Confirmed: Nine Tornados Touched Down in Iowa on July 11, 2025

Ah, Iowa... land of cornfields, porch conversations, and, apparently, an ever-growing reputation as the new Tornado Alley. This past Friday, July 11th, nine tornadoes were confirmed across eastern Iowa, according to KCRG's Tornado Tracks Map and the National Weather Service. That’s not just a few spinning funnels in open fields either, these storms packed a punch. In my town of Cascade, they downed trees and limbs, damaged homes, and significantly raised the river level.

The tornadoes touched down in Scott, Jackson, Dubuque, Jones, Linn, and Benton counties, along with damaging winds, heavy rain, and hail. And let me tell you, we felt it in Cascade. The wind was ferocious. Trees were ripped apart, branches littered our yards, and the cleanup effort took all day Saturday. At first, we chalked it up to strong winds, that is, until the official confirmation of an EF-1 tornado touching down just outside of town.

That's close enough to give anyone a scare. My family and I were huddled in the cold storage unit of our home as we rode out the storm; that is, after an appropriate amount of time was spent watching it roll in from our side patio. These storms were particularly dangerous as they were considered rain-wrapped tornadoes, which are extremely difficult to spot, outside of using radar.

This outbreak isn’t just another stormy weekend. It’s part of something much bigger. Iowa set a new record of 125 tornadoes in 2024, breaking the previous record of 120 set in 2004. Fortunately, tornado activity has actually decreased so far this year across the state. Most of those happen in April and May, but now July’s joining the chaos. And it’s not just us, tornado activity is moving east, with Illinois and Wisconsin also taking hits that used to be more common in Missouri, Oklahoma, or Kansas.

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Why the shift? Warmer, wetter air from the Gulf of Mexico is clashing more often with cooler northern systems. Essentially, right over our heads. That creates perfect storm conditions, especially for the Midwest. More tornadoes, more warnings, more late-night alerts buzzing on our smartphones.

Now, I’ll be the first to admit: my family did the classic Iowan thing; grabbed a lawn chair and watched a storm roll in. I grew up on a hill near Anamosa, and some of my most vivid memories include watching a funnel cloud snake across the valley of cornfields. But as I’ve learned, storm nostalgia doesn't protect you or your buildings. My family's old barn in Monticello was just collapsed by one of these tornadoes near Monticello on Friday, too.

So here’s your reminder to:

• Know the difference between a watch and a warning
• Have a designated shelter spot
• Keep emergency supplies on hand
• And maybe save the porch views for after the all-clear

Severe storm season is rolling on across the Tri-States. Here's hoping the next one won't blow us all away.