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Wind in Nelson County, North Dakota
171 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 171 wind events in Nelson County, North Dakota, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 39 years.
July is the busiest month, with 58 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 104 events against 55 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.8% of the 9,530 wind events recorded in North Dakota; its 17.4 per 100 square miles compares with 13.8 statewide.
117 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 33 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 | Nelson County | North Dakota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 171 | 9,530 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 17.4 | 13.8 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 559.9 | 123.0 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 7 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | July | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
3Feb
3Mar
3Apr
1May
6Jun
47Jul
58Aug
36Sep
1Oct
6Nov
7Dec
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 171 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Oct 2024 | High Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2024 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Nov 2022 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2022 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 2021 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jan 2021 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jan 2020 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 78 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 96 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2018 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Oct 2017 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $60K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Mar 2017 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Aug 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 77 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2016 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 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 | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Oct 2011 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 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 |
| 31 Jan 2009 | High Wind | 46 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Oct 2008 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2008 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Nov 2007 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2007 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Nov 2005 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Aug 2005 | High Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Jul 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2005 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Mar 2005 | High Wind | 46 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Aug 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $200 | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $200 | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Feb 2002 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Nov 2001 | High Wind | 47 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Sep 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2000 | High Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Nov 1999 | High Wind | 76 mph | $100K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Nov 1997 | High Wind | 54 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Aug 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 78 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 77 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 1976 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1971 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Nelson County had?
171 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 Nelson County?
20 Jun 2025 (Thunderstorm Wind, 62 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Nelson County?
The high wind of 1 Nov 1999, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $100K.
How does Nelson County compare with North Dakota for wind?
17.4 events per 100 square miles against 13.8 statewide; the county holds 171 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.