Nevada recorded 97 tornadoes from 1950 through 2024, an average of 1 a year, in NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center database. None caused a recorded death. The busiest year was 1987, with 8.
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 Nevada
June is the peak, with 22 tornadoes since 1950 (23% of the total).
How strong
| Rating | Estimated 3-second gust | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| F0 / EF0 | Light damage: 65 to 85 mph (EF scale) | 79 |
| F1 / EF1 | Moderate: 86 to 110 mph | 17 |
| F2 / EF2 | Considerable: 111 to 135 mph | 0 |
| F3 / EF3 | Severe: 136 to 165 mph | 0 |
| F4 / EF4 | Devastating: 166 to 200 mph | 0 |
| F5 / EF5 | Incredible: over 200 mph | 0 |
| EF-U | Unknown: no damage to rate (mostly since 2016) | 1 |
Counties with the most tornadoes
| County | Tornadoes since 1950 | Per 1,000 sq mi | Strongest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elko County | 23 | 1 | EF1 |
| Washoe County | 13 | 2 | F1 |
| Clark County | 13 | 2 | F1 |
| White Pine County | 9 | 1 | F1 |
| Humboldt County | 8 | 1 | EF0 |
| Lincoln County | 7 | 1 | F1 |
| Nye County | 5 | 0 | EF0 |
| Lyon County | 5 | 2 | F0 |
| Churchill County | 4 | 1 | F0 |
| Eureka County | 3 | 1 | EF0 |
| Lander County | 3 | 1 | F1 |
| Esmeralda County | 1 | 0 | F0 |
| Carson City | 1 | 6 | F0 |
| Mineral County | 1 | 0 | EF1 |
| Douglas County | 1 | 1 | EF0 |
Big counties collect more tornadoes simply because they are big. By area, the most tornado-dense counties are Carson City (6 per 1,000 sq mi), Lyon County (2 per 1,000 sq mi), Washoe County (2 per 1,000 sq mi), Clark County (2 per 1,000 sq mi), Douglas County (1 per 1,000 sq mi).
Every county in Nevada
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 Nevada get a year?
About 1 on average from 1950 to 2024; recent years run higher because weak tornadoes are better detected.
When is tornado season in Nevada?
June has had the most. Spring and early summer bring most of them.
What was the deadliest tornado in Nevada?
No tornado deaths are recorded since 1950.