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Wind in Wells County, North Dakota
113 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.
NCEI records 113 wind events in Wells County, North Dakota, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 35 years.
July is the busiest month, with 21 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 89 events against 18 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.2% of the 9,530 wind events recorded in North Dakota; its 8.9 per 100 square miles compares with 13.8 statewide.
73 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 17 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 | Wells County | North Dakota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 113 | 9,530 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 8.9 | 13.8 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 289.4 | 123.0 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 7 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | July | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
7Feb
6Mar
7Apr
3May
9Jun
20Jul
21Aug
12Sep
11Oct
8Nov
7Dec
2
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 113 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 2026 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 83 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Oct 2024 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Sep 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Nov 2022 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $100K | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2022 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Feb 2022 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Feb 2022 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Jan 2022 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Nov 2021 | High Wind | 43 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Mar 2021 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jan 2021 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Jan 2021 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Oct 2020 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Sep 2020 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2020 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Sep 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 91 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $60K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $20K | $10K | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $80K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2017 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Mar 2017 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Jan 2017 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Feb 2016 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Nov 2015 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Oct 2015 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jul 2015 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | $40K | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Sep 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jan 2013 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Oct 2012 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Oct 2011 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Sep 2011 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2011 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Apr 2011 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Feb 2011 | High Wind | 40 mph | $20K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Oct 2010 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Jun 2010 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2010 | High Wind | 58 mph | $30K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 May 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $35K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jan 2009 | High Wind | 40 mph | $60K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Oct 2008 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Sep 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2008 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Mar 2008 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Nov 2007 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Aug 2005 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Mar 2005 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Dec 2004 | High Wind | 46 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Mar 2004 | High Wind | 53 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Nov 2002 | High Wind | 43 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Feb 2002 | High Wind | 52 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Nov 2001 | High Wind | 41 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2000 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Nov 1999 | High Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Sep 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Feb 1996 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jun 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Sep 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1967 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 1957 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Wells County had?
113 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 Wells County?
9 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 60 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Wells County?
The thunderstorm wind of 24 May 2010, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $200K.
How does Wells County compare with North Dakota for wind?
8.9 events per 100 square miles against 13.8 statewide; the county holds 113 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.