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Wind in McKenzie County, North Dakota

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

202 events · 0 deaths recorded · peak month July · county share of state 2.1%

2026-06-27: Wind2026-06-07: Wind2025-08-07: Wind2025-08-07: Wind2025-08-07: Wind2025-07-29: Wind2025-07-29: Wind2025-07-29: Wind2025-07-26: Wind2025-07-25: Wind2024-08-14: Wind2024-06-15: Wind2024-06-15: Wind2024-06-15: Wind2024-06-15: Wind2024-06-15: Wind2024-05-29: Wind2024-05-17: Wind2024-05-17: Wind2024-05-17: Wind2023-08-30: Wind2023-08-30: Wind2023-08-01: Wind2023-08-01: Wind2023-07-29: Wind2022-08-17: Wind2022-07-09: Wind2021-07-08: Wind2021-07-08: Wind2021-06-10: Wind2021-06-08: Wind2021-06-04: Wind2020-08-11: Wind2020-07-07: Wind2020-07-07: Wind2020-07-07: Wind2020-07-07: Wind2020-06-29: Wind2020-06-29: Wind2020-06-29: Wind2019-09-17: Wind2019-08-01: Wind2018-07-09: Wind2018-07-09: Wind2018-07-03: Wind2018-06-28: Wind2018-06-28: Wind2018-06-28: Wind2018-05-27: Wind2018-05-26: Wind2018-05-26: Wind2018-05-26: Wind2018-05-26: Wind2017-07-29: Wind2016-06-24: Wind2016-06-24: Wind2016-06-24: Wind2016-06-21: Wind2016-06-21: Wind2015-09-05: Wind2015-07-27: Wind2015-07-26: Wind2015-07-04: Wind2015-07-04: Wind2015-06-30: Wind2015-06-19: Wind2014-09-03: Wind2014-07-24: Wind2014-07-06: Wind2013-08-28: Wind2013-08-28: Wind2013-08-10: Wind2013-08-10: Wind2013-08-10: Wind2013-07-13: Wind2013-07-13: Wind2013-07-11: Wind2013-07-08: Wind2013-07-08: Wind2011-07-22: Wind2011-07-15: Wind2011-07-14: Wind2010-07-29: Wind2010-07-29: Wind2009-08-23: Wind2008-07-28: Wind2002-07-24: Wind2002-06-29: Wind2001-07-22: Wind2001-07-21: Wind2001-07-21: Wind2001-07-21: Wind2001-07-20: Wind2001-07-20: Wind2001-07-20: Wind2001-07-18: Wind2000-08-11: Wind2000-08-11: Wind2000-08-11: Wind2000-08-02: Wind1999-07-15: Wind1998-08-01: Wind1997-07-24: Wind1996-07-27: Wind1991-07-05: Wind1991-06-30: Wind1991-06-25: Wind1991-06-25: Wind1990-07-26: Wind1990-07-02: Wind1990-06-28: Wind1990-06-27: Wind1990-06-26: Wind1988-05-26: Wind1983-07-09: Wind1982-06-27: Wind1982-06-27: Wind1981-08-01: Wind1979-07-08: Wind1978-07-04: Wind1974-08-08: Wind1971-04-17: Wind1968-07-16: Wind1966-07-20: Wind1965-07-20: Wind
Wind event locations in and around McKenzie 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.

McKenzie County, North Dakota, has 202 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 45 different years.

July is the busiest month, with 68 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 137 events against 54 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 7.3 per 100 square miles compares with 13.8 statewide.

157 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 30 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

MeasureMcKenzie CountyNorth DakotaUS
Wind events since 19502029,530701,953
Per 100 square miles7.313.819.9
Per 10,000 residents146.2123.021.1
Deaths recorded072,166
Busiest monthJulyJulyJune

By year

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

Seasonality

Jan
7
Feb
5
Mar
8
Apr
4
May
21
Jun
38
Jul
68
Aug
27
Sep
5
Oct
8
Nov
6
Dec
5
Wind events in McKenzie County by month of occurrence, all years.

