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Tornado in Mountrail County, North Dakota
31 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
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.
Mountrail County, North Dakota, has 31 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 26 different years.
July is the busiest month, with 11 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 6 events against 7 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.7% of the 1,799 tornado events recorded in North Dakota; its 1.7 per 100 square miles compares with 2.6 statewide.
By rating: 15 at (E)F0, 9 at (E)F1, 2 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 1 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 4 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with North Dakota
| Measure | Mountrail County | North Dakota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 31 | 1,799 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 1.7 | 2.6 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 32.4 | 23.2 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 29 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | July | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
0May
3Jun
10Jul
11Aug
5Sep
1Oct
1Nov
0Dec
0
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 31 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Jul 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2020 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2016 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Oct 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 1996 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1992 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1990 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1990 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1990 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 1985 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 1984 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 1982 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1981 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 1980 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 1980 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1980 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 1979 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 1977 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1976 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1971 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 1970 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 1965 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1965 | Tornado | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 1962 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 1958 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 5 Jul 1955 | Tornado | F4 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1952 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Mountrail County had?
31 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Mountrail County?
6 Jul 2024 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Mountrail County?
The tornado of 17 May 1977, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $250K.
How does Mountrail County compare with North Dakota for tornado?
1.7 events per 100 square miles against 2.6 statewide; the county holds 31 of the state's 1,799 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 30 Sep 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.