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Tornado in Seward County, Nebraska
38 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.
Seward County, Nebraska, has 38 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 26 different years.
May is the busiest month, with 13 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 11 events against 11 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.1% of the 3,400 tornado events recorded in Nebraska; its 6.6 per 100 square miles compares with 4.4 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 16 at (E)F0, 5 at (E)F1, 7 at (E)F2, 4 at (E)F3, 3 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 3 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Nebraska
| Measure | Seward County | Nebraska | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 38 | 3,400 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 6.6 | 4.4 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 21.6 | 17.3 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 56 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
1Apr
8May
13Jun
11Jul
2Aug
1Sep
0Oct
1Nov
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 38 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 May 2024 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 2022 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2014 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2014 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2014 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2014 | Tornado | EF3 | $2.4M | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2012 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2002 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2001 | Tornado | F4 | $1.0M | — | — | 2 | County |
| 29 Oct 2000 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 1997 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 1996 | Tornado | F0 | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 1992 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1992 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1992 | Tornado | F3 | $25M | — | — | 1 | County |
| 16 May 1991 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 1990 | Tornado | F4 | $25M | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1986 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 1985 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | 4 | County |
| 14 Jul 1981 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1981 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1975 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1967 | Tornado | F0 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 1964 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 1964 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 1963 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 1962 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1958 | Tornado | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 1958 | Tornado | F1 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1957 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 1957 | Tornado | F4 | $2.5M | — | 1 | 8 | County |
| 10 May 1953 | Tornado | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 1953 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | 2 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Seward County had?
38 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 Seward County?
24 May 2024 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Seward County?
The tornado of 13 Mar 1990, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25M.
How does Seward County compare with Nebraska for tornado?
6.6 events per 100 square miles against 4.4 statewide; the county holds 38 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.