County Hazards

States › North Dakota › McHenry County › Wind

Wind in McHenry County, North Dakota

134 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.

134 events · 0 deaths recorded · peak month July · county share of state 1.4%

2026-06-29: Wind2026-06-09: Wind2026-06-09: Wind2026-06-09: Wind2026-06-09: Wind2026-06-09: Wind2026-06-07: Wind2025-07-27: Wind2025-07-27: Wind2025-07-27: Wind2025-07-27: Wind2025-07-27: Wind2025-06-16: Wind2024-07-30: Wind2024-07-14: Wind2024-07-14: Wind2023-08-24: Wind2023-06-20: Wind2023-06-20: Wind2022-08-18: Wind2022-07-22: Wind2022-07-22: Wind2022-07-10: Wind2021-07-19: Wind2021-07-19: Wind2021-07-19: Wind2021-07-19: Wind2021-07-19: Wind2020-07-07: Wind2018-06-28: Wind2017-07-16: Wind2017-06-09: Wind2017-06-09: Wind2016-06-09: Wind2015-07-12: Wind2015-06-20: Wind2014-08-17: Wind2012-07-28: Wind2012-06-09: Wind2012-06-09: Wind2011-07-17: Wind2011-06-25: Wind2010-07-26: Wind2010-07-26: Wind2010-07-01: Wind2010-07-01: Wind2010-06-17: Wind2010-06-17: Wind2009-03-22: Wind2008-06-14: Wind2007-07-03: Wind2007-06-26: Wind2007-06-12: Wind2006-07-12: Wind2006-07-02: Wind2003-07-14: Wind2001-08-08: Wind2001-08-08: Wind2001-07-20: Wind2001-07-20: Wind2000-08-11: Wind2000-08-05: Wind1999-07-22: Wind1999-07-13: Wind1998-05-17: Wind1997-07-11: Wind1997-07-10: Wind1991-07-18: Wind1991-07-06: Wind1991-07-04: Wind1989-05-24: Wind1988-08-14: Wind1987-04-18: Wind1984-07-30: Wind1983-08-29: Wind1983-07-19: Wind1982-06-22: Wind1979-08-31: Wind1979-08-03: Wind1979-06-13: Wind1978-08-25: Wind1978-08-25: Wind1978-07-12: Wind1978-07-04: Wind1977-06-04: Wind1973-06-15: Wind1973-06-02: Wind1970-07-13: Wind
Wind event locations in and around McHenry County. Dots: Wind event locations in the kept record. Boundaries: US Census Bureau.

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.

McHenry County, North Dakota, has 134 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 43 different years.

July is the busiest month, with 46 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 87 events against 32 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.

The county holds 1.4% of the 9,530 wind events recorded in North Dakota; its 7.2 per 100 square miles compares with 13.8 statewide.

92 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 21 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

MeasureMcHenry CountyNorth DakotaUS
Wind events since 19501349,530701,953
Per 100 square miles7.213.819.9
Per 10,000 residents255.3123.021.1
Deaths recorded072,166
Busiest monthJulyJulyJune

By year

195019882026
Wind events recorded in McHenry County per year, 1950 to 2026 (2026 is partial).

Seasonality

Jan
7
Feb
5
Mar
7
Apr
2
May
6
Jun
28
Jul
46
Aug
17
Sep
1
Oct
7
Nov
6
Dec
2
Wind events in McHenry County by month of occurrence, all years.

Magnitude distribution

under 58 mph42
58–73 mph71
74–95 mph20
96 mph and over1
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 134 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.

