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Wind in Slope County, North Dakota

138 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.

138 events · 0 deaths recorded · peak month July · county share of state 1.4%

2026-06-27: Wind2026-06-27: Wind2026-06-07: Wind2026-06-07: Wind2025-08-07: Wind2025-08-07: Wind2025-08-07: Wind2025-08-07: Wind2025-07-27: Wind2025-06-20: Wind2025-06-15: Wind2024-07-13: Wind2024-06-27: Wind2024-06-27: Wind2024-06-27: Wind2024-06-22: Wind2024-06-22: Wind2023-07-29: Wind2023-07-11: Wind2023-06-04: Wind2022-07-03: Wind2022-07-02: Wind2022-07-02: Wind2022-07-02: Wind2020-07-07: Wind2020-07-07: Wind2020-07-04: Wind2019-07-14: Wind2018-07-03: Wind2017-07-20: Wind2017-07-20: Wind2017-07-20: Wind2017-07-20: Wind2015-07-27: Wind2015-07-27: Wind2015-06-23: Wind2015-06-23: Wind2013-09-07: Wind2011-07-22: Wind2010-09-09: Wind2010-08-09: Wind2009-07-05: Wind2009-06-30: Wind2007-05-13: Wind2007-05-13: Wind2002-08-16: Wind1997-09-15: Wind1996-08-03: Wind1990-06-27: Wind1983-07-17: Wind1983-07-17: Wind1982-07-15: Wind1978-04-11: Wind
Wind event locations in and around Slope County. Dots: Wind event locations in the kept record. Boundaries: US Census Bureau.

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 138 wind events in Slope County, North Dakota, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 32 years.

July is the busiest month, with 27 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 114 events against 20 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.

The county holds 1.4% of the 9,530 wind events recorded in North Dakota; its 11.4 per 100 square miles compares with 13.8 statewide.

99 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 12 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

MeasureSlope CountyNorth DakotaUS
Wind events since 19501389,530701,953
Per 100 square miles11.413.819.9
Per 10,000 residents2,000.0123.021.1
Deaths recorded072,166
Busiest monthJulyJulyJune

By year

195019882026
Wind events recorded in Slope County per year, 1950 to 2026 (2026 is partial).

Seasonality

Jan
9
Feb
6
Mar
13
Apr
7
May
13
Jun
20
Jul
27
Aug
8
Sep
7
Oct
12
Nov
8
Dec
8
Wind events in Slope County by month of occurrence, all years.

Magnitude distribution

under 58 mph39
58–73 mph87
74–95 mph11
96 mph and over1
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 138 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.

