A large and exceptionally rare late autumn season tornado outbreak occurred during the afternoon and evening hours of November 12, 2005 with the majority of them concentrated in central Iowa. One person was killed and there was extensive damage in several communities.

There were preliminary reports of as many as twenty tornadoes in Iowa, and 14 were later confirmed, including 12 in Iowa alone. It is the largest ever tornado outbreak in Iowa in November; and among the largest outbreaks that far north and west in the United States that late in the year. Only 23 confirmed tornadoes have been recorded in Iowa in November from 1950 to 2004. There were also many reports of very large hail and strong straight-line winds, starting in southeast South Dakota.

In addition, the tornado sirens sounded just before an Iowa State University Cyclones football game incurring an evacuation of the stadium. The tornado was visible from the stadium. The Iowa State Cyclones, named partly for a violent tornado in the early 20th century returned to the field and were victorious.^{[citation needed]} Another tornado struck the actual ISU campus a couple months prior on September 8 with minor damage.

• List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
• Iowa tornado outbreak of July 2018 - A more prolific outbreak across Iowa that also spawned EF3 tornadoes.