ZERO Tornado Warnings Have Been Issued this Year

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has not yet issued a single tornado warning for its 51 county coverage area in 2021. (through May 14)

This is only the fourth time this far into a calendar year (since 1986) where the NWS-Des Moines hasn’t issued such warning. (1993, 2013, 2019)

Nationally, 737 Tornado Warnings have been issued so far this year, which is below the 36-year-average of 900.

2020 was a quiet year for Tornadoes across Iowa with a total of only 28, with the most activity in the month of May with 13. Fortunately, no injuries or deaths were observed with last year’s twisters.  None of the 28 tornadoes in 2020 registered higher than an EF-1. (86-110 MPH)

On average, Iowa will be subject to nearly 50 tornadoes per year. The state had 54 tornadoes in 2019.

THUNDERSTORMS

Thunderstorm activity this far in 2021 has also been EXTREMELY quiet. So far this year only three T-storm warnings have been issued from the Des Moines office of the National Weather Service. That’s the fewest amount EVER. It’s only the second time since 1986 that the number of T-Storm Warnings issued is only in the single digits. (seven in 1987)

The lack of precipitation also correlates with the low number of thunderstorms. The NWS-Des Moines hasn’t issued a single Flood Warning for its coverage area this year. At this point of the year in 2019, 42 Flood Warnings had been issued.