Osceola County, Iowa
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 19143 · population 6,192 · 399 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 607 records for Osceola County, Iowa from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 471 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (195 records). 338 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The most damaging was the April 9, 2013 winter storm ($12.7 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 15 declarations naming the county since 1965, 13 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes” on June 24, 2024.
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
- 607on 471 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 015 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $69Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 27strongest EF4
- FEMA declarations
- 15latest 2024
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 Osceola County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 195 since 1996. 47% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in December and January. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 195 | 192 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 1 | $13M | 2 of 99 |
| Hail | 121 | 73 | 1958-2026 | 0 | 0 | $3.6M | 13 of 99 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 106 | 65 | 1964-2026 | 0 | 0 | $3.9M | 52 of 99 |
| High wind and dust storms | 40 | 39 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $211K | 5 of 99 |
| Drought | 39 | 39 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $3.9M | 3 of 99 |
| Extreme cold | 35 | 35 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 6 of 99 |
| Tornadoes | 27 | 22 | 1964-2021 | 0 | 14 | $35M | 29 of 99 |
| Heat | 25 | 25 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 of 99 |
| Floods | 12 | 12 | 1997-2024 | 0 | 0 | $9.2M | 97 of 99 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 2011-2015 | 0 | 0 | – | 83 of 99 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2010-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 83 of 99 |
| Wildfires | 2 | 2 | 2011-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 of 99 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2018-2018 | 0 | 0 | $88K | 68 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 Osceola County had?
NOAA records 27 tornadoes in Osceola County from 1964 to 2021, the strongest rated EF4, with 0 deaths and 14 injuries recorded in the county. That is 29th 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 31 tornadoes whose track touched Osceola County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 27: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-06-25 20:53, as SPC files it | Little Rock to Sibley | EF4 | 13.65 mi | 0 |
| 1994-08-07 20:16, as SPC files it | Sibley | F3 | 4.5 mi | 0 |
| 1971-05-31 13:15, as SPC files it | AshtonCrossed IA, MN | F3 | 46.5 mi | 0 |
| 1971-05-31 13:20, as SPC files it | Harris | F3 | 8.6 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Iowa.
Every tornado record filed for Osceola County (27)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-08-20 | Ashton, Osceola County | EF0 3.64 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $33K |
| 2021-08-08 | Ocheyedan, Osceola County | EF0 2.42 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $11K |
| 2021-08-08 | Ocheyedan, Osceola County | EFU 0.79 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-08-18 | Sibley, Osceola County | EF1 1.63 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $120K |
| 2017-08-18 | Cloverdale, Osceola County | EF2 5.14 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $439K |
| 2011-05-11 | Ashton, Osceola County | EF0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-06-26 | Ashton, Osceola County | EF0 0.15 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-06-26 | Ocheyedan, Osceola County | EF0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-06-25 | Ashton, Osceola County | EF0 0.17 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-06-25 | Sibley, Osceola County | EF4 8.47 mi x 800 yd | 0 | 13 | $4.1M |
| 2008-06-11 | Ashton, Osceola County | EF0 0.85 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-05-01 | Ashton, Osceola County | EF0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-06-13 | Melvin, Osceola County | F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-06-12 | Ocheyedan, Osceola County | F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-07-11 | Sibley, Osceola County | F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-06-27 | Sibley, Osceola County | F1 4 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $905K |
| 1994-08-07 | Sibley, Osceola County | F3 4.5 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 1 | $1.1M |
| 1994-06-12 | Harris, Osceola County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 1991-06-02 | Osceola County | F0 0.1 mi x 13 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1982-06-06 | Osceola County | F2 2 mi x 67 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1981-06-14 | Osceola County | F2 8.8 mi x 1,533 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1981-06-14 | Osceola County | F2 8.3 mi x 1,533 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1979-08-19 | Osceola County | F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1971-05-31 | Osceola County | F3 8.6 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1968-06-13 | Osceola County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1966-07-09 | Osceola County | F2 1 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1964-05-08 | Osceola County | F2 5.1 mi x 200 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 Osceola County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the December 18, 2025 blizzard (1 injury).
