United StatesIowaNWS, FEMA, USGSArchive to October 13, 2026
Iowa: warnings and declarations in 2026
The National Weather Service issued 1,285 warnings for Iowa in 2026 through September, 29% above the average of 995 for those months in 2008-2025. The most frequent was the severe thunderstorm warning (809). FEMA has made 1 declaration for Iowa this year.
Latest notices in Iowa
NWS Quad Cities IAWarningOctober 12, 2026
Flood Warning: Clinton and Scott, IA
Expired 7:02 p.m. CDT, October 12, 2026
NWS Quad Cities IAWarningOctober 9, 2026
Flood Warning: Benton and Iowa County, IA
Expired 11:15 a.m. CDT, October 10, 2026
NWS Sioux FallsWarningOctober 9, 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Cherokee and O'Brien, IA
Expired 3:30 a.m. CDT, October 9, 2026
NWS Sioux FallsWarningOctober 9, 2026
Flash Flood Warning: Sioux and Union, IA and SD
Expired 4:15 a.m. CDT, October 9, 2026
NWS Sioux FallsWarningOctober 9, 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Cherokee, O'Brien, Plymouth and 1 more, IA
Expired 2:45 a.m. CDT, October 9, 2026
NWS Sioux FallsWarningOctober 9, 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Cherokee, IA
Expired 1:45 a.m. CDT, October 9, 2026
NWS Des MoinesWarningOctober 9, 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Calhoun, IA
Expired 1:30 a.m. CDT, October 9, 2026
NWS Sioux FallsWarningOctober 9, 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Plymouth and Sioux, IA
Expired 2:00 a.m. CDT, October 9, 2026
Which warnings, watches and advisories does Iowa get?
| Product | Yearly average 2008-2025 | 2025 | 2026 through September | Average, same months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe Thunderstorm Warning | 563 | 592 | 809 | 549 |
| Flood Warning | 241 | 63 | 111 | 223 |
| Tornado Warning | 93 | 58 | 191 | 85 |
| Flash Flood Warning | 86 | 68 | 89 | 85 |
| Winter Weather Advisory | 77 | 84 | 29 | 52 |
| Dense Fog Advisory | 65 | 76 | 53 | 45 |
| Wind Advisory | 53 | 66 | 25 | 35 |
| Flood Watch | 43 | 95 | 121 | 38 |
| Severe Thunderstorm Watch | 41 | 40 | 59 | 41 |
| Cold Weather Advisory | 36 | 44 | 17 | 30 |
| Flood Advisory | 30 | 18 | 14 | 29 |
| Flash Flood Watch | 28 | 0 | 0 | 27 |
| Heat Advisory | 25 | 39 | 34 | 25 |
| Winter Storm Watch | 22 | 25 | 5 | 16 |
| Winter Storm Warning | 20 | 19 | 5 | 14 |
| Tornado Watch | 17 | 12 | 24 | 15 |
| Red Flag Warning | 15 | 26 | 29 | 12 |
| Frost Advisory | 14 | 7 | 19 | 8 |
| Freeze Warning | 13 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Fire Weather Watch | 9 | 17 | 14 | 7 |
| Extreme Cold Warning | 7 | 13 | 5 | 6 |
| Blizzard Warning | 6 | 13 | 9 | 4 |
| High Wind Warning | 6 | 22 | 15 | 4 |
| Extreme Heat Warning | 5 | 9 | 13 | 5 |
| Freeze Watch | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Freezing Rain Advisory | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Snow Squall Warning (since 2018) | 3 | 13 | 3 | 2 |
| Extreme Heat Watch | 3 | 10 | 9 | 3 |
| High Wind Watch | 2 | 7 | 9 | 1 |
| Blizzard Watch | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Extreme Cold Watch | 2 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Ice Storm Warning | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Snow Advisory | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 13, 2026.
How many warnings does Iowa get each year?
Every NWS warning (VTEC significance W) that covered part of Iowa. 2026 is drawn as an outline: the year is not over.
The numbers
| Year | Count |
|---|---|
| 2026 (through September) | 1,359 |
| 2025 | 903 |
| 2024 | 1,451 |
| 2023 | 795 |
| 2022 | 741 |
| 2021 | 611 |
| 2020 | 691 |
| 2019 | 1,188 |
| 2018 | 1,364 |
| 2017 | 923 |
| 2016 | 857 |
| 2015 | 826 |
| 2014 | 1,220 |
| 2013 | 1,001 |
| 2012 | 610 |
| 2011 | 1,173 |
| 2010 | 1,699 |
| 2009 | 870 |
| 2008 | 2,106 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 13, 2026.
When in the year?
Sum of 2008-2025; the busiest month is labelled.
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 13, 2026.
FEMA declarations for Iowa in 2026
FEMAMajor disasterSeptember 1, 2026
DR-4942-IA: Severe Storm, severe storms and flooding
4 designated areas
Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. Data as of October 11, 2026.
Questions about Iowa's warnings
How many weather warnings does Iowa get a year?
An average of 1,057 NWS warnings a year in 2008-2025, and 903 in 2025.
What is the most common warning in Iowa?
The severe thunderstorm warning: 563 a year on average in 2008-2025.
Where do the live warnings come from?
From the National Weather Service's alert feed (api.weather.gov), which AreaZine reads every few minutes. For a warning in force now, the NWS office page and NOAA Weather Radio are the first source; phones receive only the most dangerous warnings as Wireless Emergency Alerts.