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Tornado in Elko County, Nevada
23 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.
Elko County, Nevada, has 23 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 17 different years.
May is the busiest month, with 9 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 9 events against 10 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 23.7% of the 97 tornado events recorded in Nevada; its 0.1 per 100 square miles compares with 0.1 statewide.
By rating: 16 at (E)F0, 3 at (E)F1, 0 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 Nevada
| Measure | Elko County | Nevada | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 23 | 97 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 0.1 | 0.1 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 4.3 | 0.3 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 0 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
1May
9Jun
8Jul
1Aug
4Sep
0Oct
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 23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Jun 2023 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2023 | Tornado | EF1 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 2021 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1996 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 1993 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1992 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 1991 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 1987 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 1987 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 1987 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 1987 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 1979 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 1977 | Tornado | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 1970 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1962 | Tornado | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Elko County had?
23 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 Elko County?
5 Jun 2023 (Tornado, EF unrated). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Elko County?
The tornado of 19 Aug 1979, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $250K.
How does Elko County compare with Nevada for tornado?
0.1 events per 100 square miles against 0.1 statewide; the county holds 23 of the state's 97 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.