Magnitude distribution

under 58 mph45
58–73 mph127
74–95 mph29
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

The 177 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 202. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.

DateEvent typeMagnitudeProperty damageCrop damageDeathsInjuriesGeography
27 Jun 2026Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
7 Jun 2026Thunderstorm Wind67 mph————County
15 May 2026High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
14 May 2026High Wind63 mph————Forecast zone
14 May 2026High Wind62 mph————Forecast zone
14 May 2026High Wind63 mph————Forecast zone
12 Mar 2026High Wind67 mph————Forecast zone
15 Jan 2026High Wind62 mph————Forecast zone
17 Dec 2025High Wind64 mph————Forecast zone
9 Dec 2025High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
20 Oct 2025High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
7 Aug 2025Thunderstorm Wind69 mph————County
7 Aug 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
7 Aug 2025Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
29 Jul 2025Thunderstorm Wind100 mph$100K———County
29 Jul 2025Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$20K———County
29 Jul 2025Thunderstorm Wind81 mph$25K———County
26 Jul 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
25 Jul 2025Thunderstorm Wind59 mph————County
5 Oct 2024High Wind59 mph————Forecast zone
14 Aug 2024Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
15 Jun 2024Thunderstorm Wind83 mph————County
15 Jun 2024Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
15 Jun 2024Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
15 Jun 2024Thunderstorm Wind62 mph————County
15 Jun 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
29 May 2024Thunderstorm Wind68 mph————County
17 May 2024Thunderstorm Wind69 mph————County
17 May 2024Thunderstorm Wind62 mph————County
17 May 2024Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
17 Oct 2023High Wind72 mph————Forecast zone
30 Aug 2023Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
30 Aug 2023Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
1 Aug 2023Thunderstorm Wind81 mph$3K———County
1 Aug 2023Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$5K———County
29 Jul 2023Thunderstorm Wind79 mph————County
5 Nov 2022High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
12 Oct 2022High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
17 Aug 2022Thunderstorm Wind61 mph————County
9 Jul 2022Thunderstorm Wind61 mph————County
15 Jun 2022High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
13 May 2022High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
1 Feb 2022High Wind41 mph————Forecast zone
31 Jan 2022High Wind41 mph————Forecast zone
16 Nov 2021High Wind63 mph————Forecast zone
8 Jul 2021Thunderstorm Wind61 mph————County
8 Jul 2021Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
10 Jun 2021Thunderstorm Wind59 mph————County
8 Jun 2021Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
4 Jun 2021Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
29 Mar 2021High Wind69 mph————Forecast zone
13 Jan 2021High Wind83 mph$100K———Forecast zone
22 Dec 2020High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
2 Sep 2020High Wind64 mph————Forecast zone
11 Aug 2020Thunderstorm Wind90 mph—$35K——County
7 Jul 2020Thunderstorm Wind63 mph$2K———County
7 Jul 2020Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
7 Jul 2020Thunderstorm Wind59 mph————County
7 Jul 2020Thunderstorm Wind81 mph$30K———County
29 Jun 2020Thunderstorm Wind84 mph————County
29 Jun 2020Thunderstorm Wind81 mph————County
29 Jun 2020Thunderstorm Wind85 mph$25K———County
28 Apr 2020High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
1 Mar 2020High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
4 Jan 2020High Wind59 mph————Forecast zone
17 Sep 2019Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
1 Aug 2019Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
27 Jan 2019High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
9 Jul 2018Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
9 Jul 2018Thunderstorm Wind59 mph————County
3 Jul 2018Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
28 Jun 2018Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
28 Jun 2018Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
28 Jun 2018Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
27 May 2018Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$1K———County
26 May 2018Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$20K———County
26 May 2018Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
26 May 2018Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
26 May 2018Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$25K———County
29 Jul 2017Thunderstorm Wind62 mph————County
30 Jan 2017High Wind59 mph————Forecast zone
24 Jun 2016Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
24 Jun 2016Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
24 Jun 2016Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
21 Jun 2016Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
21 Jun 2016Thunderstorm Wind81 mph$50K———County
19 Feb 2016High Wind41 mph————Forecast zone
6 Feb 2016High Wind59 mph————Forecast zone
18 Nov 2015High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
11 Oct 2015High Wind69 mph————Forecast zone
5 Sep 2015Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
28 Jul 2015High Wind67 mph$15K$30K——Forecast zone
27 Jul 2015Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
