National Storms

Iola, KS tornado history

17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of the center of Iola, KS from 1950 through 2025, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, ranking 88th of 99 Kansas cities with a tornado on record. 2 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger by the National Weather Service. The most recent was on May 1, 2008 (EF0, 1.9-mile path); the strongest, on May 8, 2003, was rated F3.

17tornadoes since 1950
02016–2025
F3/EF3strongest rating
0deaths
7injuries
May 1, 2008most recent
Rating: 012345 unknown or preliminaryLines run from the start to the end point of each path; dots mark where each tornado touched down.

Dashed circle: 10 miles from the city's Census center point. A tornado counts when its recorded path passes inside the circle. Paths run straight from start to end point, as SPC records them.

1950s: 31960s: 01970s: 11980s: 21990s: 32000s: 82010s: 02020s: 01950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020smax 8
Tornadoes within 10 miles of the center of Iola, KS, by decade

Source: National Storms (nationalstorms.com), CC BY 4.0, data from NOAA Storm Prediction Center storm reports.

Every tornado within 10 miles of the center of Iola, KS

DateRatingPath lengthDeaths / injuriesStarted inClosest to center
May 1, 2008EF01.9 mi0 / 0Allen County, KS9.2 mi
Feb 28, 2007EF00.3 mi0 / 0Allen County, KS7.1 mi
Feb 28, 2007EF00.1 mi0 / 0Allen County, KS5.7 mi
Feb 28, 2007EF01.2 mi0 / 0Anderson County, KS8.8 mi
May 8, 2003F215.0 mi0 / 3Anderson County, KS8.4 mi
May 8, 2003F13.0 mi0 / 0Allen County, KS2.9 mi
May 8, 2003F323.0 mi0 / 3Woodson County, KS7.4 mi
May 6, 2003F00.5 mi0 / 0Allen County, KS9.2 mi
Mar 26, 1991F28.0 mi0 / 1Allen County, KS4.3 mi
May 25, 1990F04.0 mi0 / 0Allen County, KS3.6 mi
May 25, 1990F03.0 mi0 / 0Allen County, KS5.6 mi
Mar 15, 1984F00.1 mi0 / 0Allen County, KS5.5 mi
Mar 15, 1982F230.0 mi0 / 0Woodson County, KS5.8 mi
Mar 10, 1977F10.5 mi0 / 0Allen County, KS0.5 mi
Jul 20, 1956F369.5 mi0 / 0Anderson County, KS7.6 mi
Mar 24, 1954F222.2 mi0 / 0Wilson County, KS5.5 mi
May 9, 1953F10.5 mi0 / 0Allen County, KS1.9 mi

More: Allen County tornadoes · Kansas tornado history · Iola hail history · Kansas damaging wind

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (SPC) Severe Weather Database (SVRGIS) tornado file, 1950–2025, and SPC preliminary storm reports for 2026 (data through November 6, 2026). Ratings are the ones the National Weather Service assigned: Fujita (F) scale before Feb 1, 2007, Enhanced Fujita (EF) after. Paths are drawn as straight lines from the start to the end point SPC records; real paths curve. City and county boundaries: US Census Bureau.