Jasper County, Iowa

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 19099 · population 37,808 · 730 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 776 records for Jasper County, Iowa from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 451 days; the most frequent are hail reports (220 records). The deadliest single record is the September 16, 1978 tornado: 2 deaths and 2 injuries. FEMA has issued 19 declarations naming the county since 1969, 17 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms and Flooding” on September 1, 2026.

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
776on 451 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
26 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$284Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
45strongest F4
FEMA declarations
19latest 2026

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 Jasper County most?

The most frequent records are hail reports: 220 since 1972. 46% of its hail reports since 1972 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.

Jasper County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Hail 220 101 1972-2025 0 0 $4.9M 55 of 99
Severe thunderstorm wind 189 103 1955-2025 0 0 $5.6M 76 of 99
Winter storms 78 75 1996-2025 0 0 $8.5M 94 of 99
Heavy rain 72 43 2009-2024 0 0 – 18 of 99
Floods 65 51 1996-2024 0 0 $35M 69 of 99
Tornadoes 45 31 1965-2024 2 6 $67M 62 of 99
High wind and dust storms 31 31 1996-2025 0 0 $1.6M 61 of 99
Drought 28 28 1999-2024 0 0 $156M 68 of 99
Extreme cold 26 26 1996-2025 0 0 $5.9M 88 of 99
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds 13 9 2008-2024 0 0 – 53 of 99
Lightning 5 5 2000-2010 0 0 $100K 34 of 99
Heat 4 4 2001-2019 0 0 $177K 96 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 Jasper County had?

NOAA records 45 tornadoes in Jasper County from 1965 to 2024, the strongest rated F4, with 2 deaths and 6 injuries 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 47 tornadoes whose track touched Jasper County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 45: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 12 people, 2 of them in Jasper County.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Jasper County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
2022-03-05 16:26, as SPC files itDes MoinesEF470.57 mi6
1978-09-16 19:25, as SPC files itMelbourne to Oakland AcresF331.8 mi6
1986-09-28 16:34, as SPC files itAnkenyF420 mi0
1999-04-08 16:18, as SPC files itColfaxF339 mi0
1966-10-14 14:32, as SPC files itMonroeF329.5 mi0

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Iowa.

