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Wind in Sioux County, North Dakota
127 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.
Sioux County, North Dakota, has 127 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 34 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 26 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 88 events against 34 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.3% of the 9,530 wind events recorded in North Dakota; its 11.6 per 100 square miles compares with 13.8 statewide.
100 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 18 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 | Sioux County | North Dakota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 127 | 9,530 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 11.6 | 13.8 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 339.8 | 123.0 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 7 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
8Feb
5Mar
12Apr
3May
11Jun
26Jul
23Aug
12Sep
3Oct
10Nov
8Dec
6
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 127 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Mar 2026 | High Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Jan 2026 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Oct 2025 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2025 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Dec 2024 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Oct 2023 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Sep 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 87 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 125 mph | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 5 Nov 2022 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Oct 2022 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Oct 2022 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2022 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Mar 2022 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Feb 2022 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Jan 2022 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Nov 2021 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Nov 2021 | High Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Nov 2021 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Mar 2021 | High Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Jan 2021 | High Wind | 76 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Sep 2020 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $24K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2020 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Mar 2020 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jan 2019 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Mar 2017 | High Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Jan 2017 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Oct 2016 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Aug 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Feb 2016 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Nov 2015 | High Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Oct 2015 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Aug 2015 | High Wind | 43 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jul 2015 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Mar 2015 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Oct 2012 | High Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Oct 2011 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Sep 2011 | High Wind | 41 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2011 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Apr 2011 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Mar 2011 | High Wind | 58 mph | $15K | — | — | 7 | Forecast zone |
| 13 Feb 2011 | High Wind | 40 mph | $20K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Oct 2010 | High Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Aug 2010 | High Wind | 84 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2010 | High Wind | 43 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 May 2010 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Jul 2009 | High Wind | 61 mph | $30K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Oct 2008 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Jul 2008 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Jul 2008 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 May 2008 | High Wind | 41 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Mar 2008 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 96 mph | $75K | $3K | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jan 2007 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $35K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 92 mph | $80K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 2 Jul 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Mar 2005 | High Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Dec 2004 | High Wind | 55 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Dec 2004 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 May 2004 | High Wind | 43 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Mar 2004 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Mar 2004 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Nov 2002 | High Wind | 56 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | 2 | County |
| 26 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Feb 2002 | High Wind | 53 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Nov 2001 | High Wind | 46 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2001 | High Wind | 39 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Dec 2000 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Apr 2000 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Nov 1999 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $50K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $850K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Feb 1996 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Jul 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 1965 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1959 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Sioux County had?
127 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 Sioux County?
12 Mar 2026 (High Wind, 70 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Sioux County?
The thunderstorm wind of 16 May 1996, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $850K.
How does Sioux County compare with North Dakota for wind?
11.6 events per 100 square miles against 13.8 statewide; the county holds 127 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.