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Tornado in Otoe County, Nebraska
31 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.
NCEI records 31 tornado events in Otoe County, Nebraska, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 21 years.
April is the busiest month, with 10 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 10 events against 10 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.9% of the 3,400 tornado events recorded in Nebraska; its 5.0 per 100 square miles compares with 4.4 statewide.
By rating: 12 at (E)F0, 13 at (E)F1, 4 at (E)F2, 2 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Nebraska
| Measure | Otoe County | Nebraska | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 31 | 3,400 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 5.0 | 4.4 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 19.5 | 17.3 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 56 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
1Apr
10May
6Jun
4Jul
2Aug
2Sep
1Oct
4Nov
0Dec
1
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 31 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Aug 2025 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 2022 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 2022 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 2022 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Sep 2014 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | $100K | — | — | County |
| 3 Oct 2013 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2012 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Mar 2009 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2006 | Tornado | F1 | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2004 | Tornado | F1 | $20M | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Oct 2000 | Tornado | F0 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Oct 2000 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Oct 2000 | Tornado | F0 | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2000 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2000 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1995 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1992 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1991 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | 2 | County |
| 15 Apr 1982 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1982 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 1972 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 1972 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 1967 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1965 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 1 Jul 1965 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 1958 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 1958 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 1957 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 1953 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Otoe County had?
31 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 Otoe County?
10 Aug 2025 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Otoe County?
The tornado of 22 May 2004, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $20M.
How does Otoe County compare with Nebraska for tornado?
5.0 events per 100 square miles against 4.4 statewide; the county holds 31 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.