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Wind in McLean County, North Dakota
279 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.
McLean County, North Dakota, has 279 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 51 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 82 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 174 events against 65 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 2.9% of the 9,530 wind events recorded in North Dakota; its 13.2 per 100 square miles compares with 13.8 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to damaging wind.
205 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 53 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 | McLean County | North Dakota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 279 | 9,530 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 13.2 | 13.8 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 284.8 | 123.0 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 7 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
8Feb
7Mar
8Apr
6May
12Jun
82Jul
81Aug
45Sep
8Oct
10Nov
7Dec
5
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
The 170 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 279. 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 |
| 29 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 77 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 84 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 100 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 82 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 93 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 98 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 2026 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Jan 2026 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Oct 2025 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Oct 2024 | High Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $150K | $250K | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Oct 2023 | High Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Sep 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | $500K | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Nov 2022 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Oct 2022 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | $25K | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2022 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Feb 2022 | High Wind | 41 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Feb 2022 | High Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Jan 2022 | High Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Nov 2021 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Nov 2021 | High Wind | 41 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Mar 2021 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Feb 2021 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jan 2021 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Jan 2021 | High Wind | 76 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Dec 2020 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Oct 2020 | High Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Sep 2020 | High Wind | 81 mph | $200K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 78 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 83 mph | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 82 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2020 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Sep 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | $25K | — | — | County |
| 27 Jan 2019 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $250K | — | 1 | 4 | County |
| 29 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | $350K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 96 mph | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 86 mph | $110K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 82 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Mar 2017 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Jan 2017 | High Wind | 41 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Feb 2016 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Nov 2015 | High Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Oct 2015 | High Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Sep 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 2015 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jul 2015 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 96 mph | $500K | $200K | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Sep 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $18K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Feb 2011 | High Wind | 59 mph | $20K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | $100K | $150K | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2010 | High Wind | 60 mph | $30K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2008 | High Wind | 43 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Aug 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $35K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $675K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $80K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 125 mph | $3.0M | — | — | 2 | County |
| 12 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 92 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 1976 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 1976 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 1976 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 1976 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 1966 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 1966 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 1958 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 1958 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 1957 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1957 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 1955 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has McLean County had?
279 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 McLean County?
29 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 77 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in McLean County?
The thunderstorm wind of 12 Jul 2006, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $3.0M.
How does McLean County compare with North Dakota for wind?
13.2 events per 100 square miles against 13.8 statewide; the county holds 279 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.