Jasper County is included in a record number of tornadoes that touched down in Iowa last year.

State climatologist Justin Glisan says 2024 saw one hundred thirty-one tornadoes hit the ground, the most-ever to touch down in Iowa during a calendar year.

Jasper County had five tornadoes reach the ground in 2024 according to the National Weather Service, but only two caused damage. 

On April 26th, 2024 from 8:42 p.m. to 8:50 p.m. the National Weather Service says an EF1 tornado with 86 to 110 mph winds was on the ground for 4.09 miles, half a mile southeast of Monroe. Jasper County Emergency Management Agency reported the path of damage from the 80-yard wide tornado started just east of Monroe and impacted several rural homesteads. Much of the damage was to trees and outbuildings with a few smaller sheds being destroyed. Otherwise, the bulk of the tornado’s path was across rural farmland between Monroe and Reasnor.

Damage was also reported from a May 7th tornado on the east side of Prairie City. The National Weather Service rated the tornado an EF0 with 65 to 85 mph winds. It was 30 yards wide and on the ground for .14 miles from 12:35 a.m. to 12:36 a.m. The National Weather Service reported damage mostly to trees and a few garages. 

The three other tornado touch downs in Jasper County during 2024 occurred in farm fields and the National Weather Service found no other damage associated with these storms. One of the unrated tornadoes occurred on May 26th and traveled 1.66 miles while reaching 30-yards wide 2.3-miles east of Reasnor. The other two touched down approximately 3.5-miles outside of Newton on June 25th, with one northwest of the city and the other south of Newton.