DateEvent typeMagnitudeProperty damageCrop damageDeathsInjuriesGeography
29 Jun 2026Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
9 Jun 2026Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
9 Jun 2026Thunderstorm Wind59 mph————County
9 Jun 2026Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
9 Jun 2026Thunderstorm Wind68 mph————County
9 Jun 2026Thunderstorm Wind90 mph$15K———County
7 Jun 2026Thunderstorm Wind72 mph————County
14 May 2026High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
12 Mar 2026High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
9 Dec 2025High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
27 Jul 2025Thunderstorm Wind72 mph————County
27 Jul 2025Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$15K———County
27 Jul 2025Thunderstorm Wind78 mph————County
27 Jul 2025Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$70K———County
27 Jul 2025Thunderstorm Wind81 mph$150K———County
16 Jun 2025Thunderstorm Wind90 mph$350K———County
5 Oct 2024High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
30 Jul 2024Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
14 Jul 2024Thunderstorm Wind81 mph————County
14 Jul 2024Thunderstorm Wind61 mph————County
24 Aug 2023Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
20 Jun 2023Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$3K———County
20 Jun 2023Thunderstorm Wind100 mph$5K———County
6 Nov 2022High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
13 Oct 2022High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
18 Aug 2022Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
22 Jul 2022Thunderstorm Wind90 mph$300K———County
22 Jul 2022Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
10 Jul 2022Thunderstorm Wind81 mph$25K———County
13 May 2022High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
18 Feb 2022High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
1 Feb 2022High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
31 Jan 2022High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
17 Nov 2021High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
19 Jul 2021Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
19 Jul 2021Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
19 Jul 2021Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
19 Jul 2021Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
19 Jul 2021Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$100K$200K——County
29 Mar 2021High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
20 Jan 2021High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
14 Jan 2021High Wind64 mph$10K———Forecast zone
31 Oct 2020High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
7 Jul 2020Thunderstorm Wind90 mph$850K———County
1 Mar 2020High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
28 Jun 2018Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
16 Jul 2017Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$15K———County
9 Jun 2017Thunderstorm Wind85 mph————County
9 Jun 2017Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
30 Jan 2017High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
9 Jun 2016Thunderstorm Wind81 mph$250K$50K——County
6 Feb 2016High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
18 Nov 2015High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
11 Oct 2015High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
28 Jul 2015High Wind61 mph————Forecast zone
12 Jul 2015Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
20 Jun 2015Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$250K———County
17 Aug 2014Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
15 Jan 2014High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
19 Jan 2013High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
17 Oct 2012High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
28 Jul 2012Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
9 Jun 2012Thunderstorm Wind81 mph$25K———County
9 Jun 2012Thunderstorm Wind72 mph————County
20 Sep 2011High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
17 Jul 2011Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
25 Jun 2011Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
31 May 2011High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
13 Feb 2011High Wind40 mph$20K———Forecast zone
26 Jul 2010Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$15K———County
26 Jul 2010Thunderstorm Wind81 mph$60K———County
1 Jul 2010Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
1 Jul 2010Thunderstorm Wind85 mph$5K———County
17 Jun 2010Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$40K———County
17 Jun 2010Thunderstorm Wind85 mph$15K———County
25 May 2010High Wind58 mph$30K———Forecast zone
22 Mar 2009Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
31 Jan 2009High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
26 Oct 2008High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
12 Jul 2008High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
14 Jun 2008Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
24 Mar 2008High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
13 Nov 2007High Wind40 mph$2K———Forecast zone
11 Aug 2007High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
3 Jul 2007Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
26 Jun 2007Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
12 Jun 2007Thunderstorm Wind85 mph$20K———County
12 Jul 2006Thunderstorm Wind77 mph—$25K——County
2 Jul 2006Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
31 Aug 2005High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
9 Mar 2005High Wind56 mph————Forecast zone
11 Dec 2004High Wind49 mph————Forecast zone
10 Mar 2004High Wind54 mph————Forecast zone
14 Jul 2003Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
29 Nov 2002High Wind43 mph————Forecast zone
11 Feb 2002High Wind51 mph————Forecast zone
1 Nov 2001High Wind41 mph————Forecast zone
8 Aug 2001Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
8 Aug 2001Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
20 Jul 2001Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
20 Jul 2001Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
11 Aug 2000Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
5 Aug 2000Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
5 Apr 2000High Wind61 mph————Forecast zone
31 Oct 1999High Wind68 mph————Forecast zone
22 Jul 1999Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
13 Jul 1999Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
17 May 1998Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$40K———County
11 Jul 1997Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
10 Jul 1997Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$25K———County
12 Jul 1995Thunderstorm Wind71 mph————County
26 Aug 1994Thunderstorm Wind0 mph$30K———County
26 Aug 1994Thunderstorm Wind0 mph$50K———County
18 Jul 1991Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
6 Jul 1991Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
4 Jul 1991Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
24 May 1989Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
14 Aug 1988Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
18 Apr 1987Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
30 Jul 1984Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
29 Aug 1983Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
19 Jul 1983Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
22 Jun 1982Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
31 Aug 1979Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
3 Aug 1979Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
13 Jun 1979Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
25 Aug 1978Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
25 Aug 1978Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
12 Jul 1978Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
4 Jul 1978Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
4 Jun 1977Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
15 Jun 1973Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
2 Jun 1973Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
13 Jul 1970Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County

Questions and answers

How many wind events has McHenry County had?

134 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 McHenry County?

29 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 60 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.

What was the most damaging wind event recorded in McHenry County?

The thunderstorm wind of 7 Jul 2020, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $850K.

How does McHenry County compare with North Dakota for wind?

7.2 events per 100 square miles against 13.8 statewide; the county holds 134 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.