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Tornado in Sioux County, Nebraska
29 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.
Sioux County, Nebraska, has 29 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 21 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 11 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 9 events against 11 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 1.4 per 100 square miles compares with 4.4 statewide.
By rating: 17 at (E)F0, 5 at (E)F1, 3 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 4 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Nebraska
| Measure | Sioux County | Nebraska | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 29 | 3,400 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 1.4 | 4.4 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 253.7 | 17.3 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 56 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | June | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
0May
9Jun
11Jul
8Aug
0Sep
1Oct
0Nov
0Dec
0
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 29 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 May 2021 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2019 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2017 | Tornado | EF2 | $6K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 18 May 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2013 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2013 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Sep 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1994 | Tornado | F1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1990 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 1990 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1986 | Tornado | F1 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1983 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 1978 | Tornado | — | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 1976 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 1972 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1969 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 1958 | Tornado | — | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 1953 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1951 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Sioux County had?
29 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 Sioux County?
26 May 2021 (Tornado, EF unrated). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Sioux County?
The tornado of 20 Jul 1978, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $250K.
How does Sioux County compare with Nebraska for tornado?
1.4 events per 100 square miles against 4.4 statewide; the county holds 29 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.