Every tornado record filed for Jasper County (45)
Every tornado recorded in Jasper County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2024-06-25 Metz, Jasper County EFU 0.59 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2024-06-25 Newton, Jasper County EFU 0.32 mi x 30 yd 0 0 –
2024-05-07 Prairie City, Jasper County EF0 0.14 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $24K
2024-04-26 Reasnor, Jasper County EFU 1.66 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2024-04-26 Monroe, Jasper County EF1 4.09 mi x 80 yd 0 1 $235K
2023-10-13 Newton Municipal Airport, Jasper County EF0 0.64 mi x 80 yd 0 0 $969
2022-03-05 Kellogg, Jasper County EF2 12.25 mi x 500 yd 0 0 $504K
2022-03-05 Vandalia, Jasper County EF2 19.29 mi x 400 yd 0 0 $50M
2021-12-15 Newton Municipal Airport, Jasper County EF0 6.27 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $54K
2019-09-22 Mingo, Jasper County EFU 0.76 mi x 25 yd 0 0 $115
2018-07-19 Monroe, Jasper County EF0 1.69 mi x 500 yd 0 0 $11K
2018-07-19 Prairie City, Jasper County EF0 2.62 mi x 80 yd 0 0 $940
2018-07-19 Colfax, Jasper County EF0 2.35 mi x 60 yd 0 0 $1K
2018-05-03 Krohn Field Airport, Jasper County EF0 0.39 mi x 25 yd 0 0 –
2018-05-03 Prairie City, Jasper County EF0 0.43 mi x 25 yd 0 0 –
2014-07-06 Kellogg, Jasper County EF0 0.52 mi x 25 yd 0 0 $1K
2014-07-06 Baxter, Jasper County EF0 4.63 mi x 80 yd 0 0 $62K
2008-07-27 Newton Municipal Airport, Jasper County EF0 0.2 mi x 20 yd 0 0 –
2008-07-27 Valeria, Jasper County EF0 0.27 mi x 20 yd 0 0 –
2008-06-05 Newton, Jasper County EF0 10.89 mi x 75 yd 0 0 $34K
2008-06-05 Prairie City, Jasper County EF1 9.81 mi x 125 yd 0 0 $103K
2008-06-05 Reasnor, Jasper County EF1 14.25 mi x 150 yd 0 2 $350K
2007-09-30 Sully Municipal Airport, Jasper County EF2 5.79 mi x 1,250 yd 0 0 $2.1M
2004-05-22 Baxter, Jasper County F0 1.5 mi x 40 yd 0 0 $11K
2004-05-22 Newburg, Jasper County F0 0.2 mi x 25 yd 0 0 –
2004-05-22 Newton, Jasper County F0 0.2 mi x 25 yd 0 0 –
2004-05-22 Newton, Jasper County F0 0.2 mi x 25 yd 0 0 –
2004-05-22 Newton, Jasper County F0 0.2 mi x 25 yd 0 0 –
2001-04-11 Colfax, Jasper County F1 12 mi x 45 yd 0 0 $17K
1999-04-08 Prairie City, Jasper County F2 11 mi x 175 yd 0 1 $1.8M
1998-07-09 Kellogg, Jasper County F0 0.2 mi x 25 yd 0 0 $905
1997-05-12 Baxter, Jasper County F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd 0 0 –
1990-06-16 Jasper County F0 0.2 mi x 17 yd 0 0 $3K step
1990-06-13 Jasper County F0 0.1 mi x 17 yd 0 0 $3K step
1988-05-08 Jasper County F1 7 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $250K step
1986-09-28 Jasper County F4 14 mi x 250 yd 0 0 $2.5M step
1986-05-08 Jasper County F1 0.1 mi x 20 yd 0 0 $25K step
1979-08-26 Jasper County F1 4.9 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $25K step
1979-08-19 Jasper County F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd 0 0 –
1978-09-16 Jasper County F3 16.4 mi x 200 yd 2 2 $250K step
1973-06-04 Jasper County F2 1.3 mi x 250 yd 0 0 $250K step
1968-04-03 Jasper County F2 5.2 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $25K step
1968-03-30 Jasper County F0 0.5 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $3K step
1966-10-14 Jasper County F3 29.5 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $25K step
1965-08-26 Jasper County F2 3 mi x 100 yd 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 Jasper County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 14, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($7,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

The 12 most recent records kept for Jasper County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2025-04-17 HailPrairie City, Jasper County 0.75 in hail 0 0 –
2025-04-17 HailMonroe, Jasper County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2025-03-29 HailPrairie City, Jasper County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2025-03-14 Thunderstorm WindNewton Municipal Airport, Jasper County 56 kt wind 0 0 –
2025-03-14 Thunderstorm WindNewton Municipal Airport, Jasper County 50 kt wind 0 0 –
2025-03-14 Thunderstorm WindPrairie City, Jasper County 51 kt wind 0 0 –
2025-03-14 Thunderstorm WindPrairie City, Jasper County 52 kt wind 0 0 $7K
2025-03-14 Thunderstorm WindMonroe, Jasper County 52 kt wind 0 0 –
2025-03-05 High WindJasper County · forecast zone Jasper 52 kt wind 0 0 –
2025-03-05 BlizzardJasper County · forecast zone Jasper 0 0 –
2025-02-11 Winter StormJasper County · forecast zone Jasper 0 0 –
2025-01-20 Extreme Cold/Wind ChillJasper County · forecast zone Jasper 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

Records with deaths or injuries in Jasper County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1978-09-16 TornadoJasper County F3 16.4 mi x 200 yd 2 2 $250K step
2008-06-05 TornadoReasnor, Jasper County Newly built machine shed destroyed with roof off of a house. Hit campground near Kellogg with 2 injuries along with flipped campers. Semis blown off Interstate 80. EF1 14.25 mi x 150 yd 0 2 $350K
2024-04-26 TornadoMonroe, Jasper County Jasper County EMA reported a path of damage starting just east of Monroe impacting several rural homesteads. Much of the damage was to trees and outbuildings with a few smaller sheds being destroyed. Otherwise, the bulk of the path was across rural farmland between Monroe and Reasnor in southern Jasper County. EF1 4.09 mi x 80 yd 0 1 $235K
1999-04-08 TornadoPrairie City, Jasper County broken track F2 11 mi x 175 yd 0 1 $1.8M

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.