26 Jul 2015Thunderstorm Wind69 mph$15K———County
4 Jul 2015Thunderstorm Wind85 mph$15K———County
4 Jul 2015Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
30 Jun 2015Thunderstorm Wind81 mph$250K———County
19 Jun 2015Thunderstorm Wind77 mph————County
3 Sep 2014Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$200K———County
24 Jul 2014Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
6 Jul 2014Thunderstorm Wind81 mph$45K$25K——County
15 Jan 2014High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
28 Aug 2013Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
28 Aug 2013Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
10 Aug 2013Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
10 Aug 2013Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
10 Aug 2013Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$55K———County
13 Jul 2013Thunderstorm Wind62 mph————County
13 Jul 2013Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
11 Jul 2013Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
8 Jul 2013Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
8 Jul 2013Thunderstorm Wind75 mph————County
17 Oct 2012High Wind61 mph————Forecast zone
13 Mar 2012High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
20 Sep 2011High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
22 Jul 2011Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
15 Jul 2011Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$10K———County
14 Jul 2011Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
31 May 2011High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
13 Feb 2011High Wind52 mph$20K———Forecast zone
29 Jul 2010Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$30K———County
29 Jul 2010Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$3K———County
23 Aug 2009Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$5K———County
28 Jul 2008Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$15K———County
29 Nov 2002High Wind70 mph————Forecast zone
24 Jul 2002Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
29 Jun 2002Thunderstorm Wind66 mph————County
11 Feb 2002High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
1 Nov 2001High Wind49 mph————Forecast zone
22 Jul 2001Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
21 Jul 2001Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
21 Jul 2001Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
21 Jul 2001Thunderstorm Wind69 mph————County
20 Jul 2001Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
20 Jul 2001Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
20 Jul 2001Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
18 Jul 2001Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
20 May 2001High Wind51 mph————Forecast zone
28 Dec 2000High Wind51 mph————Forecast zone
11 Aug 2000Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
11 Aug 2000Thunderstorm Wind66 mph————County
11 Aug 2000Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
2 Aug 2000Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
5 Apr 2000High Wind69 mph————Forecast zone
31 Oct 1999High Wind67 mph$2.3M$4.9M——Forecast zone
15 Jul 1999Thunderstorm Wind74 mph$100K———County
26 Mar 1999High Wind69 mph————Forecast zone
1 Aug 1998Thunderstorm Wind69 mph————County
24 Jul 1997Thunderstorm Wind83 mph$5K———County
27 Jul 1996Thunderstorm Wind69 mph$75K———County
23 Aug 1995Thunderstorm Wind81 mph————County
29 Jul 1995Thunderstorm Wind96 mph————County
26 Jul 1995Thunderstorm Wind86 mph————County
26 Jul 1995Thunderstorm Wind76 mph————County
11 Jul 1995Thunderstorm Wind69 mph————County
10 Jul 1995Thunderstorm Wind93 mph————County
5 Jul 1991Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
30 Jun 1991Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
25 Jun 1991Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
25 Jun 1991Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
26 Jul 1990Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
2 Jul 1990Thunderstorm Wind81 mph————County
28 Jun 1990Thunderstorm Wind71 mph————County
27 Jun 1990Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
26 Jun 1990Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
26 May 1988Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
9 Jul 1983Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
27 Jun 1982Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
27 Jun 1982Thunderstorm Wind83 mph————County
1 Aug 1981Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
8 Jul 1979Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
4 Jul 1978Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
8 Aug 1974Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
17 Apr 1971Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
16 Jul 1968Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
20 Jul 1966Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
20 Jul 1965Thunderstorm Wind81 mph————County

Questions and answers

How many wind events has McKenzie County had?

202 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 McKenzie County?

27 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 63 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.

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

The high wind of 31 Oct 1999, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.3M and crop damage at $4.9M.

How does McKenzie County compare with North Dakota for wind?

7.3 events per 100 square miles against 13.8 statewide; the county holds 202 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.