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Wind in Ward County, North Dakota
246 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.
Ward County, North Dakota, has 246 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 60 different years.
July is the busiest month, with 78 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 129 events against 66 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 2.6% of the 9,530 wind events recorded in North Dakota; its 12.2 per 100 square miles compares with 13.8 statewide.
181 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 38 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 | Ward County | North Dakota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 246 | 9,530 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 12.2 | 13.8 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 35.6 | 123.0 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 7 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | July | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
9Feb
5Mar
8Apr
1May
15Jun
60Jul
78Aug
50Sep
3Oct
8Nov
6Dec
3
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
The 177 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 246. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 86 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 2026 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Jan 2026 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Oct 2024 | High Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Nov 2022 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Oct 2022 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 76 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2022 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Feb 2022 | High Wind | 43 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Feb 2022 | High Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Jan 2022 | High Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Nov 2021 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Mar 2021 | High Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jan 2021 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Jan 2021 | High Wind | 78 mph | $250K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Oct 2020 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2020 | High Wind | 41 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jan 2019 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Jan 2017 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 84 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Feb 2016 | High Wind | 44 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Nov 2015 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Oct 2015 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Sep 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2015 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $150K | $50K | — | — | County |
| 15 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jan 2013 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Oct 2012 | High Wind | 43 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 93 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 2012 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Jul 2011 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2011 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Feb 2011 | High Wind | 43 mph | $20K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Sep 2010 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $35K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2010 | High Wind | 62 mph | $30K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Mar 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jan 2009 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Oct 2008 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Oct 2008 | High Wind | 44 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Aug 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2008 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Mar 2008 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Nov 2007 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Aug 2007 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $35K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Oct 1999 | High Wind | 67 mph | $325K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Aug 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $30K | $10K | — | — | County |
| 6 May 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | $50K | $50K | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 1976 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 83 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 1972 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 1971 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1971 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1971 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 1968 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 1968 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 1967 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 1966 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 1965 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 1965 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1964 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1963 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 1963 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 1962 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 1959 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1959 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1959 | Thunderstorm Wind | 92 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Ward County had?
246 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 Ward County?
29 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 59 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Ward County?
The high wind of 31 Oct 1999, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $325K.
How does Ward County compare with North Dakota for wind?
12.2 events per 100 square miles against 13.8 statewide; the county holds 246 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.