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Winter in Polk County, Nebraska
109 winter storms and snow events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Winter Storm, Winter Weather, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Ice Storm, Lake-Effect Snow, Sleet.
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.
Polk County, Nebraska, has 109 winter events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 29 different years.
February is the busiest month, with 33 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 71 events against 38 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.4% of the 8,064 winter events recorded in Nebraska; its 24.8 per 100 square miles compares with 10.5 statewide.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter events since 1950 | 109 | 8,064 | 287,339 |
| Per 100 square miles | 24.8 | 10.5 | 8.1 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 210.7 | 41.1 | 8.7 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 72 | 2,509 |
| Busiest month | February | February | January |
By year
Seasonality
23Feb
33Mar
14Apr
6May
0Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
2Nov
8Dec
23
Recorded events
All 109 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Mar 2025 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Mar 2025 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Feb 2025 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Feb 2025 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Feb 2025 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jan 2025 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Mar 2024 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Jan 2024 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Jan 2024 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Jan 2024 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Jan 2024 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Dec 2023 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Mar 2023 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Feb 2023 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Jan 2023 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Jan 2023 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Feb 2021 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Feb 2021 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Feb 2021 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Jan 2021 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Dec 2020 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Dec 2020 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Dec 2020 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Nov 2020 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Apr 2020 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Apr 2020 | Winter Weather | — | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Mar 2020 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Nov 2019 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Mar 2019 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Feb 2019 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Feb 2019 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Feb 2019 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Dec 2018 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Dec 2018 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Nov 2018 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Feb 2018 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Feb 2018 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jan 2018 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Dec 2017 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Feb 2017 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Jan 2017 | Ice Storm | — | $25K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Mar 2016 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Feb 2016 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Dec 2015 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Feb 2015 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Feb 2015 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Jan 2015 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Apr 2014 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Feb 2014 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Dec 2013 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Mar 2013 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Feb 2013 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Dec 2012 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Feb 2012 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Dec 2011 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Dec 2011 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Mar 2011 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Feb 2011 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Jan 2011 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Jan 2011 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Jan 2011 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Dec 2010 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Dec 2009 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Dec 2009 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Oct 2009 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Apr 2009 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Feb 2009 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Feb 2008 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Dec 2007 | Winter Storm | — | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Dec 2007 | Ice Storm | — | $20K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jan 2007 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Dec 2006 | Ice Storm | — | $500K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Nov 2006 | Winter Weather | — | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Mar 2006 | Winter Storm | — | $100K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Nov 2005 | Blizzard | — | $25K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Feb 2005 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jan 2005 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jan 2005 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Nov 2004 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Feb 2004 | Winter Storm | — | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Jan 2004 | Winter Storm | — | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Apr 2003 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Feb 2003 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Mar 2002 | Winter Storm | — | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Jan 2002 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Feb 2001 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Feb 2001 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jan 2001 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2000 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Dec 2000 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Dec 2000 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Nov 2000 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Feb 2000 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Mar 1999 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Feb 1999 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Feb 1999 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jan 1999 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Jan 1999 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Mar 1998 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Dec 1997 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Dec 1997 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Oct 1997 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Apr 1997 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Feb 1997 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Feb 1997 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Feb 1997 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Nov 1996 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Mar 1996 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jan 1996 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
Questions and answers
How many winter events has Polk County had?
109 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of winter storms and snow became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded winter event in Polk County?
19 Mar 2025 (Blizzard). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging winter event recorded in Polk County?
The ice storm of 30 Dec 2006, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $500K.
How does Polk County compare with Nebraska for winter?
24.8 events per 100 square miles against 10.5 statewide; the county holds 109 of the state's 8,064 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 Winter hub and the county page.