The costliest records in Jasper County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2022-03-05 TornadoVandalia, Jasper County EF2 19.29 mi x 400 yd 0 0 $50M
2002-03-09 Thunderstorm WindNewton Municipal Airport, Jasper County 87 kt wind 0 0 $2.5M
2007-09-30 TornadoSully Municipal Airport, Jasper County EF2 5.79 mi x 1,250 yd 0 0 $2.1M
1999-04-08 TornadoPrairie City, Jasper County F2 11 mi x 175 yd 0 1 $1.8M
2010-08-09 FloodValeria, Jasper County 0 0 $1.2M
2003-07-07 HailNewton, Jasper County 4.50 in hail 0 0 $834K
2015-09-01 FloodGalesburg, Jasper County 0 0 $436K
2008-06-01 FloodValeria, Jasper County 0 0 $411K

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 28, 1986 (tornado, Jasper 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 Jasper 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).

Jasper County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Hail006961144738
Severe thunderstorm wind3251531673531
Winter storms––––16252413
Heavy rain––––026010
Floods––––2516168
Tornadoes044351289

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).

What time of year?

46% of its hail reports since 1972 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 45 · Feb 30 · Mar 43 · Apr 78 · May 146 · Jun 155 · Jul 101 · Aug 65 · Sep 41 · Oct 30 · Nov 16 · Dec 26 (records).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.

Federal disaster declarations for Jasper County

FEMA's register lists 19 declarations that include Jasper County: 17 major disasters, 2 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (9) and flood (6).

Declarations including Jasper County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2026-09-01DR-4942Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding
2024-05-24DR-4784Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2020-08-17DR-4557Severe StormSevere Storms
2020-03-23DR-4483BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3480BiologicalCovid-19
2019-03-23DR-4421FloodSevere Storms and Flooding
2014-08-05DR-4187Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding
2013-07-02DR-4126Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2010-07-29DR-1930Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes
2008-05-27DR-1763Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2007-03-14DR-1688Severe StormSevere Winter Storms
2005-09-10EM-3239HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
2004-05-25DR-1518Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
1998-07-02DR-1230FloodSevere Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding
1997-11-20DR-1191SnowstormSevere Snowstorms
1993-07-09DR-996FloodSevere Storms & Flooding
1990-05-26DR-868FloodSevere Storms & Flooding
1974-06-24DR-443FloodSevere Storms & Flooding
1969-04-25DR-259FloodFlooding

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 Jasper County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 65 flood or flash flood records for Jasper County from 1996 to 2024, on 51 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Jasper County ranks 1811th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.3 million on 37 claims filed in Jasper County; the most in one year was 19 in 2010. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1984: 1 · 2007: 1 · 2008: 4 · 2010: 19 · 2014: 1 · 2018: 3 · 2024: 6 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 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 Jasper County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Jasper County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $16.1 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.

National Risk Index ratings for Jasper County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
DroughtRelatively High$3.4M5.2 modeled event-days a year
Strong WindRelatively Moderate$1.5M6.4 a year (modeled)
HailRelatively Moderate$969K6.1 a year (modeled)
TornadoRelatively Moderate$3.0Mabout once a year (modeled)
Winter WeatherRelatively Moderate$132K14 a year (modeled)
LandslideRelatively Low$10Konce in about 4 years (modeled)
Ice StormRelatively Low$117Kabout once a year (modeled)
Heat WaveRelatively Low$433K6.5 modeled event-days a year

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.

Counties that share a border with Jasper County

  1. Polk County 2,373
  2. Story County 1,320
  3. Marion County 919
  4. Jasper County 776
  5. Marshall County 748
  6. Tama County 625
  7. Mahaska County 622
  8. Poweshiek County 554

Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.

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