Periods of light snowfall along with winds of 30 to 50 mph resulted in periods of whiteout conditions. Travel was not recommended during the early and mid-afternoon. Several two-vehicles crashes were reported along State Highways 60 and 9, with one indirect injury accident near Ashton.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1307572)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindHarris, Osceola County | 74 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindSibley, Osceola County | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindMay City, Osceola County | 58 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindAshton, Osceola County | 58 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindHarris, Osceola County | 96 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindOcheyedan, Osceola County | 83 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-29 | HeatOsceola County · forecast zone Osceola | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-17 | HailSibley, Osceola County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-13 | HailMelvin, Osceola County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-13 | HailHarris, Osceola County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-13 | HailMay City, Osceola County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-13 | HailMay City, Osceola County | 1.00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-06-25 | TornadoSibley, Osceola County A tornado, moving into Osceola County from Lyon County, destroyed at least two houses, injuring two people in one of them. the tornado also destroyed several garages and severely damaged several other homes, destroyed at least 4 hog confinement buildings, several barns and silos, and numerous outbuildings. The tornado ... | EF4 8.47 mi x 800 yd | 0 | 13 | $4.1M |
| 2025-12-18 | BlizzardOsceola County · forecast zone Osceola Periods of light snowfall along with winds of 30 to 50 mph resulted in periods of whiteout conditions. Travel was not recommended during the early and mid-afternoon. Several two-vehicles crashes were reported along State Highways 60 and 9, with one indirect injury accident near Ashton. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 1994-08-07 | TornadoSibley, Osceola County | F3 4.5 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 1 | $1.1M |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-04-09 | Winter StormOsceola County · forecast zone Osceola | 0 | 0 | $13M | |
| 2019-06-01 | FloodAshton, Osceola County | 0 | 0 | $4.2M | |
| 2010-06-25 | TornadoSibley, Osceola County | EF4 8.47 mi x 800 yd | 0 | 13 | $4.1M |
| 2019-03-13 | FloodAshton, Osceola County | 0 | 0 | $3.0M | |
| 2024-06-20 | FloodAshton, Osceola County | 0 | 0 | $2.0M | |
| 2023-05-01 | DroughtOsceola County · forecast zone Osceola | 0 | 0 | $2.0M | |
| 1994-08-07 | TornadoSibley, Osceola County | F3 4.5 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 1 | $1.1M |
| 1993-05-07 | Thunderstorm WindMay City, Osceola County | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
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 14, 1981 (tornado, Osceola County); June 14, 1981 (tornado, Osceola County); June 6, 1982 (tornado, Osceola 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 Osceola 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 11 | 49 | 92 | 43 |
| Hail | 1 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 55 | 22 | 16 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 31 | 15 | 35 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 4 | 10 | 5 | 21 z |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 2 | 3 | 10 | 24 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 1 | 2 | 17 | 15 |
High wind and dust storms in the 2020-26: 21 records against 5 in the decade before, 21 of them forecast-zone records. Cells marked z rose mostly through zone records. The local National Weather Service office files these once per forecast zone, so a change in how it draws its zones or splits a storm into records moves this count as much as the weather does; read it beside the Osceola County days with a record above.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
47% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in December and January. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 69 · Feb 56 · Mar 41 · Apr 50 · May 53 · Jun 105 · Jul 53 · Aug 52 · Sep 18 · Oct 14 · Nov 30 · Dec 66 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Osceola County
FEMA's register lists 15 declarations that include Osceola County: 12 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (6) and severe storm (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-06-24 | DR-4796 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 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 |
| 2018-08-20 | DR-4386 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2014-07-24 | DR-4184 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2013-05-06 | DR-4114 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2010-07-29 | DR-1930 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 2007-03-30 | EM-3275 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3239 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 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 |
| 1969-04-25 | DR-259 | Flood | 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 Osceola County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 12 flood or flash flood records for Osceola County from 1997 to 2024, on 12 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Osceola County ranks 2756th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $21,000 on 2 claims filed in Osceola County; the most in one year was 2 in 2024. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2024: 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 Osceola County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Osceola County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $5.5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $1.2M | 5.7 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $106K | 18 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $249K | 18 modeled event-days a year |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $896K | 11 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $63K | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $877K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $262K | 4 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | $100K | 4.7 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 Osceola 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
- Winter storms in IowaThe state's winter storm records, 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 Osceola CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Osceola County's FEMA declarations (CSV)15 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis