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Tornado in Sargent County, North Dakota
26 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.
NCEI records 26 tornado events in Sargent County, North Dakota, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 20 years.
June is the busiest month, with 12 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 8 events against 12 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.4% of the 1,799 tornado events recorded in North Dakota; its 3.0 per 100 square miles compares with 2.6 statewide.
By rating: 13 at (E)F0, 7 at (E)F1, 4 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 1 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with North Dakota
| Measure | Sargent County | North Dakota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 26 | 1,799 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 3.0 | 2.6 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 67.9 | 23.2 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 29 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | June | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
1May
1Jun
12Jul
7Aug
3Sep
0Oct
2Nov
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 26 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Oct 2021 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2018 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2013 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2011 | Tornado | EF2 | $800K | $2.0M | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | $50K | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2005 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2005 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 1992 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1991 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 1987 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Oct 1979 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1975 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1973 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1972 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1958 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 1956 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Sargent County had?
26 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 Sargent County?
13 Oct 2021 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Sargent County?
The tornado of 10 Jul 2011, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $800K and crop damage at $2.0M.
How does Sargent County compare with North Dakota for tornado?
3.0 events per 100 square miles against 2.6 statewide; the county holds 26 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 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.