DES MOINES — Two tornadoes were confirmed in north-central Iowa during severe storms Monday, the National Weather Service said Friday after completing damage surveys.
Where the tornadoes hit
The first twister touched down at about 3:35 p.m. in Chapin, a small community midway between Hampton and Sheffield in northern Franklin County. That tornado was rated an EF1 with estimated top winds of 110 mph. It damaged a residence, a grain elevator and multiple trees before cutting into a nearby cornfield. The path lasted under a half-mile and the event endured roughly one minute.
The second confirmed tornado formed at about 3:51 p.m. in southwestern Butler County, between Ackley and Aplington. Also rated an EF1, it reached estimated peak winds of 100 mph. Surveyors found a destroyed farm outbuilding and damage to a barn and silo. That twister tracked for nearly a mile and dissipated just west of Austinville around 3:53 p.m.
Where this fits in the year's storms
With Monday’s two tornadoes, Iowa’s official count for 2026 rises to 74. That total includes multiple strong storm events earlier this year. The monthly distribution through July is:
| Month | Confirmed tornadoes |
|---|---|
| March | 3 |
| April | 23 |
| May | 31 |
| June | 13 |
| July | 4 |
- Iowa averages roughly 50 tornadoes per year, making this season above that typical pace.
- Both Monday tornadoes were rated EF1, which can produce significant structural and tree damage.
- Damage in the two incidents included homes, farm buildings, a grain elevator, a barn and a silo.
Local emergency officials and the National Weather Service complete surveys after storms to determine intensity, path length and impacts. Those findings guide recovery efforts and help refine warning systems. For residents in rural north-central Iowa, the incidents underscore how even brief tornadoes can cause concentrated damage to homes and agriculture.
What residents should know
When storms threaten, people should follow established safety guidance: move to an interior, windowless room on the lowest floor, shelter in a sturdy building rather than a vehicle, and keep a battery-powered radio or phone to receive alerts. Farmers and rural landowners should check buildings and grain-handling equipment for damage and document losses for insurers or disaster assistance programs.
Officials did not report fatalities in the damage summaries released Friday. As always, residents who sustained property losses should contact local emergency management offices and their insurance providers to report damage and learn about next steps.
These two tornadoes are part of a larger pattern of active severe weather in Iowa this year. Continued attention to forecasts and readiness plans remains important as the state moves through peak storm season.
