How Likely Is a Tornado in Winnebago County, IA?
Winnebago County's tornado history, by the numbers
Winnebago County has recorded 24 tornado touches in NOAA's 76-year database, a rate of roughly one every 3.2 years - our Moderate band. Put another way: Winnebago County sees more tornado activity than 58% of US counties. Among 99 Iowa counties in this dataset, Winnebago County ranks 82 for how often a tornado touches down.
Beyond the frequency band: violent history
16 weak and 7 significant tornadoes make up Winnebago County's 24-track record - none violent. NOAA has never logged an EF4 or EF5 crossing this county.
The dollar figure Winnebago County's rating leads to
Cost nationally: $2,890-$13,280, about $7,645 typical. Iowa has no state rebate program confirmed here; FEMA's underlying 75% cost-share exists nationwide, but applying through a state program is what usually makes it real, and none was found for Iowa this pass.
What a direct hit isn't required for
Tornado outbreaks routinely knock out power across Iowa for days, separately from any single house getting hit. A portable battery bank keeps a fridge, phone chargers and a radio running through that gap - cheaper and faster to set up than a generator.
What this number is, and is not
One caveat before relying on Winnebago County's number: it is county-wide, and it covers about 400 square miles, so a single touch counts the same as one in a county a fraction of that size. Weaker pre-1990s tornadoes are also documented as undercounted in NOAA's own record. Winnebago County has about 10,383 residents.