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Wind in Merrick County, Nebraska
158 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.
Merrick County, Nebraska, has 158 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 57 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 35 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 59 events against 41 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.9% of the 17,319 wind events recorded in Nebraska; its 32.4 per 100 square miles compares with 22.5 statewide.
111 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 22 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 Nebraska
| Measure | Merrick County | Nebraska | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 158 | 17,319 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 32.4 | 22.5 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 206.1 | 88.2 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 12 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
3Feb
1Mar
8Apr
15May
24Jun
35Jul
35Aug
17Sep
5Oct
4Nov
5Dec
6
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 158 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Mar 2026 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 May 2025 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Mar 2025 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Mar 2025 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Dec 2024 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $1.0M | $5.0M | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $250K | $3.0M | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Apr 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Mar 2022 | High Wind | 76 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jan 2021 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Dec 2020 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Nov 2020 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2020 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Nov 2019 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Sep 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Dec 2016 | High Wind | 75 mph | $1.0M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $250K | $250K | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $100K | $4.0M | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Oct 2012 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Nov 2011 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $1.0M | $250K | — | — | County |
| 12 Jan 2009 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Oct 2008 | High Wind | 61 mph | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | $75K | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 83 mph | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2005 | High Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 89 mph | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 2004 | High Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Jul 2003 | High Wind | 71 mph | $200K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Jul 2003 | High Wind | 71 mph | $100K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2002 | High Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Feb 2002 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Nov 2001 | High Wind | — | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | $150K | $500K | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $25K | $75K | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $25K | $75K | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $25K | $100K | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 1999 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Nov 1998 | High Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Aug 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | $75K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 8 Oct 1997 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Sep 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | — | $25K | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Sep 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Oct 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1972 | Thunderstorm Wind | 76 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 1972 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1971 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 1968 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 1968 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 1968 | Thunderstorm Wind | 76 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 1968 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Mar 1968 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 1967 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 1964 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1964 | Thunderstorm Wind | 94 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1964 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 1964 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 1964 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 1963 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 1963 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1961 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 1961 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 1961 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 1960 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 1960 | Thunderstorm Wind | 105 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1959 | Thunderstorm Wind | 83 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 1959 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 1957 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1957 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 1957 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1957 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 1956 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Merrick County had?
158 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 Merrick County?
15 Mar 2026 (High Wind, 58 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Merrick County?
The thunderstorm wind of 7 Jun 2024, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $1.0M and crop damage at $5.0M.
How does Merrick County compare with Nebraska for wind?
32.4 events per 100 square miles against 22.5 statewide; the county holds 158 of the state's 17,319 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.