DateEvent typeMagnitudeProperty damageCrop damageDeathsInjuriesGeography
27 Jun 2026Thunderstorm Wind68 mph————County
27 Jun 2026Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
7 Jun 2026Thunderstorm Wind59 mph————County
7 Jun 2026Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
14 May 2026High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
12 Mar 2026High Wind81 mph————Forecast zone
15 Jan 2026High Wind72 mph————Forecast zone
17 Dec 2025High Wind91 mph————Forecast zone
9 Dec 2025High Wind59 mph————Forecast zone
20 Oct 2025High Wind67 mph————Forecast zone
7 Aug 2025Thunderstorm Wind72 mph————County
7 Aug 2025Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
7 Aug 2025Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
7 Aug 2025Thunderstorm Wind66 mph————County
27 Jul 2025Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
20 Jun 2025Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
16 Jun 2025High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
15 Jun 2025Thunderstorm Wind59 mph————County
16 May 2025High Wind61 mph————Forecast zone
10 Mar 2025High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
19 Dec 2024High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
5 Oct 2024High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
13 Jul 2024Thunderstorm Wind85 mph————County
27 Jun 2024Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
27 Jun 2024Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
27 Jun 2024Thunderstorm Wind81 mph————County
22 Jun 2024Thunderstorm Wind69 mph————County
22 Jun 2024Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
17 Oct 2023High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
29 Jul 2023Thunderstorm Wind59 mph————County
11 Jul 2023Thunderstorm Wind66 mph————County
4 Jun 2023Thunderstorm Wind62 mph————County
25 Dec 2022High Wind61 mph————Forecast zone
5 Nov 2022High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
13 Oct 2022High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
12 Oct 2022High Wind59 mph————Forecast zone
3 Jul 2022Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
2 Jul 2022Thunderstorm Wind82 mph————County
2 Jul 2022Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
2 Jul 2022Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
15 Jun 2022High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
12 May 2022High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
5 Apr 2022High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
1 Feb 2022High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
31 Jan 2022High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
16 Nov 2021High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
13 Nov 2021High Wind61 mph————Forecast zone
11 Nov 2021High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
29 Mar 2021High Wind63 mph————Forecast zone
22 Feb 2021High Wind59 mph————Forecast zone
13 Jan 2021High Wind64 mph————Forecast zone
22 Dec 2020High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
14 Oct 2020High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
2 Sep 2020High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
7 Jul 2020Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
7 Jul 2020Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
4 Jul 2020Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
9 May 2020High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
28 Apr 2020High Wind59 mph————Forecast zone
3 Mar 2020High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
14 Jul 2019Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
27 Jan 2019High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
3 Jul 2018Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
29 Nov 2017High Wind72 mph————Forecast zone
20 Jul 2017Thunderstorm Wind92 mph$400K———County
20 Jul 2017Thunderstorm Wind81 mph$90K———County
20 Jul 2017Thunderstorm Wind81 mph$80K———County
20 Jul 2017Thunderstorm Wind81 mph$75K———County
6 Mar 2017High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
31 Oct 2016High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
5 Apr 2016High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
18 Feb 2016High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
6 Feb 2016High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
18 Nov 2015High Wind59 mph————Forecast zone
11 Oct 2015High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
22 Aug 2015High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
28 Jul 2015High Wind59 mph————Forecast zone
27 Jul 2015Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
27 Jul 2015Thunderstorm Wind69 mph$15K———County
23 Jun 2015Thunderstorm Wind61 mph————County
23 Jun 2015Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
28 Mar 2015High Wind64 mph————Forecast zone
30 Jun 2014High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
25 Jan 2014High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
20 Jan 2014High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
15 Jan 2014High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
13 Jan 2014High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
7 Sep 2013Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
17 Oct 2012High Wind67 mph————Forecast zone
20 Sep 2011High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
22 Jul 2011Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$5K———County
31 May 2011High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
16 May 2011High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
11 Mar 2011High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
13 Feb 2011High Wind40 mph$20K———Forecast zone
26 Oct 2010High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
9 Sep 2010Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$10K———County
9 Aug 2010Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
18 Jun 2010High Wind59 mph————Forecast zone
25 May 2010High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
4 May 2010High Wind59 mph————Forecast zone
8 Apr 2010High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
27 Sep 2009High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
5 Jul 2009Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$1K———County
30 Jun 2009Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
13 May 2009High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
26 Oct 2008High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
12 Jul 2008High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
11 Jul 2008High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
24 Mar 2008High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
13 Nov 2007High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
13 May 2007Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
13 May 2007Thunderstorm Wind78 mph$40K———County
8 Jan 2007High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
17 Sep 2006High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
18 Apr 2006High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
21 May 2005High Wind46 mph————Forecast zone
9 Mar 2005High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
6 Mar 2005High Wind62 mph————Forecast zone
20 Dec 2004High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
11 Dec 2004High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
31 May 2004High Wind59 mph————Forecast zone
13 Mar 2004High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
10 Mar 2004High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
29 Nov 2002High Wind47 mph————Forecast zone
16 Aug 2002Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
28 Dec 2000High Wind74 mph————Forecast zone
5 Apr 2000High Wind69 mph————Forecast zone
31 Oct 1999High Wind67 mph————Forecast zone
26 Mar 1999High Wind54 mph————Forecast zone
15 Sep 1997Thunderstorm Wind143 mph$15K———County
3 Aug 1996Thunderstorm Wind86 mph$30K$150K——County
10 Feb 1996High Wind62 mph————Forecast zone
27 Jun 1990Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
17 Jul 1983Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
17 Jul 1983Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
15 Jul 1982Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
11 Apr 1978Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County

Questions and answers

How many wind events has Slope County had?

138 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 Slope County?

27 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 64 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.

What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Slope County?

The thunderstorm wind of 20 Jul 2017, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $400K.

How does Slope County compare with North Dakota for wind?

11.4 events per 100 square miles against 13.8 statewide; the county holds 138 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.