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Wind in Polk County, Nebraska
126 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 126 wind events in Polk County, Nebraska, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 41 years.
June is the busiest month, with 27 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 76 events against 39 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.7% of the 17,319 wind events recorded in Nebraska; its 28.7 per 100 square miles compares with 22.5 statewide.
97 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 8 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 | Polk County | Nebraska | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 126 | 17,319 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 28.7 | 22.5 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 243.5 | 88.2 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 12 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
4Feb
1Mar
11Apr
13May
18Jun
27Jul
19Aug
10Sep
5Oct
8Nov
4Dec
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 126 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 | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2025 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Mar 2025 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Mar 2025 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Oct 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Oct 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Oct 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 86 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Oct 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Oct 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $25K | $500K | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2022 | High Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 78 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | $350K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 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 |
| 8 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2020 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Nov 2019 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 92 mph | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Dec 2016 | High Wind | 72 mph | $1.0M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $100K | $2.5M | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Mar 2014 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Oct 2012 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $35K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Mar 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jan 2009 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Oct 2008 | High Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | $100K | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $75K | $1.0M | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Sep 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $20K | $100K | — | — | County |
| 15 Sep 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2005 | High Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 2004 | High Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Jul 2003 | High Wind | 71 mph | $200K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $1.0M | $1.0M | — | 1 | County |
| 26 May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $50K | $250K | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2002 | High Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Apr 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Feb 2002 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Nov 2001 | High Wind | — | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 May 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $25K | $75K | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $20K | $150K | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 1999 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Nov 1998 | High Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | $10K | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $50K | $50K | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Oct 1997 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $100K | $300K | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $1K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Mar 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Sep 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 1960 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 1960 | Thunderstorm Wind | 92 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Polk County had?
126 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 Polk County?
15 Mar 2026 (High Wind, 60 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Polk County?
The thunderstorm wind of 31 Jul 2014, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $100K and crop damage at $2.5M.
How does Polk County compare with Nebraska for wind?
28.7 events per 100 square miles against 22.5 statewide; the county holds 126 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.