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Tornado in Thurston County, Nebraska
17 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 17 tornado events in Thurston County, Nebraska, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 14 years.
May is the busiest month, with 4 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 4 events against 4 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.5% of the 3,400 tornado events recorded in Nebraska; its 4.3 per 100 square miles compares with 4.4 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 5 at (E)F0, 6 at (E)F1, 2 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 3 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Nebraska
| Measure | Thurston County | Nebraska | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 17 | 3,400 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.3 | 4.4 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 25.7 | 17.3 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 56 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
1Apr
0May
4Jun
4Jul
4Aug
2Sep
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 17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 May 2026 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2014 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Oct 2013 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | 2 | County |
| 25 Jul 2002 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 1993 | Tornado | F1 | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 1990 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1978 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 1977 | Tornado | — | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1977 | Tornado | — | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 1975 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 1975 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1973 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 1967 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 1954 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 1954 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | 1 | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Thurston County had?
17 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 Thurston County?
17 May 2026 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Thurston County?
The tornado of 7 Jul 1977, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M.
How does Thurston County compare with Nebraska for tornado?
4.3 events per 100 square miles against 4.4 statewide; the county holds 17 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.