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Tornado in Jefferson County, Nebraska
27 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.
Jefferson County, Nebraska, has 27 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 20 different years.
May is the busiest month, with 15 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 10 events against 8 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.8% of the 3,400 tornado events recorded in Nebraska; its 4.7 per 100 square miles compares with 4.4 statewide.
By rating: 8 at (E)F0, 8 at (E)F1, 6 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 4 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Nebraska
| Measure | Jefferson County | Nebraska | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 27 | 3,400 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.7 | 4.4 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 37.6 | 17.3 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 56 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
4May
15Jun
4Jul
2Aug
1Sep
1Oct
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 27 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 May 2026 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2020 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2014 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 27 May 2013 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2013 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Sep 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 2010 | Tornado | EF1 | $650K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2008 | Tornado | EF2 | $1.8M | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2004 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2004 | Tornado | F1 | $220K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1996 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1996 | Tornado | F1 | $350K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1995 | Tornado | F0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 1987 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 1978 | Tornado | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1978 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 1976 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 1975 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1967 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 1965 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 1963 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 1959 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 1956 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Jefferson County had?
27 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 Jefferson County?
18 May 2026 (Tornado, EF unrated). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Jefferson County?
The tornado of 6 Jul 1978, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M.
How does Jefferson County compare with Nebraska for tornado?
4.7 events per 100 square miles against 4.4 statewide; the county holds 27 of the state's 3,400 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.