderstorm WindGuthrie Center, Guthrie County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2025-06-23 | Thunderstorm WindMonteith, Guthrie County | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-23 | Thunderstorm WindFanslers, Guthrie County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-23 | HailNorth Branch, Guthrie County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-14 | Thunderstorm WindGuthrie Center, Guthrie County | 63 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $20K |
| 2025-03-14 | HailNorth Branch, Guthrie County | 0.88 in hail | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-04-13 | WildfireGuthrie County · forecast zone Guthrie One person conducting a controlled burn was severely injured when the fire became uncontrolled. The fire quickly spread and engulfed the individual who was using a tractor to stop further spread of the fire. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 1995-05-27 | TornadoBayard, Guthrie County | F4 30 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 1 | $3.9M |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-05-27 | TornadoBayard, Guthrie County | F4 30 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 1 | $3.9M |
| 2002-07-10 | Thunderstorm WindPanora, Guthrie County | 67 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3.5M |
| 1998-06-14 | FloodGuthrie County · forecast zone Guthrie | 0 | 0 | $2.0M | |
| 2002-07-10 | Thunderstorm WindPanora, Guthrie County | 63 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.7M |
| 2014-05-11 | TornadoMonteith, Guthrie County | EF2 10.35 mi x 240 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.6M |
| 2014-06-30 | HailCasey, Guthrie County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.2M |
| 2007-05-24 | Flash FloodCasey, Guthrie County | 0 | 0 | $854K | |
| 2007-05-24 | FloodMenlo, Guthrie County | 0 | 0 | $712K |
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: June 29, 1986 (tornado, Guthrie 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 Guthrie 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 29 | 86 | 88 | 10 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 64 | 51 | 21 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 20 | 36 | 20 | 4 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 17 | 24 | 21 | 10 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 0 | 3 | 37 | 3 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 11 | 15 | 6 | 2 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
57% of its hail reports since 1963 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 40 · Feb 27 · Mar 25 · Apr 73 · May 121 · Jun 154 · Jul 95 · Aug 55 · Sep 44 · Oct 28 · Nov 14 · Dec 31 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Guthrie County
FEMA's register lists 17 declarations that include Guthrie County: 14 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (8) and flood (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-02-23 | DR-4642 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 2020-08-17 | DR-4557 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 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 |
| 2015-07-31 | DR-4234 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2010-07-29 | DR-1930 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 2010-03-02 | DR-1880 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2010-02-25 | DR-1877 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm |
| 2008-05-27 | DR-1763 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2007-03-30 | EM-3275 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3239 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-05-25 | DR-1518 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 1998-07-02 | DR-1230 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 1993-07-09 | DR-996 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1991-12-26 | DR-928 | Severe Ice Storm | Ice Storm |
| 1974-06-24 | DR-443 | Flood | Severe Storms & 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 Guthrie County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 80 flood or flash flood records for Guthrie County from 1996 to 2024, on 51 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Guthrie County ranks 2358th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $157,000 on 10 claims filed in Guthrie County; the most in one year was 2 in 1998. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1998: 2 · 2002: 1 · 2004: 1 · 2008: 2 · 2010: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2019: 2; 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 Guthrie County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Guthrie County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $13.9 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 High | $4.0M | 10 modeled event-days a year |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $13K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $3.3M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $601K | 6.2 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $704K | 5.5 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $66K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $58K | 14 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $721K | 6.4 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Guthrie 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
- Hail in IowaThe state's hail reports, 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 Guthrie CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Guthrie County's FEMA declarations (CSV)17 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis