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Wind in Benson County, North Dakota
199 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
NCEI records 199 wind events in Benson County, North Dakota, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 39 years.
June is the busiest month, with 61 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 117 events against 70 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 2.1% of the 9,530 wind events recorded in North Dakota; its 14.3 per 100 square miles compares with 13.8 statewide.
140 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 34 reached hurricane force (74 mph).
Some winter weather and high wind events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county; zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county are included and marked "Forecast zone" in the table.
Compared with North Dakota
| Measure | Benson County | North Dakota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 199 | 9,530 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 14.3 | 13.8 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 342.6 | 123.0 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 7 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | July | June |
By year
195019882026
Seasonality
Jan
6Feb
4Mar
3Apr
2May
10Jun
61Jul
59Aug
34Sep
3Oct
8Nov
9Dec
0
6Feb
4Mar
3Apr
2May
10Jun
61Jul
59Aug
34Sep
3Oct
8Nov
9Dec
0
Magnitude distribution
NWS wind thresholds
- under 58 mph
- below severe threshold
- 58–73 mph
- severe
- 74–95 mph
- hurricane-force
- 96 mph and over
- extreme
Wind speed converted from the knots NCEI records; estimated and measured gusts are combined. Events without a speed are not binned.
Recorded events
All 199 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Feb 2025 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jan 2025 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Oct 2024 | High Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Oct 2024 | High Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Sep 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2024 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 May 2024 | Strong Wind | 55 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Nov 2022 | Strong Wind | 41 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Nov 2022 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 87 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2022 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Nov 2021 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2021 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Aug 2021 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 78 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 2021 | High Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jan 2021 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jan 2021 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jan 2021 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 77 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 101 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jan 2020 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2019 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2017 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 119 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 110 mph | $240K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Mar 2017 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Aug 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Feb 2016 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Nov 2015 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Oct 2015 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2015 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Oct 2011 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Sep 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 54 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Feb 2011 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Oct 2010 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 May 2010 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 May 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jan 2009 | High Wind | 46 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Oct 2008 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $100K | $40K | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $50K | $500K | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $50K | $500K | — | — | County |
| 13 Nov 2007 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2007 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Nov 2005 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Aug 2005 | High Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Aug 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 110 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 110 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 110 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 110 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 110 mph | $6.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 110 mph | $600K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 110 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 110 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 110 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 110 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 110 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 110 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 110 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 76 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2005 | High Wind | 62 mph | $25K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Mar 2005 | High Wind | 46 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | $10K | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 84 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Feb 2002 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Nov 2001 | High Wind | 47 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2000 | High Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Nov 1999 | High Wind | 76 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Oct 1999 | High Wind | 61 mph | $4K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Nov 1997 | High Wind | 54 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Sep 1997 | High Wind | 55 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 May 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 1976 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1972 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1961 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Benson County had?
199 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of damaging wind became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded wind event in Benson County?
29 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 62 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Benson County?
The thunderstorm wind of 19 Jun 2005, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $6.5M.
How does Benson County compare with North Dakota for wind?
14.3 events per 100 square miles against 13.8 statewide; the county holds 199 of the state's 9,530 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Wind hub and the county page.