Answer: 2012. So far this year, Iowa has experienced 15 tornadoes. Last year, only 16 tornadoes were confirmed in Iowa. Such low tornado seasons haven’t happened in consecutive years since 1996-1997 when 22 and 25 tornadoes touched down in Iowa. If no more tornadoes occur this year, this will also be the shortest tornado season since 2012. May 19, 2013 was when the first Iowa tornado touched down and the last once occurred on June 26. This year’s season (so far) was only 38 days.