(Des Moines) Outdoor Warning Sirens will begin sounding across Iowa today around 10:00 a.m. as part of a statewide tornado drill. This event coincides with the third day of Severe Weather Awareness Week. Jim Lee, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Des Moines, points out that today is recognized as Tornado Awareness Day.
According to the National Weather Service, Iowa saw a record-breaking total of 122 tornadoes in 2024, surpassing the earlier record of 120 tornadoes set in 2004. This new high follows a particularly devastating year, featuring several tornado outbreaks during April and May.
In addition to establishing a new annual record, Iowa experienced its highest number of tornadoes in April, with 49 reported, breaking the previous record of 40 set in 2001. May recorded an additional 49 tornadoes, positioning both months among the top three for tornado occurrences, trailing only the 63 tornadoes reported in December 2021 and 57 in May 2004.
