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Tornado in Wells County, North Dakota
25 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.
Wells County, North Dakota, has 25 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 20 different years.
July is the busiest month, with 12 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 6 events against 3 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 2.0 per 100 square miles compares with 2.6 statewide.
By rating: 15 at (E)F0, 5 at (E)F1, 2 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 2 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with North Dakota
| Measure | Wells County | North Dakota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 25 | 1,799 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 2.0 | 2.6 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 64.0 | 23.2 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 29 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | July | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
0May
3Jun
8Jul
12Aug
2Sep
0Oct
0Nov
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 25 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jul 2024 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2022 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2019 | Tornado | EF0 | — | $5K | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2000 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 1987 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1986 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1986 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 1985 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1985 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1984 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 1981 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 1978 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1974 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 1970 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 1966 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1965 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 1965 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 1957 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1954 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1953 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1952 | Tornado | F3 | $25K | — | — | 1 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Wells County had?
25 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 Wells County?
4 Jul 2024 (Tornado, EF unrated). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Wells County?
The tornado of 6 Jul 1953, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $250K.
How does Wells County compare with North Dakota for tornado?
2.0 events per 100 square miles against 2.6 statewide; the county holds 25 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.