Nebraska recorded 3,176 tornadoes from 1950 through 2024, an average of 42 a year, in NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center database. They killed 56 people. The busiest year was 2004, with 111.
Tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950: none under 10 10 to 25 25 to 50 50 to 75 75 to 100 over 100. Tap a county for its history.
Tornadoes by year
The rise since the 1990s is mostly better detection of weak tornadoes, not a jump in strong ones.
Tornado season in Nebraska
June is the peak, with 1,060 tornadoes since 1950 (33% of the total).
How strong
| Rating | Estimated 3-second gust | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| F0 / EF0 | Light damage: 65 to 85 mph (EF scale) | 1,659 |
| F1 / EF1 | Moderate: 86 to 110 mph | 959 |
| F2 / EF2 | Considerable: 111 to 135 mph | 334 |
| F3 / EF3 | Severe: 136 to 165 mph | 99 |
| F4 / EF4 | Devastating: 166 to 200 mph | 34 |
| F5 / EF5 | Incredible: over 200 mph | 1 |
| EF-U | Unknown: no damage to rate (mostly since 2016) | 90 |
Nebraska has had 1 F5 or EF5 tornado, the top of the scale.
The deadliest tornadoes in Nebraska
| Date | Rating | Deaths in Nebraska | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 7, 1953 | F4 | 11 | Sherman County, Valley County |
| May 30, 1954 | F4 | 6 | Madison County, Platte County, Stanton County, Wayne County |
| May 9, 1953 | F3 | 5 | Fillmore County, Saline County, Seward County, Thayer County |
| May 5, 1964 | F5 | 4 | Adams County, Antelope County, Clay County, Hamilton County, Polk County, York County |
| May 8, 1965 | F4 | 4 | Antelope County, Boone County, Cedar County, Greeley County, Hall County, Madison County, Pierce County |
| May 6, 1975 | F4 | 3 | Douglas County, Sarpy County |
| June 3, 1980 | F4 | 3 | Hall County |
| June 27, 1955 | F4 | 2 | Morrill County, Scotts Bluff County |
| May 7, 1988 | F2 | 2 | Douglas County, Sarpy County, Saunders County |
| June 17, 1954 | F3 | 1 | Cuming County, Stanton County, Thurston County |
Counties with the most tornadoes
| County | Tornadoes since 1950 | Per 1,000 sq mi | Strongest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custer County | 109 | 42 | F4 |
| Lincoln County | 107 | 42 | F4 |
| Cherry County | 95 | 16 | EF3 |
| Buffalo County | 89 | 92 | F4 |
| Holt County | 81 | 34 | F4 |
| Hall County | 79 | 144 | F4 |
| Scotts Bluff County | 69 | 93 | F4 |
| Cheyenne County | 69 | 58 | F3 |
| Hamilton County | 67 | 122 | F5 |
| Thayer County | 66 | 115 | F4 |
| Sheridan County | 65 | 26 | F3 |
| Kimball County | 60 | 63 | F3 |
| Dawson County | 59 | 58 | F3 |
| Gage County | 59 | 69 | F4 |
| Adams County | 59 | 104 | F5 |
Big counties collect more tornadoes simply because they are big. By area, the most tornado-dense counties are Hall County (144 per 1,000 sq mi), Hamilton County (122 per 1,000 sq mi), Thayer County (115 per 1,000 sq mi), Adams County (104 per 1,000 sq mi), Clay County (93 per 1,000 sq mi).
Every county in Nebraska
Staying safe
When a tornado warning is issued, act at once. Go to a basement, storm shelter or safe room. With none, use a small windowless room on the lowest floor, as far from outside walls as you can, and cover your head and neck. Mobile homes and cars are not safe places to ride out a tornado: leave early for a sturdy building or shelter. Read the full tornado safety guide and the National Weather Service advice linked below.
Sources
- NOAA Storm Prediction Center: Severe Weather Database, tornadoes 1950 to 2024 (public domain)
- NOAA Storm Prediction Center: The Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF scale)
- National Weather Service: Tornado safety
Sources last checked 1 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many tornadoes does Nebraska get a year?
About 42 on average from 1950 to 2024; recent years run higher because weak tornadoes are better detected.
When is tornado season in Nebraska?
June has had the most. Spring and early summer bring most of them.
What was the deadliest tornado in Nebraska?
June 7, 1953: 11 deaths in Nebraska.